Landing the 1 Peter Plane
I'm finishing 1 Peter this Sunday. Preaching 1 Peter 5:12...
Keep ReadingLooking to Jesus
DEFY IDOLATRY AND INTOLERANTLY PROCLAIM CHRIST AS LORD
February 24, 2024 by Mike Sciarra
Love the Lord not the world....
Be Careful About Wanting to be Pleased
November 18, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
Dear Christian, we seem too often to wrongly think that everything and everyone must align to please us, or all is loss and everything is a failure. This is painful idolatry and must be replaced with sincere worship....
WHY CHRISTIANS CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE LOST AND WANDERING
September 2, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
When Jesus changes your heart, your motives and affections and desires change....
Rejoicing in Regeneration and Hope
August 21, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
Rejoicing in Regeneration and Hope ...
How to Know if You are Really a Christian
August 18, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
People wonder all the time if they are really a believer. Sometimes other people see a person who says they are Christian and wonder if that is a true profession of faith. This can be for any number of reasons. But there is one specific way found in 2 Timothy 2:19 where are you can know if a person is truly a Christian....
Why Baptism and Church Membership Go Together
August 17, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
Let’s pattern our baptisms and church membership as closely to the scriptural pattern as we can. Let's link baptism and church membership more closely. Let's see them as part of a unified process to glorify God, build up believers, and reach the world....
As we live a Christ-honoring life…
July 28, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
As we live a Christ-honoring life… Pure gospel living looks different than posing for pictures It stands in stark contrast to life lived under lights A sovereign God changes our motives The authoritative Word renews our minds ...
God’s Magnificent Grace
May 20, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
As I am alive, raised, and seated with Christ by God’s grace… 5 ongoing outcomes I observe about God’s grace towards me....
Hope of Forgiveness is Real
February 23, 2023 by Mike Sciarra
Has life put a lot of mileage on you? Are you weighed down by the toll it has taken? Are you weary? Are you troubled? Do you feel hopeless? There is hope of forgiveness in Jesus....
We have an Adversary and an Advocate
April 30, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Adversary, advocate, the devil, Jesus Christ the righteous
We have an adversary (1 Peter 5:8) and an advocate (1 John 2:1). Our adversary devours and destroys, our advocate defends and delights. Our adversary steals and kills, our advocate secures and gives life. Our adversary degrades and demands, our advocate upgrades and understands. Our adversary accuses us and condemns, our advocate defeated him and defends. Our adversary hat...
Keep ReadingWhat to Do with Your Worries and Concerns
April 16, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Anxiety, Worry, desperation, Peace, God cares
You may sincerely feel like you are at the breaking point. Like everything is crumbling around you and there is nothing to stand on or hold you up. You may grasp frantically for an answer and in a panic look for anything that might answer your wounded heart; some solution that will bring relief. There is one. ...
Keep ReadingSatisfaction and Substitution
March 31, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Substitution, atonement, Gospel
The theological words satisfaction and substitution need to be carefully defined and safeguarded, but they cannot in any circumstances be given up. The biblical gospel of atonement is of God satisfying himself by substituting himself for us....
Keep ReadingA Necessary Death
March 24, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Christ's sacrifice, Passover lamb, death of Christ
It was necessary for Christ to die. And it is necessary that we believe in the Only Begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. It is necessary that we grasp this truth....
Keep ReadingA Beautifully Strange Journey
March 7, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Redemption, sanctification, Repentance
It's a beautifully strange journey. Cosmic and mundane. God's providence and blood, sweat, and tears; sovereign Grace working in and through the elect. A Holy God redeeming sinful man. A process for which we praise the glory of God's grace in Christ....
Keep ReadingThe Inerrant Word
March 5, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Infallible, inerrancy, God's Word
Inerrancy is not an optional belief. It is the essential position of Jesus-loving, Bible-believing, Gospel-changed people. We believe every word of God's Word is from God. Full confidence, total sufficiency....
Keep ReadingSweet Comfort in a Time of Pain
February 27, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Pain, comfort, Christ
We have sweet comfort in a time of pain, to know we are Christ's and that He reigns....
Keep ReadingSweet Comfort in Affliction
February 26, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: hardship, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, comfort, Christ is sufficient
Trials are difficult to navigate. Suffering is extremely trying. Hardship is pointedly painful. Persecution can play sneaky tricks on your mind. In the midst of tough times it's easy to spin into a spiritual vertigo. It feels like it's impossible to get your compass calibrated. It's tough to hold onto truth in those moments. That's when we need each other to help in a big ...
Keep ReadingThe Fiery Trial
February 19, 2015 by Mike Sciarra | Category: Looking to Jesus blog | Tags: Suffering, Persecution
How can Christians be ready to suffer for Christ?...
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