Sermon: Food, Shelter, Pandemics, and Fear

Food, Shelter, Pandemics, and Fear Matthew 6:25-34 March 15, 2020 We know that as believers we should not be afraid. But when the World Health Organization classifies the Coronavirus as a pandemic and virtually every major sports league suspends its games, including championship series, universities move to online only classes, school districts extend spring breaks, […]

Sermon: What Happened???

What Happened??? Romans 11:7-10 March 8, 2020 I suppose that the most asked question in the universe is “why?” Because 2-4 year-olds ask that question so many times, no other question gets asked more often. But perhaps the next most-often asked question is, “what happened?” As in, “I just received this month’s credit card bill. […]

Sermon: What God Has Not Done (and Cannot Do)

What God Has Not Done (and Cannot Do) Romans 11:1-6 March 1, 2020 Rejection is hard. No one wants to be rejected and most people don’t like telling people, “No.” Sometimes saying, “no” is unavoidable, though. For instance, editors regularly have to tell authors “no” to book or article ideas. Here is how Brian Doyle, […]

Reflections on my recent trip

I arrived home from my trip with Eric Mock (SGA) and Pastor Dan Kirk to teach biblical counseling in Ukraine and Israel almost two weeks ago. I’m over the jet lag, back into my regular routine, and have had some time to reflect on the trip. Here are some things for which I am grateful: […]

Sermon: Seeing the God of Grace

Seeing the God of Grace Romans 1-10 February 23, 2020 Let me begin today with a couple of reflections and expressions of gratitude for your prayers and giving and encouragement for my recent trip to Ukraine and Israel to teach biblical counseling. I am grateful for the sufficiency and power of the Word. In Israel […]

Sermon: One of Jesus’ Great Desires

One of Jesus’ Great Desires Luke 22:14-20 January 26, 2020 A number of years ago, someone wrote a book entitled, Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I never read the book, but I think the basic premise was that there is much of life that is really pretty simple — so simple […]

Sermon: God’s Shepherding Care for His People

God’s Shepherding Care for His People 1 Peter 5:1-4 January 19, 2020 My grandfather was a farmer. He emigrated to Canada from Russia in the early 1920s and was a very successful farmer. As a young boy, I remember going out to the fields with him on his tractor and picking up rocks and other […]

Arm yourself

Last year, in his series equipping men for friendship, David Gibson reminded us that “Friends don’t let friends skip leg day.” Workout days are hard. Workouts that focus on strengthening our legs can sometimes feel especially hard and we might be particularly tempted to skip leg workout days. Don’t skip leg day. And don’t skip […]

Stimulate your evangelistic zeal in 2020

I am a pastor and I do not have the gift of evangelism. I know people who get out of bed and the first thought is something like, “I wonder who the Lord will bring across my path to share the gospel with today?” (I am married to one of those people.) That’s not me. […]

Sermon: What is the Gospel?

What is the Gospel? Selected Scriptures January 12, 2020 Ask the question, “What is the gospel?” (even in the church) and you will get almost as many answers to that question as there are people. There just does not seem to be much consensus on that question. In his book, What is the Gospel? Greg […]

Sermon: A Prayer for One Another

A Prayer for One Another Philippians 1:9-11 January 5, 2020 One of the questions that the elders have been wrestling with (that you will hear more about in our state of the church meeting) is “how do we continue to shepherd well a growing church in a way that honors the Lord?” There are things […]

Bible Reading in 2020

The Bible is the instrument of transformation in the life of the believer. Jesus asked His Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). When the believer is transformed, it is because of and through the Scriptures being used by the Spirit of God in his life. The Spirit of God […]

Sermon: Loyalty to God and His Word

Loyalty to God and His Word Psalm 119:113-120 December 29, 2019 Pastor Matt Woodley tells the story of a softball game he played in a number of years ago: …the umpire made a call that incensed our coach. My coach didn’t agree with the ump’s interpretation of a specific league rule. The game stopped, and […]

Mary treasured these things in her heart

Below is the manuscript from my message at our Christmas Eve communion service this evening. What do you think about when you hear the word “Christmas?” What are your thoughts about Christmas? What memories shape your thinking about Christmas and what do you think about those memories? When I think about Christmas, I think about […]

Sermon: The Birth Announcement

The Birth Announcement Luke 2:1-20 December 22, 2019 Earlier this year, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle had a baby. While babies are born every second of every day, this birth captured the attention of royal followers around the world. Like many other parents, the birth was first announced by Harry and Meghan on social […]