Gospel for life with Nathaniel Timmermann

Only Jesus gathers people to God

The temple was established by God as a way to get near God. Jesus came in and rejected the conveniences it offered in an attempt to help people get God's gifts. None of it could get people close to the holy, consuming God. What are we relying on to get us close to God? Do we have anything better to keep us in the presence of the holy, good God? Jesus offers a better temple in John 2:13-22.

Come to the party. Enjoy the party. Be part of the party.

This new world that Jesus gives us is not only or primarily a world of rules, codes of conduct, regulations, and ways to live a better life. It is first and foremost a world of grace, where God in Jesus pours out his good gifts to us to cover over our embarrassment, shame, and disgrace. We see that wonderfully at Cana in a wedding. John 2:1-11

Live in the light. Reflect the light.

God gives us a new world in Jesus - a world of connection (love), creation, reconciliation, justice, and forgiveness. Jesus reveals God's light to lead us into this new world. He directs us to hope, peace, a future, and forgiveness. That is where we live, and that is what we reflect. 
Isaiah 8:14-9:4

I want God’s world

Big businesses want to offer us a very specific world. A world driven by consumption and dopamine hits from trivial pursuits. The devil wants to offer us a world of self-gratification. God offers us a world defined by connection, reconciliation, truth, justification, and forgiveness. John 1:35-42

Love has come down

There is really only one gift of true love for this world - Jesus. If you feel the pressure to love everyone around you well enough that they can finally enjoy life again, let his love be the love of their (and your!) life.

Merry Christmas

1 John 4:2-12

Come and help: We will wait

It's easy to tell people who are waiting for someone else compared with people who don't. If you're waiting for grandpa and grandma to visit, you might clean the house quickly and excitedly watch from the window. If you're waiting for a new baby, you've bought the car seat and crib and are just a little anxious. If you're waiting to get a new job, you're learning new skills. We do specific things when we wait. Christians cry, "come and help". That is just the beginning of our waiting. Like Joseph and Mary, we return home and wait for God to come to us. Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38

Come and help: Repentance reveals

Just what are we saying when we say, "Come and help"? Certainly we do a lot of good and there is a lot of good about our lives. There is also a lot of good in the world. When we say, "Come and help", we are saying that nothing else in the whole world can rescue us from both the personal issues we face and the systemic corruption and destruction the world experiences. As good as hospitals, financial counselors, therapists, doctors, coaches, trainers, and everyone else is, there is only one Savior. And repentance on our part reveals who that one Savior is.

Matthew 3:1-12

Come and help!

God shows us what a great helper we can expect. That's why we say, "Come and help". Matthew 21:1-11

Unexpected thanks

We normally give thanks for good things we get. But there are lots of things that even God gives us that we don't think are good things - when God doesn't do what we want, or when God doesn't tell us why, or even weakness or pain. 

These unexpected things are causes for unexpected thanks. Let's add them to our thanks. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Christ alone

There are all sorts of rulers and powers that claim control and influence over our lives. Most of them end up destroying our lives as much as helping them. The Son is different because he holds all things together. 

Colossians 1:15-23