JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Second Corinthians 5:17.

If
anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is
here.

A
relationship with Jesus begins our journey of a redeemed life. 

We
become a new person with a fresh hope and a greater purpose beyond ourselves. God’s
love moves us to a place of forgiveness.

Before
Christ, we were lost without clear direction. After coming to faith in Christ,
we are found in His grace. 

Before
Christ, we were enslaved by sin. But after coming to faith in Christ, we were
set free.

Before
Christ, we were condemned without Jesus. But after coming to faith in Christ,
we were saved to be with Jesus.

Through Jesus, we are set free to become a new creation in relationship to Him.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Hi! We’re singing new songs this morning by Hillsong United, Sean Curran, Crowder, Chris Renzema, David Leonard, Tasha Layton and more. All the details are below! Feel free to get in touch. Let me know what songs you love!

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

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JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on First Corinthians 6:19.

“Do you
not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom
you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”

This
was a message to the church. The bodies of believers are compared to a temple,
which is a house of worship. When we look at our body this way, it makes a
difference how we use the various parts of our body to please God.

With
our mouth, we express devotion to God.

With
our ears, we are receptive to hearing the words of God.

With
our feet, we take the Gospel with us in our travels.

With
our hands, we serve others in Jesus’ name.

And
with our heart, we love God with sincerity.

Through Jesus, we are set free to honor God with our bodies.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 6:41.

Jesus
said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye’ when you yourself fail to see
the plank in your own eye?’ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your
eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s
eye.”

Jesus
was talking about the danger of using a double standard with this statement. It
would be hypocritical for us to look past our own flaws to see the smaller
flaws of another person.  Dealing with
the speck in someone else’s eye diverts attention away from the plank in our
own eye. Jesus wants us to examine the sin in our own lives and remove it first.
Then, we will be in a better place to help our friends to overcome their issues
that hinder spiritual progress.

The words of Jesus inspire us to live out our faith with integrity and mercy in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Philippians 2:13.

“For it
is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good
purpose.”

After we come to faith in Jesus, we will come to realize that God has a good purpose for us while we live on the earth.  We are not left alone to figure it out all by ourselves. God is right there with us. He offers His Word to equip us, and His Holy Spirit to guide us. He is our motivating force and our power source. His love mobilizes our faith into action and inspires our purpose to bring glory to God.

Through Jesus, we are set free to live out the good purpose that God has for us.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Matthew 25:22 and 23.

Jesus
was telling a Parable that revealed how three different people handled the
wealth that their master gave them. The master gave them different amounts.

“The
man with two bags of gold came and said, “Master, you entrusted me with two
bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.”

His
master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master’s happiness.”

This
servant did not receive as many bags of gold as another servant in the story
who received five bags. Nor did he produce as much as that servant. But
he managed what he was given faithfully. What has God entrusted with us? Those
are opportunities to invest in His Kingdom and to make a difference in this
world for the Gospel.

Through Jesus, we are set free to share in the labor of the Lord, and to share in our Master’s happiness.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

2019 is off to a great start with new worship projects coming out of local churches. The songs on these albums–and the stories behind the music–are powerful. Check into these. All are available on Spotify, iTunes, etc.

Matt & Kim Goss (of LCBC) – “The Worship EP”. My favorite song is “Your Presence”. I loved it from the second it started playing on my car stereo: laid back guitar picking and Matt singing about the sunrise and sunset. It has a beautiful vibe! There’s something very special about it–but little did I know…the story behind this song is so wonderful!

Community Songs (of Community Fellowship Church) – “From The Valley EP”. Dan & Lauren Smith sing “Faithful” on this project. It’s a song rooted in 2 Timothy 2:11-13, encouraging us that God is faithful, even when we aren’t. He’s with us–in the valley, but also in our everyday life. His goodness gets us through. The music video for this song is gorgeous! Wooden pews, high arches, a glossy baby grand piano and vibrant stained glass.

Life Center Worship – Debut EP. This is a long-awaited project from my home church. We’ve been singing these songs in our services through so many seasons! One of the songs that people have been excited to finally have a recording of is “You Delight In Me” by Tif Aitken.

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Titus 3, verses 3 through 5a.

The
Apostle Paul said, “At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and
enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being
hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior
appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because
of his mercy.”

When we
hear testimonies from believers, we hear of the various ways that God can
change a heart. In the case of Paul the Apostle, his transformation was
dynamic. The kindness and love of God changed him from the inside out. Instead
of being foolish without Christ, he became wise in Christ. Instead of being
disobedient to the Gospel, he became obedient to the Gospel. The hatred and
hardness that he once harbored in his heart were replaced by love and
tenderness toward God and His church. Today, followers of Jesus also have a
story to share of transformation.

Through Jesus, we are set free from the strongholds of our past to enjoy God’s love in the present.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 23:25 and 26.

Jesus
said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean
the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and
self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish,
and then the outside also will be clean.”

It may
be surprising to learn that Jesus used some of his harshest words for the
religious leaders of His day. He called them hypocrites because they were
acting a part, but not living the life of someone who truly loved God. Jesus
revealed their desperate condition apart from God and challenged them to
change.

The
Christian life is an experience of transformation from the inside out where we
are growing more and more into the likeness of Jesus. Out of a pure heart, our
motives will be in the right place for honoring God in our actions.

The words of Jesus inspire us to come clean with God and enjoy the freedom of integrity in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com