Finding My Story in God's Story 2019 Archives

To Win Your Heart

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 3:16 · Incarnation

James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us to faith in the eternal God who chose to reveal himself by becoming human and living in our world

As we bring this year's journey to an end, the question you need to ask is as important to answer as it is simple to ask!

Our Intersection with Joy

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 1 · Christmas · Birth · Incarnation

James Nored on video and Phil Ware with words remind us that the circumstances of the moment can be swallowed up in the greater joy of God's long story of grace that came to us in Jesus of Nazareth.

God's long story of grace intersected the mess of our world, and the rest of this story is our good news of great joy.

More than Just God's Whisper

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Hebrews 1:1-3 · Advent

James Nored and Phil Ware share the meaning of Jesus' incarnation in word and video using a simple but powerful allegory.

How could God help us understand his faithful love for us, yet demonstrate his desire for us to live in our world with his righteous character and gracious compassion?

Peace: Until We Find Our Dream

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 2

James Nored and Phil Ware share in video and words the wonder of Jesus’ birth and how it changed the world with the Sound of Music.

What an incredible story. It's a story of transformation from an atheist to a Christian missionary in primitive Papua, New Guinea!

Finding Our Path to God

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

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 believed in Jesus.

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

Unlikely Heroes

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Philippians 2:5-11 · Hero

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 to Peter that he was not that kind of hero!

Purpose that Brings Meaning to Life

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Romans 8:18

James Nored and Phil Ware share God's message for us about purpose and meaning through words and video.

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

To the Ends of the Earth

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Isaiah 53:1-12 · 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 · Great Commission

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 · Romans 6:3-14 · Life

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 · Holy Spirit

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 · John 20:1-9 · 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 · John 19:38-42 · Build · 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 · Colossians 1:18-23

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

Decision Time: Who Do I Say That Jesus Is?

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 26 · Crucifixion

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 12:22-27 · 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

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 10:45 · Messiah

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.

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

Upside Down Messiah

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Mark 8 · 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 16:13-18 · Lord

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, Like Jesus

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 25:40-45 · Life · 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.

Through Every Storm

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Matthew 8:23-37 · Fear

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 · New Life

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 wasn't calling us to keep a list of do's and don'ts; he was 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 · Discipleship

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!

Our One Defining Note

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Luke 6:40 · Discipleship

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.