It is a typical event on a playground (at least it was in my day). Two boys are squared off against one another. First words are exchanged. Then they are exchanged more vigorously and loudly. And then a physical tussle ensues. And one gets the better of the other. As the vanquished boy limps off, […]
Read More “Just You Wait”In teaching the disciples to pray, the first thing He taught was that if they belonged to Christ, then God is their Father. They could speak to Him as a “daddy” (Lk. 11:2; Mt. 6:9). What is the benefit of that relationship? Thomas Watson identifies at least 20 blessings for the one who has God […]
Read More If God is Your Father…“Father…”Luke 11:1-2July 26, 2026 Some questions as we begin this morning: This morning we come to one of the most well-known passages of Scripture: the Lord’s Prayer. These words have been sung to multiple tunes, been recited in church many times, and even used at secular events as a source of comfort and encouragement. These […]
Read More “Father…”“Love, Service, and Priorities”Luke 10:38-42July 12, 2026 “Management theorist Russell Ackoff used to say that many of our problems are the result of being efficient at the wrong things. In one interview, he said, ‘The curious thing is the righter you do the wrong thing the wronger you become. If you’re doing the wrong thing […]
Read More Love, Service, and PrioritiesDo you pray? Do you have intentional time in conversation with God each day? If you don’t pray, or if your prayer life is less than you desire, is it because you don’t plan to pray? When Jesus instructs His disciples about prayer in Matthew 6, He tells them to “go into your inner room, […]
Read More Plan to Pray“Love Your Neighbor”Luke 10:29-37June 28, 2026 Rosaria Butterfield asks the question, “Christians have a powerful history of building schools and hospitals, of showing up during natural disasters to offer water and food and shelter and medicine. We have that history. But do we have the daily witness of Christian neighboring?” [my emphasis] It’s tempting to […]
Read More Love Your Neighbor“Two Imperatives for Effective Fathering”Luke 10:25-29June 21, 2026 John G. Paton was a missionary to the New Hebrides in the mid-1800s. One of the greatest influences in his life was his father who after almost every meal would go to a “closet” where he would pray — “Though everything else in religion were by some […]
Read More Two Imperatives for Effective Fathering“Joy in Serving Christ”Luke 10:17-24May 24, 2026 What gives you joy? What stimulates you to be happy? When the children and grandchildren come over for the weekend. Enough rain and not too much sun (heat) in August to keep your yard alive. All green lights on 377 on your morning commute. One more diet coke […]
Read More Joy in Serving Christ“Sent with the Gospel”Luke 10:1-16May 17, 2026 In 1786 a man named William was ordained for the pastorate and sent to a small church in the town of Moulton, England. Both he and the church were very poor, and it took three jobs for William to support his family: pastor, cobbler, and village teacher. In […]
Read More Sent with the GospelThe fear of the Lord has two main emphases — a dread and terror of the judgment of God and an awe and reverential delight in God for His greatness. The former is the experience of the unbeliever and the latter is the experience of the believer. The former compels people to attempt to run […]
Read More The Blessings of Fearing God“How to Be an Almost Follower of Christ”Luke 9:57-62May 10, 2026 There is a kind of follower of Christ who is not a follower of Christ. Consider the crowds that followed Jesus; on one occasion, after He taught of the necessity of believing solely in Him and the Spirit’s role in bringing them to faith […]
Read More How to Be an Almost Follower of Christ“With His Eyes on Jerusalem”Luke 9:”51-56April 19, 2026 It seems inconceivable, but Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, the God-Man, God incarnate, was rejected by Israel when He came to be her Messiah and to provide redemption from sin. His message was rejected by Herod when Herod imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist (3:20) He […]
Read More With His Eyes on JerusalemIt’s hard to pray. Sometimes we lack the discipline to pray. Sometimes we forget to pray. Or perhaps worse, we allow the pressures and burdens of less important but seemingly more urgent responsibilities push aside prayer. At times prayer is inhibited because of sinful indulgences — and those indulgences become more precious to us than […]
Read More When Prayer Becomes JoylessPassover is finished. The crowds are gone from Jerusalem. The Roman soldiers are relaxing. The disciples and their friends and family are returning to their daily duties and a few added priorities. There is still some buzz in the city and among the disciples, but Easter is over. Or is it? What happens after the […]
Read More Because Christ is Resurrected…“The Greatest Message”1 Corinthians 15:1-11April 5, 2026 What’s your most important possession? (Not your most important person, but possession.) You might say, “My cash/wealth,” or “My job” (no cash without some kind of job), or “my car” (have to get to work somehow) or “my house,” or “my special collection — wedding pictures, art, stamps, […]
Read More The Greatest Message
Words of Grace 