Surrounding CommunityMatthew 5:13-16The life of Jesus in us makes us a salt and light in an age of tastelessness and darkness. People aren't satisfied with life on their terms. Our communities and neighborhoods and workplaces are comprised of hungry people who are settling for a bland existence, with no idea of what is even available for them in Jesus. They can't even see what they can't see. And ...  Read More

Church VitalityActs 2:42-47Who doesn't want to be part of the church described here? That's a compelling picture of what church family can be by the grace of God. I'd like to think we're experiencing elements of this together, but I also know we're not reflecting the fullness of this beauty quite yet. But let's move that direction. Let's not settle for superficial relationships or being nice peopl...  Read More

Family Flourishing2 Corinthians 5:16-21This passage gives such profound insight on the nature of living as a Christian in a fallen world. First, it identifies a Christian as someone who has been reconciled to God. That reconciliation is initiated and completed by the work of Jesus. We were enemies of God, in conflict with Him, with ourselves and with the world around us. But God made peace with us...  Read More

Relational HealthEphesians 5:22-33Maybe you are married. Maybe you aren't and don't want to be. Maybe you aren't and do want to be. Regardless, our lives have been and are being profoundly impacted by marriages for better or for worse. Our families, churches, communities and broader culture are being shaped by the beauty of marriage or it's corruption. So today, we're going to pray for our own mar...  Read More

Personal RenewalEphesians 3:14-19Today’s prayer is focused on orienting our own hearts and minds toward God. This text is a prayer from Paul that I want to encourage us to personalize. It’s not a prayer for relief from difficulty. Nor is it a prayer for the increase of earthly comfort and personal gain. It is a prayer for increased intimacy with God; for sharper focus on God; for deeper awareness ...  Read More

EVENING PRAYER 7-8:30 p.m.Generations, we have seven locations, one for each night, where we will have evening prayer next week during our corporate fast. Please reach out to the hosts if you are interested in attending or plan to attend just so they can know what to expect. They have each graciously agreed to open their homes to create an environment for us to connect and meet with God together, ...  Read More

We are heading into our first ever corporate fast as a church family at Generations. I've been so encouraged by your embrace of this collective pursuit, so thank you.We begin this upcoming Sunday, January 26th. What we are heading into however, is not to be taken lightly or entered into cavalierly. So, this blog is an attempt to have us all think through some of the different dimensions of the fas...  Read More

"This inward darkness which fills the soul of the natural man is something far more dreadful than a mere intellectual ignorance of spiritual things. Ignorance is a negative thing, but this spiritual “darkness” is a positive thing - an energetic principle which is opposed to God. The “darkness” which rests upon the human soul gives the heart a bias toward evil, prejudicing it against holiness, fett...  Read More

I'm re-reading Martin Luther's biography by Roland H. Bainton and was provoked this morning to worship and rejoicing as I read the account of Luther's own awakening to the gospel.Luther was tormented by years of depression and anguish in the monastic system within the Catholic Church. He suffered from deep despair and anxiety, mentally and emotionally pertaining to his standing with God. He was ri...  Read More

Day 1Isaiah 6So Isaiah is describing a vision he had, where he was located in the presence of the Lord. This is not the Lord visiting him where he resides, but him visiting the Lord where He reigns. He was transported, not physically, but experientially, in a comprehensively sensory way, into the throne room of the pre-incarnate Jesus. That's mind boggling!And I'll just admit it's hard for me to g...  Read More

Day 1Isaiah 4Isaiah 4 is a relief. God has been very blunt and honest with his people in Isaiah 3 about the mess they have created for themselves. He has been straight forward about the disaster and upheaval coming for them by his own hand. He is not shying away from that at all. God is telling them of the social disruption and unrest that He is sending to them because of the ways they have dimini...  Read More

Day 1Isaiah 1:1-20The opening chapter of Isaiah is God rebuking Israel, the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. He characterizes them as a rebellious child who He has raised, trained and loved to live honorably in the world, but who have instead forsaken Him and his ways to live for themselves and their own impulses.Isaiah even goes so far as to say the only distinction between Israel and t...  Read More