In Daniel 5, we see that we can learn from the sin and folly of others, and that God gives us many chances to repent. Nebuchadnezzar’s later successor mocks God and faces immediate judgment and intervention.
 
Are you living with an awareness of God’s judgment, and are you ready in every season to speak up about the character and holiness of God?
 

Our leadership is taking seriously the pandemic of the Coronavirus. The arrival of the Coronavirus to North Carolina has brought what was an international news story to our front door. Therefore, the following changes have been made for the safety and well being of others.

Thin, metal trellises adorn the concrete columns at the entrance of the Dowd YMCA. Each trellis supports a live plant, providing structure and direction for the vine to grow. I have enjoyed seeing these on Sundays – each one is a simple yet distinct reminder of the purpose and ministry of the church. Let me explain.

In Daniel 5, we see that we can learn from the sin and folly of others, and that God gives us many chances to repent. Nebuchadnezzar’s later successor mocks God and faces immediate judgment and intervention.
 
Are you living with an awareness of God’s judgment, and are you ready in every season to speak up about the character and holiness of God?
 

We’ve all heard Proverbs 18, “Pride comes before the fall,” but do we know why humility should be desired, and why it is a glorious expression of Christ-like character?
 
As we look at the end of Nebuchadnezzar’s life in Daniel 4 this Sunday, I want you to consider this one question: What is preventing you from radically pursuing the counter-culture world-shifting life of humility modeled after the life of Jesus?
 

If we are to live faithfully despite a culture of idolatry, we need to know the power of the presence of God in our lives. It unlocks how we confront idolatry, how we face criticism, how we do not conform to culture, and how we can stand ultimate tests of allegiance.

Last Sunday, we looked at Daniel 2, and where his resolve is tested against a life or death situation.

Where do you turn when you face trial and adversity?

Do you find it hard to live for God in the world today? Do you face tension in your life and career where it collides with the voice of God? Are you confused about how to respond in a godly way to a polarized and critical government?

Last Sunday we begin a new series on the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel is about a 6th century Jewish man who faced similar tension to live for God in pagan world, and in a politically divisive state. Daniel and his Jewish friends resolved to live wholeheartedly for God despite the current of ungodliness around them.

In great challenge, our cultural climate has never been more hostile to the Gospel of Jesus, nor more desperate for the life renewal He offers. So if we are to exercise evangelism, we must do so with both a sensitive awareness of the Holy Spirit and clear navigation through cultural hurdles around us.

Our society preaches maximum comfort and quick fixes to deeper rooted issues. How often do we ground ourselves in self-preservation and false senses of earthly security only to be startled at how quickly the next storm comes? The analogy found in Matthew 7:24-27 speaks to the eternal security that comes in knowing Christ, doing his work, and establishing Him at the center as opposed to just being a listener: