Being a "First-Responder" Christian
Sheree Phillips explains what it means to be a "First-Responder" Christian, and why it should be a goal of all of ours. ...
Keep ReadingJanuary 31, 2012
"The gospel, applied to our hearts every day, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can say we told a lie instead of saying we exaggerated a bit. We can admit an unforgiving spirit instead of continuing to blame our parents for our emotional distress. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. With the assurance of total forgiveness through Christ, we have no reason to hide from our sins anymore."...
January 6, 2012
I'm at a season of life where it seems like it's time to slow down. Nothing is working quite right anymore. I need glasses for aging eyes and anti-inflammtories for aging joints. I forget names and what commonly used household gadgets are called. Solitude invites me to steal away (which I enjoy doing at times!) while a growing family and new church lovingly require me to get even busier than ever. The commercials say Benny and I should be anticipating retirement after all the years of being in the throes of parenting and pastoring. Sometimes I envy those who can....
November 7, 2016 | 2 Comments | Category: Christian Living | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, Suffering, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, compassion, serving, first responder, 9/11
Sheree Phillips explains what it means to be a "First-Responder" Christian, and why it should be a goal of all of ours. ...
Keep ReadingNovember 19, 2015 | Category: Current Events | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, ISIS, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, compassion, terrorism, fear, Syria, refugees, #prayforfrance, #PrayforLebenon, #prayersforparis
Joey Phillips writes about the current refugee status, and why he thinks we should welcome as many as practicable ...
Keep ReadingMarch 17, 2015 | Category: Compassionate Complementarianism | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, women, leadership, sex, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, complementarianism, egalitarianism, gender, roles, men, compassion, male, female
Sheree Phillips introduces our series entitled "Compassionate Complementarianism." What does it mean? What does it look like?...
Keep ReadingFebruary 25, 2015 | Category: Cultural Values | Tags: girls, Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, abortion, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, compassion, empathy, pro-life, pro-choice, Lena Dunham, HBO
The HBO show "Girls" covered the topic of abortion, and they got it wrong. But their portrayal of the issue is part of the shift in rhetoric by pro-choice advocates. How should the Church respond?...
Keep ReadingFebruary 12, 2015 | 2 Comments by | Category: Evangelism | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, gospel, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, Jesus, compassion, preaching, Wayne Grudem, St. Francis, Great Commission
Janelle Garrett shows why demonstrating the Gospel is important, but not sufficient. We must also use words. We must declare the Gospel even as we demonstrate the Gospel. ...
Keep ReadingFebruary 10, 2015 | Category: Poetry | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, Prayer, abortion, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, compassion, kingdom living, pro-life, laughter
Jake Phillips prays over the issue of abortion in our country. Lord, break our hearts for what breaks yours....
Keep ReadingJanuary 7, 2015 | Category: Musings of a Pastor's Wife | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, ministry, Sheree Phillips, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, Christian Character, Maturity, lee vista, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, church ministry, counseling, church blog, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, Redeemer Lake Nona, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, compassion, relationships
If you’re like me sometimes it’s hard to know what the gospel really looks like in relationships. I actually used to think the gospel was something you spoke only to the lost who needed to hear how the sinless life, atoning death and glorious resurrection of Christ made a way for them to have a relationship with God, brings meaning to suffering and provides hope for th...
Keep ReadingDecember 5, 2014 | Category: Holiday Specials | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, Prayer, church life, Sheree Phillips, Orlando Church, Lake Nona Churches, cancer, lee vista, lee vista church, redeemerchurch, Spirit life, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, preaching the gospel, church blog, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, Redeemer Lake Nona, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, God's work through suffering, compassion, Merry Christmas, Incarnating Christ
I’m one of those crazy people who gets up early on Black Friday to shop. It’s a tradition my daughters and I have enjoyed for years. Frankly, I don’t buy much. For me it’s primarily a sentimental opportunity to spend time with my girls and have our yearly lunch at Olive Garden....
Keep ReadingNovember 17, 2014 | Category: Current Events | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, evangelism, immigration, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, politics, compassion, amnesty, illegal immigration, John 8, laws, President Obama, Obama
Jake Phillips writes about our response as Christians to the coming Executive Order regarding amnesty. Our biblical mandate to incarnate Christ and display compassion is more important than our political views regarding issues of immigration and enforcing laws. ...
Keep ReadingNovember 13, 2014 | 1 Comments | Category: Musings of a Pastor's Wife | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, blog, lake Nona, healing, Sheree Phillips, Lake Nona Churches, Faith, Sin, lee vista, Suffering, lee vista church, dark, redeemerchurch, redeemer, lakenonachurch, redeemer blog, church ministry, faithfulness of God, counseling, church blog, Redeemer Church of Lake Nona, Redeemer Lake Nona, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, compassion
Often the moments I hear heart-wrenching comments like this are while sitting on the couch in my living room sharing a glass of sweet tea with women from my church. Like me, they’re dealing with the often-weighty consequences of sins by or against them: pain that runs deep like a knife being slowly twisted through the heart. It’s not always there. But when it’s trigg...
Keep ReadingNovember 7, 2014 | Category: Cultural Values | Tags: Redeemer Church, Lake Nona Church, lake Nona, abortion, unity, diversity, Redeemer Church at Lake Nona, elections, politics, voting, democracy, union with Christ, Tim Scott, compassion
Jake Phillips wraps up our posts on elections with a call to unity. Our identity in Christ is more important than our political affiliations, and it is important to remember, as Joey preached this past Sunday, that the believer is not permitted to make distinctions based on classes. ...
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