TOPIC INDEXChurch Seasons (36)

  1. Receive The Gifts, But Don't Think It's Because God Is Santa Claus

    book
    12/13/18
    15 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    It's hard wired into our brain. We can't help ourselves.

  2. Grace & Mercy? Who Needs It!

    book
    12/07/18
    8 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    God's grace and mercy in Jesus Christ calls all sinners to a celebration. A "those who sat in darkness have seen a great light" kind of celebration.

  3. The Absurdity of Advent

    book
    12/04/18
    9 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    Advent is the season when the Church declares to a world overwhelmed by excuses, lies, and cruelty that their Savior comes.

  4. Christ’s Sixth Word From the Cross: “It Is Finished.”

    book
    03/30/18
    10 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    At Golgotha, Jesus saves us from sin by becoming sin for us. Jesus takes all our messes, all our shame, all our guilt, all our fears and insecurities and He allows them to kill Him instead of us.

  5. Christmas Meditation — Unto Us A Child Is Born

    book
    12/26/17
    7 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    The text says there was no room for them. And this should give us cause for a little head-scratching.

  6. True Reformation

    book
    10/30/17
    12 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    Where Jesus speaks to us, takes ahold of us, and gives Himself to us.

  7. Jesu, Joy of the Forsaken

    book
    06/06/17
    11 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    Christians argue about who's in charge of who, who's going to run things, who is the authority and who are the leaders that tell us on behalf of Jesus what to do next.

  8. Bare, Naked Faith

    book
    04/18/17
    8 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    Put to death by God's Word of Law, we are then raised to new life by God's Word of Gospel.

  9. He's Risen!

    book
    04/11/17
    8 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    Like her Lord, the Church has dirt under her nails, the smell of coffin wood on her clothes, and a hunger in her belly.

  10. There's No Joy But In This Boy

    book
    12/20/16
    7 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    Our relief when we're troubled can't be found at the end of all our preparations and celebrations, no matter how pious our intent.

  11. Clark Kent in a Manger

    book
    12/13/16
    11 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    Jesus isn't Superman. He's not from another planet. He's from Earth.

  12. Isn't There Anywhere A Person Can Be Still?

    book
    12/06/16
    6 mins
    By Donavon Riley
    This time of year, Christmas time, the world isn't so much Christ-expectant as it is Christ-haunted.