“Pray Boldly”Luke 11:5October 4, 2026 We have seen how prayer is a central theme in Luke’s gospel — he talks about prayer and shows Jesus in prayer more than any other gospel writer: Jesus prayed at His baptism (3:21) While the crowds pressed in on Him, He would often slip away to pray (5:16) Before […]
Read More Pray Boldly“Lead Us Not Into Temptation”Luke 11:4bSeptember 27, 2026 Some 2500 years ago, perhaps as early as 700 BC, in order to protect themselves, the feudal states of China began to build protective walls to guard against invaders. When the 1500-year-project was completed, those walls were joined to form the massive Great Wall around China. The […]
Read More “Lead Us Not Into Temptation”“Forgive Us Our Sins”Luke 11:4September 20, 2026 There are many truths that distinguish Christianity from the religions of the world: The tri-unity of God The union of God and man in the person of Christ — the eternal God-Man The humility of Christ in coming to earth and going to the cross The resurrection Salvation […]
Read More “Forgive Us Our Sins”Missionaries don’t engage in missions because they decide to go. Missionaries engage in missions because they are sent by the church. Missionaries are chosen by the church, trained by the church, funded by the church, and sent by the church. The missions task is the responsibility of the church, which sends some of its best […]
Read More What a Church Prays When Sending a Missionary“Since You Aspire to Preach the Gospel”Romans 15:20-21September 13, 2026 W&N, I don’t remember the first time you mentioned your interest in missions to me. But I do remember that it has been a repeated conversation between us. You have always been interested in missions and taking the gospel to those who do not know […]
Read More Since You Aspire to Preach the Gospel“Our Missions Commitment”3 JohnSeptember 6, 2026 Next Sunday we are sending out a family from GBC to serve as emissaries of Christ to SE Asia — W&N. They started preparing for this venture before they were even married (it was a desire they nurtured throughout their lives); and they began talking to us about it […]
Read More Our Missions CommitmentWhen Jesus taught the Twelve disciples (and us) to pray daily for daily bread (Lk. 11:3), He is instructing us to pray for our daily need for food and our daily need for all the basics of life — the “staples” of life. He is teaching us to express our dependence on and trust in […]
Read More Praying Daily for Your Daily Bread“Give Us Our Daily Bread”Luke 11:3August 23, 2026 One blistering hot day when they had guests for dinner, a mother asked her four-year old to give thanks for the meal. “But Mom, I don’t know what to say,” he protested. “Oh, just say what you’ve heard me say,” she told him. Obediently, he bowed his […]
Read More “Give Us Our Daily Bread”“Your Kingdom Come”Luke 11:2bAugust 16, 2026 The coming of the King and the Kingdom of God are persistent themes in Scripture. Both the OT and NT are filled with verses that anticipate a coming King: Dt. 18:15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your […]
Read More “Your Kingdom Come”“Hallowed Be Your Name”Luke 11:2August 9, 2026 G.K. Chesterton said about the spiritual life, “The spiritual life has not been tried and found difficult; it has been found difficult and left untried.” In that statement he is inferring something important about the spiritual life — it is simple, but hard. The spiritual life is not […]
Read More “Hallowed Be Your Name”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: How many times did you pray last week — prayers at meals, at your children’s bedsides, with a co-worker, while you were driving, on your knees in the morning, with your disciple/friend…? How many times do you suppose you prayed last year? In your […]
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 Priorities
