Pastor David Keuss - Hope without Compromise

       What is it to be thoughtful obeying God-given authority, a boss, a parent, so on? Well, Solomon in Ecclesiastes 8 brings up if asked, a dilemma. That is namely, pretty much everyone thinks that they are wise, already. Solomon speaks to those who listen, so it is at least someone who might grow wiser. Found in the Old Testament, in Ecclesiastes 8, he asks by the Spirit, ‘who is like the wise person,’ as not a real question: rhetorical. This is like someone today saying ‘do cats meow’ or ‘is rain wet?’ Solomon admits he is not perfect, though is legitimately wise.      There’s a saying, ‘the more you know, the more you know you don’t know.’ Solomon admits he and others can grow in wisdom. Yes he has experience as a king, as a son to another king before, as a current monarch over Israel the country, yet says greater wisdom than typical is to see: you could be given a lawful commend to do something, you don't agree with too much. A greater than a...

Forgiveness. Part II. What is it to forgive from a generous heart and mind? Peter is a classic person in Scripture to ponder. Often given to being quick to act, Peter sometimes regrets actions. But also, Peter would have been wronged by others. Forgiving and being forgiven are a part of a healthy Christian life. Peter was one of the inner three disciples of Jesus, who had at the point of Matthew chapter eighteen heard much of Jesus' teaching. He has some interesting conversations with Jesus in general, but we encounter him asking Jesus on our topic, what is considered generous?  Have you ever sat at dinner and asked people if they could meet someone in Scripture, who would it be, and what would they ask? Talking to a relative over a meal, things of faith came up. She said she would love to sit down at dinner with Jesus. A few topics came to her mind that she would love to get solid answers. Us too, wouldn’t you love to be able to sit down with the Lord Jesus for a few hours to chat...

Forgiveness. Forgiveness gets a bad rap today. Sometimes it is unappealing because of the false views of what forgiveness entails. But know this, forgiveness is primarily an action between you and the Lord, you offer to others, since you have been forgiven. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew reveals this as a linchpin to regular Christian fellowship with God the Father. Forgiveness is explained by the Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter six as a part of our regular walk with the Lord, not as a rare occurrence. As we go to God our Father, we forgive others. Jesus teaches the Lord's Prayer as a model prayer, to cover key ground, but also as a reminder of things, like forgiveness. Given it is so important to regular Christian living, what motivates us to forgive? Consider how the prayer begins. "Our Father." Forgiving too is done; so as to show forth we belong to the Lord’s household of faith, through union with Jesus Christ our Savior.  Our identity reflects who God the Father is, i...

     A friend recently excitedly asked me about the Millennium as a belief among us as Christians. Is it in the Bible? What is it? It is found in Scripture, I shared in Revelation chapter 20. In fact, several times the 1000 year time is mentioned for emphasis.      We find this, chapter 20, verses 1 to 15 (NASB) from Jesus' closest disciple, and an apostle: "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain  [ a ] in his hand.     And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years ;     and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.   Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgm...

      As you reflect on your 2024 goals and life for Jesus, consider using some of these helpful spiritual questions from Dr. Don Whitney, a professor of spiritual disciplines. He complied the list so as to guide a prayerful and Bible-based means of growing in Christian purity & holiness. These include, questions like the following highlights taken from the below article with the list: "14. What habit would you most like to establish this year? 15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year? 16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it? 17. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year? 18. What’s one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year? 19. What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?" ...

       Parenting is built into the will of God for you. As a lesser covenant, yet still showing God's heart, we find in the Bible, this from the Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 6:4 is instructive in parenting. From the NASB, the LORD said this, for parents: " Hear, O Israel! The  Lord  is our God, the  Lord  is one!   You shall love the  Lord  your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.   These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.   You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."        So in the New Testament, you find Paul the Apostle affirming this, as relevant to our time. The instruction is assumed that way to continue in thrust. Paul then goes beyond it and adds tips for how to use it well, rather than instruct poorly (E...