John 15:2 Every branch that bears fruit is pruned so that it bears even more fruit.
What is the secret to fruitfulness in a season of pruning?

What To Do in a Season of Pruning

What was the Star of Bethlehem?  Was it a supernova or a comet?  No.  The Bible makes a clear connection between angels and stars.  The Star of Bethlehem was a spiritual messenger from the Lord of Hosts to guide the magi to His Son.

The Stars are Angels

When real faith of the heart toward Jesus Christ is present and active, the rituals and symbols of Christianity have great power.  The cross, the Bible, the fish, the communion bread and wine, and water baptism have very real spiritual life in them.  One evidence of this power and life is the fact that the powers of darkness work continually to remove or confiscate the symbols of the Christian faith.

The Symbols Of Our Faith

2 Timothy 2:3–4
You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him [for whom he fights].

God is equipping you to not only survive, but to win in the fight of faith.  Don't quit when it gets hard.  You can do so much more than you think.  Keep going!

Special Forces Christianity

It would seem that justice and mercy must be mutually exclusive - that we must pick one or the other. But in the Cross of Christ, God accomplishes perfect justice and perfect mercy at the same time. Jesus' commands for us to forgive those who sin against us do not exclude divine justice. In fact, it is faith in God's divine justice that gives us the strength to forgive sin.

Justice and Mercy

The Justice and Mercy of Jesus (Faith to Forgive)

Rejoice in the Lord always
Phil. 4:4

How is it possible to rejoice when having problems or sorrow?  Does God actually expect us to rejoice in every moment?  It is possible to be happy by faith?

Faith for Happiness

Choosing Happiness

Isaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a Child is born, 
Unto us a Son is given; 
And the government will be upon His shoulder. 
And His name will be called 
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, 
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
Of the increase of His government and peace 
There will be no end, 
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, 
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice 
From that time forward, even forever. 
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Increase of His Govt

Of The Increase of His Government There Will Be No End

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Body Soul Spirit

Holy and Whole:  Body, Soul, & Spirit

The Bible tells us that we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but with evil spirits (Eph. 6).  But most of our conflicts in the supernatural battle are going to happen with other people.  How do we fight a spiritual battle in a natural world?  How do we fight lies and sin without hurting the people who are hurting us?

Our answer is found in Jesus' strategy: he died to defeat the devil (Heb 2:14-15)

Spiritual Warfare

Defeat Darkness Without Hurting People Around You (Real Spiritual Warfare)

3/4 of Americans believe in the possibility of extra-terrestrial life, but the Christian church has said little about it.  What does the Bible say about alien civilizations?  The entertainment world is full of them, but are they science-fiction or reality?  Could God have created alien life in other galaxies?  Did Jesus die for the Klingons?

Aliens, UFOs, and Jesus

New Song Community Church, La Grande, OR
Pastor Mitch Coston