Tag Archives: Christianity

July 21, 2025 · 9:00 am

Persuasive Force

 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is the persuasive force for salvation and growth in the life of a Believer. Maturity and growth occur through the study and application of God’s Word. The Scriptures promote maturity, joy, and peace for the Christian. 

The Bible isn’t just a moral guidebook; it’s a powerful tool that God uses to draw us to Himself. Through its pages, we discover the grand narrative of creation, fall, and redemption. We learn about our own sinful nature and our desperate need for a Savior. But we also encounter the incredible news of God’s love and grace, manifested in the person of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It’s through Scripture that we’re persuaded of our need for salvation and led to put our trust in Christ. But the Bible’s persuasive power doesn’t stop at salvation – it continues to work in our lives, urging us towards spiritual maturity and deeper devotion to God.

Tony French

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July 17, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Careful Living

1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-4

Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with application for the hearer. The last three chapters give instructions on how we are to live in the meaninglessness of life. It is advisable to give this matter careful consideration at this stage.

The writer commences with a warning against folly. Folly could be thought of as mindless pursuits that lead to nowhere. Folly doesn’t have to be sinful (though at times it includes sinful acts.) Even good things when done in mindless, non-thoughtful manner can be considered folly.

The preacher is making a point. Life is short and we need to be live carefully and thoughtfully. Recreation and fun have its place in our lives. But, when we are totally given over to these things they become our idols. We can lose God’s blessing and opportunities for growth when our time is occupied with folly.  Therefore, we need to avoid folly and use our time wisely.

Tony French

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March 10, 2025 · 9:00 am

GRACE

One aspect of Christianity that separates it from virtually all other faith systems is the way God bestows His grace on us. Someone once described biblical grace as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Such a description is applicable indeed. We receive the best that God has through the sacrifice of Christ.

Jesus paid the debt so that we could be free. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin so that we could reconciled to God. Jesus endured the horrors of separation so that we would never be separated from God. God’s grace is amazing indeed!

I pray that you will be encouraged from the Scriptures with these thoughts about God’s amazing grace.

Psalm 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.

Tony French

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August 21, 2023 · 9:00 am

Adoption

Adoption is a beautiful theological concept in Christianity. It is said that those who are saved are adopted into the family of God. All the rights and privileges of becoming a child of God are bestowed upon those who believe in Christ.

Let us take a moment and see what we those privileges are as they are revealed in Scripture. Our status changes when we are placed in God’s family. And the change is wonderful and marvelous.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”   Romans 8:15

Believers are released from the hopelessness of sin in adoption. This release allows us closeness with God as we now relate to Him as our heavenly father. We can grow and mature into full son-ship and daughter-ship as result of our adoption.

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.   Galatians 4:4-5

Adoption allows us to be freed from the bondage of the law. We now have liberty to seek to please God as a result of our salvation and not to try to earn our salvation. We are placed in His family and all the encumbrances of past life are washed away.

Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  Galatians 4:6

Closeness with God is a wonderful and powerful result of adoption. Where once we were far from Him, we now have closeness with God through Christ Jesus. We have the ability to address Him as Father in the same way an earthly child calls out for his/her Daddy! What wonderful thought—we are no longer an outcast, we have closeness with God.

We should give thanks for our adoption. We didn’t deserve it. But we ought to be thankful that our heavenly Father has placed us into His family forevermore.

Tony French

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