Posts by Ryan Jensema

Revelation 19:16, “On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” This passage describing the revelation of King Jesus always gives me chills. It’s like the end of every movie when the hero has finally conquered. We long for justice, we long for everything to be made right. We long for the coming of God’s eternal kingdom, and it will come with the unveiling of King Jesus. No matter how…

John 14:1, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”Jesus’ famous statement of being the way, the truth and the life in John 14:6 is preceded by his statement of comfort in 14:1. Jesus has just told his disciples that he will be betrayed by one of them and will be going to a cross. Their reaction was naturally to have troubled hearts. We need this statement of Jesus today just as much as they…

Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Northwest has a long history of partnering with local and international missionaries to see the Gospel spread to all nations. Below is a list of current mission agencies and missionaries that we support. Take time today to pray for each one. If you would like to know more about missions at Northwest or how to get in touch with a specific missionary, email Tracy Brown our missions deacon missions@northwest-church.com. Local…

Matthew 4:19, “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” Jesus called these men not just to follow, but to reach others. It has always been the plan of God to reach the nations with the Gospel. His plan of attack is to use us to reach others. I am so thankful for our partnership with The Timothy Initiative (TTI). They have taken to heart the task of reaching the nations with the…

John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”I have always loved the visual of this passage. That when we turn to Christ, we…

Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  As we read today in the prayer guide, Jesus’ brilliant answer cut through the trap of the religious leaders.  He very decisively stated that we should indeed pay taxes to the governments in which we live.  However, Jesus went on to say more than they asked.  He added that we should render to God the things that are God’s.  Just…

Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus challenges us to place our focus on treasure in the coming kingdom, not here on earth. The idea is that we are…

“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,” James 1:22. I have been a part of church my whole life, literally. From the moment my parents could haul me to church as an infant right up to the present day as your pastor. The churches, the seminary, and the church culture that I have been a part of have placed a premium on sound and faithful biblical teaching. I give a large part of my week…

Matthew 5:43-44, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” This has to be on the list of Jesus’ hardest commands to follow. He doesn’t say tolerate your enemy, ignore your enemy, hold your tongue around your enemy. He says to love them and pray for them. How can we even do that? How can we love…

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…”  Matthew 6:25 It can feel like telling somebody not to be anxious can make them feel anxious about their anxiety.  Anxiety and fear are powerful forces in our lives and world.  Several years back, I went through a period of anxiety.  The best way I can describe it was it had a mind of its own.  I could be doing just fine, and this wave of irrational fear would…

Our prayer guide today had us read the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18.  She badgered the unrighteous judge until he answered her request just to make her go away.  It is one of those unusual parables Jesus tells, but as always, it has a powerful point.  “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”  Luke 18:1.  I would say it often happens that I pray and…

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 22:39. Yesterday we focused on the greatest commandment, to love God, today the focus is the second greatest commandment.  Jesus said you can sum up all the law and prophecies with these two commandments: to love God and to love your neighbor.  A few years back, I went to a seminar called, “The Art of Neighboring”.  It flowed from a book by the same name written by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon. …