639 results for author: Greg Albrecht

The Love of God Revealed in and Through Jesus – Greg Albrecht

The significance and meaning of Christmas is critically important – it is far too easy to miss the forest of the gospel while tunnel vision focuses on trivialities such as a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree serves as an example of the less than monumental and momentous aspects of the birth of Jesus, fitting the idiom of “don’t miss the forest for the tree.” There are many trivial pursuits and distractions aren’t there? The meals, the gifts, the music … an endless list of diversions that detour us away from the Christ-centered forest of faith.  The Apostle John provides Christ-centered focus:  “In the beginning was the ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

December 10, 2023 - Quote for the Day:  “Christmas is about God who, in the person of Jesus, came to us willing to confront the very worst of what it means to be human, and love us anyway.”  Originally published in: Letters to My Friends ------------------------------------- Help Us Help Others - Give Now

Not What Religion Expects – Greg Albrecht

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. —Isaiah 53:3 Jesus was not just ignored nor was he merely disliked. He wasn’t simply a minor irritant—he was despised and rejected. Strong language—powerful emotions! When someone is despised they are regarded with contempt and scorn, they are hated and loathed, and regarded as unworthy of interest or concern. When someone is rejected, others refuse to accept or recognize them. A person who is rejected is effectively discarded as useless. Who, specific...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

December 7, 2023 - Quote for the Day:  “She had never been with a man – not even the man she was going to marry.  As a bride-to-be, the teenage girl named Mary lived each day making plans, dreaming of the future and looking forward to her marriage.   Everything was ‘normal’ and her future seemed promising until an angel of the Lord appeared to her saying, she was ‘highly favored.’ … Having a child before she was married was not high on the list of things to which Mary aspired – giving birth to a child before marriage whose father was anyone other than Joseph, her fiancé, would be a disaster!” Originally published ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

December 5, 2023 - Quote for the Day: “… this season of the year reminds us that the future is not our enemy.  For Christians, the future is not a time to fear, it is not the place of death and defeat.  For as certainly as Jesus was born, he will come again.  Christ the Lord has come.  He has come to be one of us, born of the virgin Mary, born in humility and poverty.  He died on his Cross.  He rose from his tomb.  He is coming again!”  Originally published in: Spiritual Soup for the Hungry Soul, Volume 1 ------------------------------------- Help Us Help Others - Give Now

The King Who Became a Man – by Greg Albrecht

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood (John 1:14, The Message). During his reign (1910-1936) King George V of the United Kingdom and the British Empire visited Leeds, a city in the north of England. When he was informed that a school was situated next to the railway line, King George agreed to have the train slow down so that he could appear on a platform and wave to the children as the royal entourage passed. When the king came outside the train he wore no outward signs of royalty, but was dressed in a suit, like any other male subject of his kingdom. After the train glided by and the cheers of the children ...

4 Books Now Available in the “WONDERS” Series

Consider a Christmas gift of a beautiful book in the "Wonders" series. Beautiful coffee table display books: Wonders of His Grace, Wonders of His Love, Wonders of His Peace and the latest Wonders of His Word. Consider all the wonders of God, the beauty of all creation and wonder at how he adorned this earth with his extravagantly exquisite, delightfully amazing created order, reminding us of his undying love. These are beautiful books to display on your coffee table. Order a copy at www.ptm.org/books or by calling 1-800-309-4466.

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

December 3, 2023 - Quote for the Day:  “That was God in that crib amidst the animal sounds and smells in Bethlehem, and that was God on that cross on the garbage dump just outside of Jerusalem.  God in a crib – God in human flesh – God in diapers – defenseless, crying and fighting for breath.  God on the cross, his flesh pierced and just as he was in his crib – defenseless and fighting for breath.  The crib and the cross, carved from the same wood – only God can make a tree.”  Originally published in: Letters to My Friends ------------------------------------- Help Us Help Others - Give Now

The Beginning of the End – by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from December 2023: Every year we celebrate Christmas in the last week of the last month of the year.  Is December 25 the end or the beginning? Are we celebrating the end of a passing year or the beginning of a New Year… or are we celebrating the beginning of the end?   For the past three years we have battled deadly foes, unseen like COVID and visible like the tyrannical Putin of Russia and the unspeakable brutality of war, most particularly in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Dare we hope that December 2023 is the end of some really difficult years, and that relative peace and prosperity is on the way for ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 30, 2023 - Quote for the Day: “It is my contention – and you may choose to disagree – that legalistic religion has fabricated and invented eternal conscious torment as the way God will punish those who don’t measure up.  But in the next breath, after condemning people to eternal conscious torment, Christ-less religion will assure them, ‘But don’t forget, God loves you.’  Think about it:  Why is it so important for religion to believe that God loves its followers but wants those who are not members of their church to suffer? Why are so many churches within Christendom willing to extend one hand to ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 28, 2023 - Quote for the Day: “The teaching that God’s love is given to us, without strings attached, free of charge, goes against every human instinct.  All other religions – the Jewish old covenant, the Muslim code of law, the Buddhist eightfold path and the Hindu doctrine of karma all offer a way to earn God’s approval by human performance. Authentic, biblically based Christianity is unique in its teachings and beliefs that God’s love is given to us by faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone.” Originally published in: Spiritual Soup for the Hungry Soul, Volume 2 ----------------------------...

Christ Alone – the Absolute Center of our Faith – by Greg Albrecht

  Studies of sermon topics and titles reveal that the vast majority of messages given within the churches of Christendom, perhaps up to 80%, are centered on the needs and desires of human beings, rather than on Jesus Christ. 80%!   The task of preaching and teaching the real, authentic gospel of Jesus Christ boils down to preaching Christ. The purpose of Christ-centered, authentic Christian teaching, preaching, ministry or church is not to preach the Bible, but to preach Christ. Of course, properly interpreted and understood, the Bible is all about Jesus Christ—he is not only the divine author but he is the subject and ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 26, 2023 - Quote for the Day: “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).  He didn’t come breathing fire.  He didn’t come filled with threats and condemnation.  He didn’t come so that we could receive lurid, detailed explanations of the eternal torture that surely awaits us if we don’t start obeying the law.  He didn’t come to reveal an angry and vindictive God.  Jesus came as a breath of fresh air.  He came, not to start another religion, but to begin a revolution that would eventually put religion out of business.”  Originally published in: Spiritual Soup for the Hungry Soul, Volume ...

Join Us For Our Sunday Sermon

"We Are Thankful" When we choose Jesus, we choose hope over despair and love over hate. We choose forgiveness over bitterness and peace over anger. Because of Jesus we are thankful. Join us for our Sunday Sermon. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/CWR719.mp3

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 23, 2023 - Quote for the Day: “When you begin reading a book, you don’t pick it up and start reading page 78, do you?  You know that there is no way you will be able to make sense of the plot, the story thread, the theme or the main characters if you just plunge into the story without understanding the background.  If you go to a movie, you try to arrive before it starts.  You don’t want to miss anything you will need to understand as the story unfolds. We all like to see movies from the very beginning, and we all know that it’s hopeless trying to read a 600-page book in about 15-20 minutes by starting to ...