Month: June 2026

The Christian Disciplines

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

Pastor Alan started a new series called “The Christian Disciplines.” He has spoken about the first few of the twelve disciplines, and you can find those messages below with audio and outlines for each.

The Christian Disciplines

Key introduction verses:  1Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-3; Matthew 16:24, 28:19-20.

  • The Disciplines: What are the key Christian disciplines? They are as follows: 
    • Meditation
    • Prayer
    • Fasting
    • Study
    • Simplicity
    • Solitude
    • Submission
    • Service
    • Confession
    • Worship
    • Guidance
    • Celebration
  • Key Truths in the Practice of Disciplines
    • Christian disciplines are often commanded by God.
    • Christian disciplines require sacrifice. Matthew 16:24.  
    • Christian disciplines begin now.  Luke 9:57-62
    • Christian disciplines are to be sown.
    • Christian disciplines are to be a source of joy because, if practiced, they free us. John 8:31-36
    • Christian disciplines are a safeguard against the natural tendency of spiritual laziness. Proverbs 24:33-35. 
    • Christian disciplines are to put us on the path, and in the place, of deeper transforming intimacy with God. James 4:8
  • Hindrances to Practice of Disciplines 
  • Conclusion: Christian discipline is not to be a drudgery, nor is it simply an exercise in will power alone. It is an acknowledgement of God working in us while at the same time we work out our salvation in practice.  Philippians 2:12-13, Colossians 1:29.

“Joy is the keynote of all the disciplines. The purpose of the disciplines is liberation from the stifling slavery of self-interest and fear.”  Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline.

“Everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing themselves.”  Leo Tolstoy

The Christian Disciplines: Meditation

*Note: only the last fifteen minutes or so of the message were recorded, but the entire outline is here. Sorry!

Key Idea:  Part of discipleship (following Jesus) is the disciplined practice of practicing the Christian disciplines.

Purpose of Practicing:  To grow closer to God so our lives are transformed to be less self-centered (dying to self) and more Christ-centered.

Warning: The Christian disciplines aren’t a means of salvation. We are saved by the work of Christ appropriated by faith. We are however, to grow in our walk with God and the disciplines are one means to do that. We are to be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration

Meditation:  Key verses:  Psalm 19:14; 1:2; 119:97, 101, 102, 148 

  • Christian Meditation vs. Eastern or secular forms of meditation. 
    • The focus of Christian meditation is an intense reflection on obedience and faithfulness.  This is seen in the Psalms. 
      • Psalm 119:15 – meditate and reflect upon the face of Christ.
    • Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind while Christian meditation an attempt to fill the mind by focusing on the wonderful works of God.
      • Be careful of what the vacuum (the empty space) is filled with. 
    • Detachment (if that’s really possible) is the goal of Eastern meditation using language such as merging with the cosmic mind.  Christian meditation goes beyond detachment to attachment.  We detach from life’s distractions so we can be better attached to God.  
    • Eastern meditation stresses an exploration of the subconscious (scary stuff sometimes); Christian meditation explores resting in Jesus.
      • Pray God would guard your mind.
  • Practicing Christian Meditation 
    • Christian meditation is the practice of silencing our mind so that we can listen, hear and obey.
      • Two Hebrew words for meditation:
        • hagah: to mutter, ponder, or speak quietly to yourself
        • siyach: to muse/reflect upon, then act on it (in obedience)
      • Jesus practiced this in relation to His heavenly Father. John 5:19, 30.  
    • Jesus says that his sheep hear his voice.
      • We hear His voice primarily through His Word. 
      • Are we listening to hear his voice or all the voices of the world? John 10:1-5, 14  
    • Jesus invites us to sit still, be silent, and hear. 
      • He knocks; can we hear the knocking? Will we open the door? Revelation 3:20 
    • Get outside in God’s creation and reflect. Psalm 19:1 
  • Why Meditation Matters 
  • Conclusion: This week practice. 
    • Select a short passage.
    • Slow down and read it repeatedly.
    • Speak it, muttering it to yourself.
    • Reflect deeply, asking questions.
    • Apply. How will I obey?
  • Further exploration: Classic Books on Christian Meditation 
    • Confessions – Augustine of Hippo 
    • The Imitation of Christ – Thomas a Kempis 
    • The Cloud of Unknowing – Anonymous 
    • The Practice of the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence 
    • Desiring God – John Piper 
    • Knowing God – J. I. Packer 

The Christian Disciplines: Prayer

Key Idea:  Part of discipleship (following Jesus) is the disciplined practice of practicing the Christian disciplines. 

Purpose of Practicing: To grow closer to God so our lives are transformed to be less self-centered and more Christ-centered.

The Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration. 

  • Principles of Prayer:  
  • Conclusion:  One thing in the Christian life that we spend all our life doing is praying.
  • Books on Prayer: 
    • Prayer, Richard Foster
    • Prayer, Timothy Keller
    • Pray Big, Alistair Begg
    • A Guide to Fervent Prayer, Arthur Pink
    • With Christ is the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray 
  • Books on Spiritual Disciplines: 
    • Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney
    • Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster.

