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 […]

Sermon: “O Foolish Men”

“O Foolish Men…” Luke 24:13-35 April 1, 2018 A pastor in California tells the story of a secondhand store in California that resells wardrobes of “the stars” of Hollywood. If you have enough cash, you can buy something worn by your favorite actor and play your own role, pretending to be that star. A number […]

“I am thirsty” — a Good Friday meditation

This is the manuscript of my message from last night’s Good Friday service. You may also download a PDF version of the message here. Explanations of why you love whom you love are sometimes difficult. A baby might have been born only minutes earlier, but her new mother or father will undoubtedly be willing to […]

Sermon: Slavery, Wages, and Grace

Slavery, Wages, and Grace Romans 6:20-23 March 25, 2018 It started as a brief experiment on November 8, 2016. It was only going to last a few days. But those few days have now turned into a nearly 1-1/2 year event that Erik Hagerman calls his personal “blockade.” Upset over the results of the presidential […]

The mind and spiritual transformation

The spiritual life is simple, but not easy. To grow spiritually is not a complicated process, but it is (at least at times) difficult. It will take effort to grow spiritually, though what needs to be done is clearly explained in Scripture. And all efforts at change begin with the mind. What needs to be […]

Sermon: Enslaved to…? (Pt 3)

Enslaved To…?: Obedience in Light of God’s Grace (Pt. 3) Romans 6:15-19 March 18, 2018 One of the sad verses of the Bible is 2 Timothy 4:10 — “…Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica…” Like Lot who moved to Sodom and his wife who yearningly looked back at […]

Prayer in the Bible

If you ask any believer in Christ — even a mature believer — if he is satisfied with his prayer life, it is likely that you will receive a negative response. Most believe that they could pray more frequently, pray longer, pray more broadly for more people, and pray more intimately, enjoying the practice of […]

Sermon: Enslaved to…? (Pt 2)

Enslaved To…?: Obedience in Light of God’s Grace (Pt. 2) Romans 6:15-19 March 11, 2018 One of the great lessons in life is learning appropriate submission to authorities over us. And we must not only submit to (in attitude), but also obey (in action) those who have authority over us. Children must obey parents: “Children, […]

Sermon: Enslaved to…? (Pt 1)

Enslaved To…?: Obedience in Light of God’s Grace (Pt. 1) Romans 6:15-19 March 4, 2018 When the word “slavery” is spoken, it inevitably produces a sense of shame, regret, and sorrow. We don’t have to have been slaves or slave owners to feel the pain that is in that word. And we are hardly the […]

Sermon: Since grace is grace (Pt 5)

“Since Grace is Grace…” Pt. 5 Romans 6:12-14 February 25, 2018 In his book Comrades, historian Stephen Ambrose writes about the nature of war: Combat requires all the nerves, all the physical attributes, every bit of the training. It is only in combat, nowhere else, where time is measured in other ways than by clocks […]

Our union with Christ

Our relationships will change us. If we are married, we are one with our spouses (Gen. 2:24) and through years together we increasingly become like one another — our life philosophies become unified, our desires become singular, our words and vocabularies mimic one another, and we become increasingly dependent on one another. What we were […]

Sermon: Since grace is grace (Pt 4)

“Since Grace is Grace…” Pt. 4 Romans 6:8-11 February 4, 2018 In her book, How Did I Get to Be Forty and Other Atrocities, Judith Viorst recounts her “Self-Improvement Program:” I’ve finished six pillows in Needlepoint, And I’m reading Jane Austen and Kant, And I’m up to the pork with black beans in Advanced Chinese […]

Sermon: Since grace is grace (Pt 3)

“Since Grace is Grace…” Pt. 3 Romans 6:6-7 January 28, 2018 In his tremendously helpful book, The Enemy Within, Kris Lundgaard writes this in the opening chapter, “Evil at My Elbow:” All I wanted to do was surprise my wife. Since we had moved into our new house almost a year ago, the refrigerator door […]

Sermon: Since grace is grace (Pt 2)

“Since Grace is Grace…” Pt. 2 Romans 6:3-5 January 21, 2018 Yesterday our family went to the Fort Worth Stock Show. We attempt to do that at least one day every year and yesterday was our day. Where we park, we always start with the animal barns. Though we didn’t do it completely yesterday, we […]

Grace: the motive for sanctification

“Grace is the daily motivation for us to press closer toward Christ, to ‘be daily hungering and thirsting after him, and daily receiving from his fullness, even grace for grace; that you may rejoice in his all-sufficiency, may taste his love in every dispensation.’ We seek more grace by seeking to experience more Christ.” [Tony […]