Now & Not Yet

Hope for the Journey

 

Short reflections on Scripture
for spiritual growth and encouragement

by Intown Senior Pastor Dr. Jimmy Agan

Reflections alphabetically by topic

 

God is bigger than we are

We simply can’t make God endorse everything that we want or do. Sometimes that is frustrating, but it can also be liberating and joyous. The Cross and the resurrection of Jesus remind us that God is big enough to tell us we are wrong when our hearts say there is no way. Just because you can't envision something doesn't mean God isn't big enough to accomplish it. He is big enough to contradict us when we say something can never happen.

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The Story of our Hearts

Have you treasured other things before God? If you examine your heart, you'll probably find that you have. The story that your heart tells about you is true, but you can't trust your heart to tell the whole story. It’s a fuller, two-fold story of death and resurrection that only the Holy Spirit can tell.

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Triumphant in Christ - guest teacher Steven Gilchrist

Guest teacher Steven Gilchrist encourages believers with the words of Paul from 2 Corinthians.

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Jesus values people and their work

During Intown's Philemon Project, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan addressed questions that were raised about Scripture passages on slavery and related issues.

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Troubled Times

Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan looks at 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 to help us remember that instead of boasting in our power, the true Christian message is "when I am weak, then I am strong."

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Advent: Prepare the way

During the season of Advent, Christians celebrate the coming birth of Jesus. Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan reflects on Scripture associated with preparing the way for the Jesus.

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Now & Not Yet

Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan looks at Romans 8:15, 23 and Matthew 6:9-13 to help us learn more about how God gives us a taste of the not yet in the now.

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The Lord's Prayer

This series discusses how our calling to be people who are changed, known and sent is expressed in the Lord's Prayer.

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The intersection of work and faith

In these episodes, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan explores the intersection between faith and work and addresses three questions: Does my work matter to God?; What frees us from the trap of letting our work determine our worth?; Why do the losses I’m experiencing related to work—for job, school, and home—hurt so much?

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Work vs. Anxious Toil

Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan looks at the difference between work and anxious toil and God's great gift of rest.

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Work, humility, and justice

This series returns for a deeper look at the topic of humility, work, and justice found in Exodus 20. 

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Lament and Lordship

Things change. Sometimes they change in ways that we really don't like and don't want. In these times, we experience a tension between our lament and his lordship. Jesus knows what it is like to live in that tension because he himself experienced it. Facing his imminent crucifixion, he prayed, asking God to "remove this cup from me," an acknowledgment of the reality of how hard it is to do the thing he's being asked to do. Yet in the end, he submits to God's lordship. When we deeply wish that things were different, may we be able to say as Jesus did, not my will but your will, Lord.

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Strength to endure

When we have a race to run, the strength to endure does not come from our ability to focus on ourselves or the task at hand. It is God who gives us the strength to endure as we focus on Jesus.  He is our source for running the race faithfully.

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Parenting in a pandemic

Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan offers words of encouragement to parents and students as they begin this unusual school year. In the first of two messages on the topic, he talks directly to children, encouraging them to be patient with their parents.

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God will keep his promises

God makes big promises to his people, promises that are so big that it takes more than a brief lifetime to fulfill them. We can be confident that God intends to keep his promises to his people. The resurrection of Jesus reminds us that he won't give up until he has perfectly fulfilled each one.

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What does it mean to be a Presbyterian?

In a five-part series, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan highlights biblical themes from the Protestant Reformation to answer the question, "What does it mean to be a Presbyterian?"

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Unity in the Church

Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan discusses how we can love each other even when we find ourselves on different sides of an issue, referencing Romans 15:5-7.

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The power of God's word to bring change

There is a lot that needs to change in our world, and a lot that needs to change in our hearts. It is God's word that has the power to bring about the change that he intends to accomplish. To bring change, to free us and to give us hope.

God's power is at work whenever his word is used to make Christ known. That is God's promise. So, why is it so hard for us to believe sometimes? Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan discusses two things that hinder our belief that God is at work through his word.

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The problem of racism

In this three-part devotional series, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan discusses how the problem of racism is not someone else's problem to worry about, and when we act as if it were, we become barriers to the gospel rather than beacons.

There are clearly issues of racial inequity and injustice that continue in our world today. This series challenges believers to look at themselves first and to ask God to change offensive ways in their own hearts. There is also a call to action, to be part of the change that is needed to mend racial brokenness. God calls us to the inward action of heart transformation, which will express itself in authentic outward action.  

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The Christian response to racial injustice

Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan reflects on what he has been learning from scripture and from others about the Christian's response to racial injustice.

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Called to love despite political differences

People who share the same faith and the same love for principles taught in scripture can reach different conclusions about politics. It is not always easy to draw a clear and straight line between biblical principles and political policy. When we engage the wisdom and discernment that is necessary for such decisions, it should be the kind that bears good fruits like peace, mercy, and goodness. It should be the kind of wisdom that says we can look at complex issues and disagree, yet still love one another.

These episodes are hosted on our podcast, as they are audio only.

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God is near the brokenhearted

In this weeks' devotionals, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan discusses the experience of sadness and depression. God's word tells us in Psalm 34 that "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." We are not alone. God promises to draw near to us in our pain.

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Caring for those who are older

In this weeks' devotionals, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan looks at God's fifth command to "honor your mother and father." He discusses how we are called to love and care for those who are older than us and how God provides the grace we need to do it. 

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Empowered to live out our calling

In this weeks' devotionals, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan looks at passages from Colossians 3 and Psalm 40 to offer inspiring words of hope about the power that God supplies to us so that we can do what he calls us to do.

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God's comfort

Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan takes a look at the comfort found in John 14:1-7.

Trusting God

This week we’re focused on Revelation Chapter 1 and all of the reasons we can trust God with our fears.

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Hope for the journey

Intown is offering messages of “Hope for the Journey” with this new series of reflections on Scripture we are calling “Now & Not Yet.” By way of introduction, Senior Pastor Jimmy Agan reflects on the hope that is found in Psalm 123.