The Christian Disciplines: Fasting

Note: this message also only has the last fifteen minutes or so recorded. I apologize. We’ll get back in the swing of things soon!

Key Idea:  Part of discipleship (following Jesus) is the disciplined practice of practicing the Christian disciplines.  

Purpose of Practicing:  To grow closer to God so our lives are transformed to be less self-centered and more Christ-centered.    

The Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration. 

  • Fasting: Fasting is mentioned almost as many times as baptism in the Bible.
    • Fasting is instructed by Jesus.  Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18:12 
    • Fasts are found throughout the Bible. They fall into different categories: 
      • Normal – no food, just water.
        • Jesus in wilderness didn’t eat for forty days. (Matthew 4:1-2)
        • Doesn’t say he went without water.  
      • Partial – abstaining from certain kinds of food.
        • Most notable example is Daniel. 
      • Absolute – No food or water for three days.
        • Three days is the maximum time the body can go without water before things begin to break down.   
      • Supernatural – There are two supernatural fasts recorded in the Bible.
      • People who fasted in various ways, and for different reasons, in the Bible: Moses, Daniel (Daniel 9:3), Elijah, Esther (Esther 4:16), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), Paul (Acts 9:9), Jesus, Apostles (Acts 13:2-3). 
    • Fasting’s primary purpose is to create a deeper hunger for God. 
    • Fasting exposes emotions and bad habits (sin) that need to be addressed.
    • Fasting is associated with a call to repentance and dependence on God.
    • Fasting puts you in a better place to listen for God’s guidance.
    • Fasting helps us realize that sacrifice is a part of worship.
    • Fasting is a reminder that we are to do all things to the glory of God.
  • Conclusion:  Fasting is not a means for manipulating God; we already have God’s love and attention. The primary purpose of fasting is to increase our hunger for God.

Living in Grace – Mind the G.A.P.

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

Pastor Alan returned to Colona for the summer with a message all about grace. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. As usual, I’ve included Alan’s notes and links to Bible Gateway for the Scriptures referenced.

Living in Grace – Mind the G.A.P. (Grace Alters Perception)

What is grace?  It is all we are in Christ, not based on merit, but given to us by God the Father through Christ and the Spirit. 1 Peter 5:10

Where is grace found?  In Christ who is full of grace and truth and gives us grace upon grace. A greater grace.  John 1:14-17

3 Stages of Grace

  1. Grace at the point of saving faith.  
    • The point is this, salvation is never earned. It is a gift. 
    • The word grace carries the idea of gifting. Ephesians 2:8-9
  2. Grace as the means of Christian living. James 4:6. God gives more grace!
  3. Grace in the “afterlife”. 

Conclusion:  Grace reminds us we need to talk more about what God has done, and is doing, for us and less about what we are doing for Him.

The following Sunday was Pentecost, and Pastor Alan shared an awesome message about the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, due to a technological failure, it did not get recorded. So, I am going to do the best I can and share Alan’s study notes here.

Pentecost – Acts 2

  1. What was Pentecost?  
    • The background of harvest festivals and giving of the law on Mount Sinai is the important backdrop to what is happening. 
    • The festival is called Shavout (the Feast of Weeks/Harvest).
      • Marked the early grain harvest.
      • Shavout has the same Hebrew root as Sabbath.
        • שָׁבוּעַ shabuaʿ – seven or a week
        • Shavout means 7×7 (49)
        • Pentecost is Greek for 50
    • The giving of the law was marked by wind, trumpets, fire, and smoke.
  2. Spirit’s Coming Acts 2:1-13
    • The setting: There are one hundred and twenty of Christ’s followers gathered in one place. They had been told by Christ earlier that the Spirit would come so there was no doubt an anticipation.
    • The supernatural: There are three things describing the Spirit’s coming.
      • A sound like a violent rushing wind.  vs 2
      • Tongues of fire that rested on each individual. vs 3
      • The ability for the crowd that shows up to hear the Jewish Galileans in their own language (i.e. their native tongue). 
        • These people were from all areas of the Mediterranean basin. 
        • Side-note: This phenomenon is not the gift of tongues that Paul talks about to the believers in Corinth.
      • What can we imply and apply from this supernatural event?
        • The Spirit comes in power to give power, like the noise of the powerful wind.
        • The Spirit purifies.
        • The Spirit gathers people from all nations like a giant harvest.
        • The Spirit writes the law (Mount Sinai) on the hearts of people.
          • This is explained in Peter’s sermon that follows.
  3. Peter’s Sermon (Acts 2:14-21)
    •  What’s not happening? vs 14-15
      • The strange language phenomena is not drunken speech. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning.
      • The explanation:
        • He quotes with slight alterations, from the prophet Joel and Ezekiel. 
        • The point is the time has come and God is pouring out his Spirit on all people, and those people will prophesy (speak forth about the things of God – Prophecy is more about “forth-telling” than “foretelling”).
        • Luther said, “The knowledge of God, through Christ, which the Holy Spirit kindles and makes to burn through the word of the gospel.”
  4. The Spirit Working Through the Sermon (Acts 2:37-47)
    • There is repentance when the Spirit moves.
    • There is salvation where the Spirit moves.
    • There is baptism where the Spirit moves.
    • There is devotion and communion where the Spirit moves.
    • There is sharing where the Spirit moves.
    • There is awe where the Spirit moves.
    • There is hospitality where the Spirit moves.
    • There is prayer where the Spirit moves.
    • There is growth where the Spirit moves.

