God is Faithful

A few evenings ago, my doorbell rang and it wasn’t a neighborhood child selling band candy. It was a young man selling a service that he was convinced I needed. It is a service that I purchase monthly from another company. But he promised that his company would be more reliable. At less than half […]

Sermon: The Eternally Faithful Word of God

The Eternally Faithful Word of God Psalm 119:89-96 July 15, 2018 We are now six months into the New Year. The New Year is not so new anymore. It’s not even a teenager. It’s hit the doldrums of the middle age years. In case you haven’t noticed, we are closer to next Christmas than last […]

Counsel the Word Podcast

Our church and counseling ministry launched The Center for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship — a counseling resource website — several months ago. On that website you will find many resources to biblical counseling: audio from our conferences, blog posts, and resources on a vast number of topics (look at the list). And this week we […]

Sermon: Go to the Nations, Pt 3

Go to the Nations: Our Responsibilities in Missions 3 John June 24, 2018 It has been suggested that Acts is the best manual for missions that the church has. We learn a tremendous amount about missions by reading Acts. But many of the principles of missions we glean in Acts are also present in 3 […]

Sermon: Go to the Nations, Pt 2

Go to the Nations: Priorities and Responsibilities in Missions Selected Scriptures June 17, 2018 When I was in college I got a job working for a lumber supply company. I worked in the showroom selling things like plumbing and electrical parts, cabinets, and paint. To say that I was ignorant about the building business when […]

What is missions?

“What is missions?” seems a simple question to answer. But it is not. Because so many are now using missions with a variety of emphases — the social gospel as missions, social justice as missions, outreach as missions, and missional ministry — we want to articulate what we mean by missions. When we use the […]

Sermon: Go to the Nations

Go to the Nations: the What and Why of Missions Selected Scriptures June 10, 2018 I started studying for this sermon series almost 13 years ago. A man who was involved in a kind of mission ministry that we already were a part of in a part of the world where we were already supporting […]

Sermon: The Worshipper’s Hope

The Worshipper’s Hope Psalm 121 May 27, 2018 The older I get, the more I realize I am prone to forgetfulness. I don’t usually lose my keys or glasses, but I often forget things like appointments (which is why I am thankful for my Google calendar), tasks that I need to do, what I need […]

Sermon: What Good is the Law? (Pt 3)

What Good is the Law? (Pt. 3) Selected Scriptures May 13 2018 While government was established by God to protect the innocent and to punish evildoers (Rom. 13), when you hear of some laws that are still on the books of some governments, you wonder who is protecting the government from itself. For instance: In […]

Sermon: What Good is the Law? (Pt 2)

What Good is the Law? (Pt. 2) Romans 7:9-13 May 6 2018 A news report in Oregon a few years ago said that a middle school in Oregon had a unique problem: A number of girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they […]

Sermon: What Good is the Law? (Pt 1)

What Good is the Law? (Pt. 1) Romans 7:7-8 April 29, 2018 I’m not sure why, but the main Christmas gift I received in sixth grade remains the least-used, most under-appreciated Christmas gift I’ve ever received. It was an erector set by Meccano. Given how much I like to tinker and do maintenance and repair […]

Sermon: Dead to the Law (Pt 2)

Dead to the Law (Pt 2) Romans 7:5-6 April 22, 2018 A decade ago, A. J. Jacobs wrote a book in which he pondered the question, “is it possible to follow all of the commands of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament” (which was of interest to him because of his Jewish heritage)? And is […]

The gospel is good — today

Many years ago when doing evangelism training with him, a friend asked me, “what is the benefit of the gospel? I know we get Heaven, but is there good news in the gospel now? What good is the gospel for people today?” I don’t remember what I told my friend on that occasion, but I know […]

Sermon: Dead to the Law (Pt 1)

Dead to the Law (Pt. 1) Romans 7:1-4 April 15, 2018 We have a love-hate relationship with the law. When a criminal is caught and then brought to justice, we are grateful. When someone recklessly speeds past us and then we see him stopped by the side of the road with a police car behind […]

Why the resurrection is important

Sometimes people get into debates (arguments?) about what is most necessary for a particular task. What is the most essential component in flying an airplane? Or in building a house? Or in parenting children? Or in educating college students? Or in growing a church? And it is amazing the diversity of answers you might receive […]