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One of the reasons Jesus might have cleansed the temple was because roadblocks had been thrown in the doorway of entering the temple. The mere idea of entering the temple might have become a burden and distraction for many. Moneychangers were in the temple court to help foreigners exchange their money for the acceptable currency.

Ask any attorney who practices criminal defense and they are likely to express that their highest and most sacred objective is to protect the innocent man from false accusation; and in doing so, establish hope that the truly guilty party might meet justice. In the case of Christ, we see this model flipped completely on its head. Let us examine some of those who played a role in the horrific and unjust plot to kill Jesus.

“…without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). The faith in the person and work of God by Abraham, is the same faith in Christ, his death and resurrection, that saves us today!

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). The path of temptation is well-trodden. The wake of death sin leaves behind is full of personal devastation and relational trauma. No matter the sin, the process and resulting death remain constant. James is clear the source of temptation lies within the desire of the heart.

Jesus provided the church a pathway of worship together through the observance of the Lord’s Supper. Through this experience, the Lord meets with his people and strengthens their faith as they remember his gospel, hold fast the unity of the Spirit, and anticipate his return.

Fellow believers, does our congregational worship reflect a people who have seen the King of Glory? Who is the King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle!… The LORD of Hosts, he is the King of Glory!” (Psalm 24) At Northwest we value worship. The ultimate act of worship is to love the Lord Jesus with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Paul refers to this as presenting ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable- this is our spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1-2)!

A quick search on ways to ease anxiety will produce common results: focus on what you can control; exercise deep breathing; and practice self-care. While opinions on this subject vary, it is widely accepted genetics, chemistry, trauma, or a combination, are contributing factors to the anxiety many experience today. Our Creator is glorified any time we trust in him through the prayerful treatment of the spirit, mind, and body.

The New Testament has much to say about the appointment of leadership in the church. As Paul traveled on his missionary journeys he made it a practice to appoint elders in every church. He instructed Timothy to recognize those elders who rule and especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Paul exhorted Titus to appoint elders in every town. Notably, Paul used the terms, elder and overseer interchangeably when writing to Titus. The apostle helped us understand, both the character and teaching of the elder are inextricable.

Some men excel at gift-giving, but a large swath of the male population is relatively unsuccessful at this endeavor. The commercialization of Christmas amplifies the situation. Online searches lead some husbands to choose disastrous gift options such as a map of the stars, a phone sanitizer, or even monogrammed coasters. [Disclaimer: if you have received or given any of these gifts, of course, it has been out of love]. It is well-known diamonds are a girl's best friend; however, we know for many 2020 has been a challenging year. In the end, what is a husband to do?

Steeped in Judaism, Saul miraculously became a spirit-filled follower of Jesus Christ...a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. What a shock it must have been when he was blinded by the light and questioned, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He answered, “Who are You, Lord?” This was a man completely devoted to his beliefs, yet he was spiritually dead.