Flourishing in Older Age

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

Knowing our congregation is mostly on the other side of the hill of life, Pastor Jed spoke for a few weeks on the importance of flourishing in older age. 😊 To listen to these messages, simply click play on the appropriate audio player below. Also included are Jed’s study notes with links to Bible Gateway for the Scripture.

Also, Pastor Jed blessed us with a musical service for Mother’s Day. I did my best to put together a medley of the songs he sang and placed the audio at the bottom of this post. While the recording quality isn’t great, I do hope you enjoy! ❤️

Flourishing in Older Age, Part 1

  • Psalm 91:14-16 “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” 
  • Psalm 92:12-15 “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” See also Isaiah 46:4   
  • To flourish: 
    • To grow luxuriantly: to thrive.
    • To achieve success: to prosper. A flourishing business. 
    • To be in a state of activity or production: The artist flourished around 1850.
    • To reach a height of development or influence: The company flourished with record profits under the new owner. 
  • Remember our Father Abraham:  
    • Genesis 15:15 to Abraham “And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.” 
    • Genesis 25:8 “Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.” 
    • Galatians 3:8-9   We which are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 
      • Verses 13-14 –“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”  He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” 
    • Romans 4:17-21 – Abraham gave us the example! Also Elizabeth in Luke 1:36 
  • Make a commitment to God to entrust your life to Him, every day until your last breath. This means spirit, soul (mind, will, emotions, conscience) and body.  
  • 3 John 2 – “prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.” 
  • Next Week: “Steps to Flourishing in Old Age.” What is our responsibility?

Flourishing in Older Age, Part 2

 How do you as Christian personally approach flourishing in older age? 

  • Place your life in His hands (Psalm 31:14) and trust him to cause you to flourish in your older years. Pray to God to give this to you in your life.  
    • Psalm: 18:28; 73:23-28; 90:10a,12; 91:14-16; 92:12-15; Isaiah 46:4.  
    • 3 John 2 – Make a commitment to God to entrust your life to Him, daily until your last breath. This means spirit, soul (mind, will, emotions, conscience), and body. Have faith and hope that the Lord will sustain and preserve you in older age.  
  • Give God’s Word first place in your life: Read it. Meditate upon it. Memorize it. Speak it. Live according to it. It is your food, your life.  
    • John 6:63; Psalm 1; Jeremiah 17:7-8. See also Psalm 119:159  “See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.” “Preserve my life” is mentioned many times in Psalm 119, a psalm about God’s Word.
  • Trust the Holy Spirit’s work in your life.  
    • Romans 8:11; Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 
    • 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 – outward decay vs inward renewal day by day achieving for us an eternal weight of glory. Look not at the things that are seen (temporal) but at the unseen things (eternal).  
    • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – glorify God in your bodies, honor God with your bodies by (a) living a pure life physically and sexually, (b) practice healthy nutrition and hydration, (c) have regular exercise and activity (within your limits), (d) maintain a heathy weight, (e) get enough sleep and observe sabbath rests, (f) avoid things that are not good for the body (alcohol, drugs, etc.), and (g) limit risky behaviors.  
  • Have the faith of our father Abraham in Romans 4:11-25.  

A sampling of Pastor Jed’s Mother’s Day Service

The Power of the Resurrection

by Laurin, posted in Uncategorized

Pastor Jed shared this message a few weeks after Easter (sorry it’s taken me so long to get things up-to-date…I’m trying!) about the power of the resurrection of Christ. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Jed’s study notes with links to Bible Gateway for the Scriptures.

The Power of the Resurrection

  • Romans 10:9-10 – believing and confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord and was raised from the dead is essential to our salvation.  
  • Acts 2:23-24 “God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”  
  • Acts 2:31-33 – JC was raised to life and exalted to the right hand of God. He received the promise of the HS and poured the HS out on us.  
  • The POWER of God (Holy Spirit) raised Christ from the dead. 
    • Romans 8:10-11  “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.  
  • Ephesians 1:19-23 – Paul’s prayer – that we may know Him better including His power. 
    • KJV and ASV – the exceeding greatness of His power. 
    • NIV – His incomparably great power to us who believe. 
    • GOOD NEWS – how very great is his power. 
    • New Living Translation – incredible greatness of God’s power. 
    • AMP – “what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe.”  
  • Philippians 3:10 – “I want to know you and the power of your resurrection.”  
  • The resurrection of Jesus Christ from sin, the curse, and death was God’s single greatest display of His power. This is the power that is now working IN US! 
  • This is this same resurrection power that works in us day by day:
  • I Corinthians 15:3-8, 12-22 – speaks of the futility of our faith if Christ was not resurrected from the death. See also verses 35-55 – Our eventual resurrection from the dead totally, with a glorified resurrection body. See verses 49 and 56.