September 19, 2023
by Eric Stillman
How do you know that you are saved, right with God, going to heaven, born again, or whatever other phrase you want to use to describe this most crucial question of life? Paul writes to the Corinthians to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Okay, Paul – if we need to test ourselves, what questions should we be asking? Let me share what I believe are the three most important questions we should ask in order to investigate the genuineness of our faith:...Keep Reading
Posted in: Salvation Tags: Salvation, Heaven, eternal life, Gospel
August 29, 2023
by Eric Stillman
A few years ago, I read a lengthy article on the Financial Times website about Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church, and the prosperity gospel (https://www.ft.com/content/3990ce66-60a6-11e9-b285-3acd5d43599e). In case you’re unaware, Lakewood Church is the largest church in America, and millions more watch Joel Osteen every week on TV or online. Early on in the article is a paragraph that sums up very well Lakewood’s approach to the Christian faith:...Keep Reading
Posted in: Sin Tags: Sin, Salvation, good news
August 22, 2023
by Eric Stillman
I am a Chicago Cubs fan, and last week, there was a wonderful moment for those of us who still enjoy watching baseball. One of the Cubs rookies, Christopher Morel, hit a game-winning home run and, abandoning all decorum, sprinted joyfully around the bases, tearing off his shirt for the final 90 feet and leaping on to home plate and the embrace of his teammates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS5C8fgkG34). It wasn’t the fact that the Cubs won that brought tears to my eyes; it was the unbridled exuberance that young man showed as he lived out a moment that he had undoubtedly dreamed about growing up in the Dominican Republic....Keep Reading
Posted in: Joy Tags: Salvation, David, Joy
July 26, 2022
by Joe Barone
The basement apartment, equipped with a single gas space heater, frameless bed, fan and a TV was rudimentary at best. A life adjusting to a very recent divorce and separation from my precious 3-year-old daughter would be much harder than acclimating myself to these austere accommodations.
Anger, failure, self-pity, loneliness, and throw in a measure of depression while you’re at it, were my every day friends. Visitation time and activities with my 3-year-old Lena Marie were all that I really cared about. Work was a diversion and always provided the opportunity to make new friends....Keep Reading
Posted in: Evangelism Tags: Salvation, Friendship, Joe Barone
July 12, 2022
by Becky Derby
It was my senior year of high school - 1985. I was in the midst of what would today be diagnosed as clinical depression when my parents told me that we would be moving from my rural community of North Smithfield, RI, to Tolland, CT, the following year. I was beside myself. I was going to college in the fall, less than 20 miles from where I grew up. But, because of my parents’ move, when I came home from college, I would be in a strange place and a strange house. I wouldn’t know my way around, and I wouldn't know anyone. I was devastated and scared....Keep Reading
Posted in: Evangelism Tags: Evangelism, Salvation
July 14, 2020
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, I preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story that points to the sacrificial love and mercy that Jesus showed us when we were broken by our sin and headed towards eternal separation from God. This story always reminds me of a short story/drama which I read soon after I became a believer, called The Ragman by Walter Wangerin. I’ve reprinted it below:...Keep Reading
Tags: Gospel, Salvation, God's love
October 8, 2019
by Eric Stillman
The first time I remember hearing the phrase "born again" was in relation to Darryl Strawberry, the former Mets and Yankees star. I recall reading that Strawberry had become a "born again Christian," and while I wasn't quite sure what that meant, it was obvious that he seemed to have found religion.
The phrase “born again” carries with it all kinds of baggage in this day and age....Keep Reading
Tags: Evangelism, Salvation
March 31, 2015
by Eric Stillman
Eleven years ago, Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ hit movie theaters. Many movies have been made about the life and death of Jesus, but Passion undoubtedly contained the most intense and visceral depiction of Jesus’ suffering and death. Many moviegoers ...Keep Reading
Posted in: Jesus Tags: Salvation, Jesus' death
October 29, 2013
by Eric Stillman
This coming weekend is an annual weekend of prayer for children in foster care in the state of Connecticut (see bellsofhope.org for more information). Obviously, there are many important and heart-breaking issues and causes in this world, and it is impossible to participate in every single one. For my family, foster care and adoption has been one that we have chosen to become involved in, out of our desire to provide a home and a family for children who may not have one of their own. We opened our home to our first foster daughter, Joanna, four years ago, and eventually adopted our son Jordan because of our involvement with the Department of Children and Families.
...Keep Reading
Posted in: Adoption Tags: Salvation, Adoption
October 8, 2013
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, we were blessed as a church to experience the baptisms of six individuals who shared their testimonies of how God had brought them to faith in Jesus and then were plunged beneath the waters and raised back up. In Romans 6, Paul reminds us that our baptism is a visual reminder that we have died to our sin and have been raised to new life in Christ, that just as Jesus was buried and was raised from the dead, so we have become new creations in Christ. The old has gone, and the new has come. With that in mind, I invite you to meditate on the wonder of this new creation that Christ has called you to:
...Keep Reading
Posted in: Gospel Tags: Baptism, Salvation
April 6, 2010
by Eric Stillman
Jerry Bridges, in his book The Gospel for Real Life, tells a story about a Southern plantation owner who left a $50,000 inheritance (equivalent to about $500,000 today) to a former slave who had served him faithfully all his life. The lawyer for the estate duly notified the former slave of his inheritance and told him that the money had been deposited for him at the local bank. However, weeks went by, and the former slave never called for his inheritance, and so that banker called again to tell him that he had $50,000 to draw on at any time. The former slave replied, ‘œDo you think I can have fifty cents to buy a sack of cornmeal?‘...Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Salvation
March 30, 2010
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, we celebrated a baptism service as one of our newest members, Anthony Varesio, was baptized. Many people come from traditions where infants are baptized, and then confirm their baptismal vows in their teenage years. In our tradition, as we understand the Bible, we believe that baptism is a public expression of an inward reality, that an individual has died to his or her old self, been washed of his or her sins, and has been raised to new life in Christ. Consider Romans 6:3-4 - ‘œDon‘t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.‘ Baptism is a way of identifying oneself with Jesus in His death and resurrection, and therefore something we believe should be experienced by those who can consciously make such a profession of faith. Finally, it is also an act of obedience, keeping in mind that Jesus, who himself was baptized in Matthew 3:13-17, commanded us in his Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything He had commanded us....Keep Reading
Tags: NewLife, Salvation
March 23, 2010
by Eric Stillman
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘œSit here while I pray.‘ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘œMy soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,‘ he said to them. ‘œStay here and keep watch.‘ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘œAbba, Father,‘ he said, ‘œeverything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.‘ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘œSimon,‘ he said to Peter, ‘œare you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.‘ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘œAre you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!‘ (Mark 14:32-42)...Keep Reading
Tags: Jesus, Salvation
March 17, 2010
by Eric Stillman
Isaiah 53:5-6 - He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all....Keep Reading
Tags: Jesus, Salvation
February 2, 2010
by Eric Stillman
This week‘s Pulse is a moving story from Haiti that I have copied from Albert Mohler‘s blog, www.albertmohler.com. Mohler is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his blog is the most popular Christian blog, according to technorati.com. As someone with a heart for adoption and who himself has been adopted (by my Father in heaven - see Galatians 4:4-7), I found this story particularly poignant....Keep Reading
Tags: Suffering, Salvation
