Finding My Story in God's Story (Page 2)

Finding Our Path to God

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 14:6 · Salvation

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of both the exclusive claim of Jesus as the only way to God and the inclusive fellowship of welcoming all people who truly believe in him.

The Bible and the early church were both exclusive and inclusive about salvation and fellowship.

Unlikely Heroes Who Sacrifice

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Philippians 2:1-11

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of that inner part of us that still bears the stamp of God's divine nature, the part that is touched by stories of self-sacrifice.

Their flesh yearned for a mighty conqueror who would slay their enemies. Jesus made it clear that he would not be that kind of hero!

Can We Trust the Scriptures?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 1:1-18

James Nored and Phil Ware share in video and word messages that help us understand that we are part of God's great story of Jesus and that we have a story to share as well.

We know Jesus is God's greatest Word, but can we trust the Scriptures that lead us to him?

Purpose that Brings Meaning to Life

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Romans 8:18 · Measure Up · Meaning

James Nored and Phil Ware share God's message for us about purpose and meaning through words and video, focusing on Viktor Frankl and the apostle Paul.

As human beings, we can survive almost any 'how' if we have a 'why'! — Viktor Frankl

To the Ends of the Earth

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Acts 1:4-9 · Mission

James Nored and Phil Ware share Jesus' plan to reach all peoples, like the Ethiopian Nobleman and the people in the farthest reaches of the earth, with the goodness of grace.

God uses the most amazing connections and people to fulfill his promises to bless all people!

God's Mission Through Jesus' People

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 20:19-23

James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us through words and video to embrace God's mission for us as the bodily presence of Jesus in the world.

Can you think of a more noble vision or a more compelling mission for us, the Lord's people, than to be Jesus' bodily presence to our fractured and fragmented world?

Sharing Life with Christ

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Colossians 2:12 · Baptism

James Nored and Phil Ware share in video and word how we can share in the life of Jesus in our lives today.

Jesus is not only our Savior and Lord, but he is also the model on whom we are to build our lives!

Life to Our Mortal Bodies

by James Nored & Phil Ware · 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 · Baptism

James Nored and Phil Ware emphasize the importance of the Holy Spirit in our resurrection from the dead.

Jesus wasn't just raised from the dead; he is also now alive in us through the Holy Spirit!

Which Way Will I Run?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 14:50-52 · Resurrection

James Nored and Phil Ware share in video, words, and images some of the many reasons Christians have to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and is Lord, Christ, Jesus, and Son of God!

Will I run in faith to follow the Jesus of the empty tomb even if it means I have to follow him to a cross of my own?

Buried

by James Nored & Phil Ware · 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 · Buried

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance.

We All Need Jesus!

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 7:7-11 · Jesus

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that we all needed Jesus' redemptive death on the cross so we could find new life in the grace of God.

Because we could not be

Who Do I Say that Jesus Is?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 26:63-64 · Identity

James Nored and Phil Ware share in word and video the meaning of Jesus' trials before Pilate, Herod, and the Jewish Ruling Council.

Jesus' trials focused on his true identity.

Unless a Seed

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 12:23-33 · Crucifixion

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the dark night that began the long, painful, and lonely journey of Jesus through his Passion to bring us to God.

Jesus had many opportunities to walk away from the shame and pain of the cross, but he chose the Father's will and our need over his comfort.

Beyond Religious Places, Practices, and Rituals

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 23 · Great Commission

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the deadly consequences of a religion that forgets the love of God for broken people and mission Jesus has for us to the lost world.

We must always remember that God's love for broken people and our call to his mission must matter most.

Truly See the Coming King

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 10:46-52 · Cross

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that many were blind to Jesus as the Messiah because he refused to be the kind of Messiah they expected; he was the upside down Messiah.

See the King headed to a cross, the foal of a donkey, and a formerly blind man who followed along the way.

The Upside-Down Messiah

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 8:31 · Servant

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us in word and video how upside down Jesus' values are to the way we often do things in our world and in our churches.

As much as we don't want to admit it, we often miss the way of the upside down Messiah as badly as his first disciples.

Who Do You Say I Am?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 16 · Identity

James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us to answer the same question Jesus asked his first followers at Caesarea Philippi: 'Who do you say I am?'

At a place with great spiritual and physical significance, Jesus challenged his followers to decide about his identity.

To the Least of These, Like Jesus

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 23 · Least

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that we not only must become like children but as Jesus' followers, we must value children.

Largely, in the days when Jesus came, children were only valued if they were wanted. I wonder what history will say in the future about us?

Through Every Storm!

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 8:23-27 · Storm

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that the storms of life can engulf us, surround us, buffet us, and even terrify us, but Jesus will not abandon us in our storms and will eventually bring us to safety, peace, and calm.

Jesus wants us to invite him into our storms so he can speak peace to our panic and hope to our dread.

A New Heart

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 5 · Sermon on the Mount

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and that he was not giving us a list of do's and don't do's, but was calling us to put into practice the way of God from the heart.

Jesus isn't calling us to keep a list of do's and don'ts; he is challenging us to obey the Father from our hearts, in love.

In His Steps to Share His Light

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 5 · Christlikeness · Sermon on the Mount

Phil Ware and James Nored, through word and video, remind us of our need to return to the Jesus-styled kind of life.

Jesus went up on the mountain and taught his followers to live the good life, to live as Jesus did!

One Defining Note

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 10:40-41 · Following Jesus

Phil Ware and James Nored remind us that the core of our faith is Jesus, that Christ is our defining note around whom all of us must tune our lives and recognize the grace of being called and transformed to be like him.

Do we realize the grace of getting to tune our lives to Jesus?

Desert of Trial

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 4:1-11 · Temptation

James Nored and Phil Ware discuss the temptations and trials of Jesus and why they are important to us and what they have to say to us as people who are part of God's story.

Because he knew the true and living God, the heart behind the Scriptures, he could recognize the forger, the fraud — Satan — who tried to distort and misuse truth and Scripture.

In the Footsteps of Jesus

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 3:1-17 · Baptism

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of an important reason to be baptized: not only was Jesus baptized, he also said it was the right thing to do and called on all his disciples to be baptized and baptizers.

Jesus said this was the right thing for him to do!

U-Turn to Walk in God's Will

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 3:1-23

Phil Ware and James Nored look at what the ministry of John the Baptizer meant for people in his day and call on us to share in this move toward the kingdom of God today.