Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ, This past Sunday we considered the second half of the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” We saw that the word “forgive” literally means “to release.” When we forgive someone who has hurt us or wronged
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, By now, I’m sure most of you are aware that the Elders and Deacons met last week and concluded it is best to suspend “in person worship services” for the month of November. We will, of course, continue to live stream the services, with
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, Chinese Christian leader and author Watchman Nee (1903-1972), made this observation about prayer: “Our prayers lay the track down upon which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.” Last Sunday in our
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, Last Sunday we considered the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We noted that the kingdom of God in Scripture is not about a place but it refers to the rule
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, Last Sunday in our study of The Lord’s Prayer, we considered the phrase, “Hallowed be Thy name.” We saw that central to this part of the Prayer is that we would pray that God’s name be regarded as holy and good through our lives,
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, For the past two Sundays we have considered the opening of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father who art in heaven.” In that simple salutation we are presented with such a beautiful picture of God, one that truly encourages us in our prayer life. First,
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, The late Christian pastor and author, A.W. Tozer, wrote, “God has not bowed to our nervous haste nor embraced the methods of our machine age. It is well that we accept the hard truth now: the man who would know God must give time
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, Last Sunday we considered the beautiful image in Jeremiah 18:1-6 of God as the Potter and us as the clay. God wisely shapes and forms us so that our lives come to match the wonderful purpose He has for us. Even when we sin,
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, Last Sunday we considered what is known as The Parable of the Rich Fool, found in Luke 12:16-21. It’s about a man whose crops were so bountiful he had to build bigger barns to hold it all. Thinking he had enough wealth to last
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, In my personal devotional reading I have been going through the Gospel of Matthew. Earlier this week I came to chapter 14. Beginning in verse 22, we read how Jesus had the disciples get in a boat and go to the other side of
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