The Victorious Christ

The Victorious ChristJohn 12:12-19March 24, 2024 When a country wins a war, it often recognizes it’s victory by constructing a grand memorial: The Victory Monument was erected in Bangkok, Thailand in 1941 to commemorate the Thai victory in the Franco-Thai War. The Buon Ma Thuot Victory Monument in Vietnam commemorates the Ho Chi Minh […]

So you might believe…

Yesterday I preached on the story of the father with the demon possessed son in Mark 9:14ff — “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24). Today I read a similar account of the death of Lazarus (Jn. 11) — a story that on the surface seems to be “faith crushing.” Yet our wise Savior […]

Transformed by the Resurrection

Transformed by the ResurrectionJohn 21:15-25April 9, 2023 “If you ask where God’s glory is most seen, I will not point to creation, nor to providence, but to the raising of Jesus from the dead.” [Spurgeon] We make much of the resurrection. For good reason. It is one of two fundamental pillars of salvation: We are […]

Preparation for Resurrection day

Preparation for Resurrection DayJohn 12:1-11April 2, 2023 Some of the great adventures in the history of the world are the trips men have taken to the moon. While we look back at the ventures with a sense of awe because of the technology that was used to get astronauts there — the quests were filled […]

Sermon: The Good Shepherd

Jesus Christ — the Good ShepherdJohn 10:1-21September 11, 2022 A few years ago I was running some errands one afternoon when I noticed that one tire was almost completely flat. I slowly made my way to a tire store. There was a long line and wait (with mild irritation). Finally, I spoke to an employee: […]

The danger of affirmation

We all like and long for approval. We desire affirmation. We want to be liked. We want the thumbs up of approval and the back slap of affirmation. We want to hear “good job” after a presentation, an “I’m impressed” after a house project, and a “you’re a great parent” from our parents when they […]

Service and Suffering

We all know the priority of service. But how is it possible to serve when you are suffering? That is is an important question because all of us suffer hardship. Christ Himself acknowledged that fact — “In the world you have tribulation…” (John 16:33). And this has been our very own experience. We have various […]

Sermon: The Resurrected and Revealed Savior

The Resurrected and Revealed Savior John 21:1-14 April 4, 2021, Resurrection Day What is your source of discouragement today? What is keeping you awake and night and occupying your thoughts when you have quiet moments during the day, or even when you are in conversation with friends? What is enticing you to not just buy […]

Sermon: Jesus Prays

Jesus Prays John 17:20-26 January 3, 2021 Few things reveal the nature and condition of our hearts like prayer (when we are genuine and truthful). That is true as well of the heart of Christ, which makes the Lord’s prayer in John 17 a particularly rich and stimulating passage of Scripture. Of this passage, Melanchthon […]

Some reflections on John 1:16

At least during Covid-19, I’m doing at least one weekly video update about ministry at Grace Bible Church and a short meditation on something from Scripture. Here is this week’s update, from John 1:16:

Sermon: Our Risen, Returning Savior

Our Risen, Returning Savior John 14:1-3 April 12, 2020 What do you offer a man who is discouraged and hopeless? What do you offer someone whose world is shattered? What do you offer someone who has captured a glimpse into the future, and the fear of it is not startling, but terrifying in its deadliness? […]

Sermon: The Compassionate, Competent Savior

The Compassionate, Competent Savior John 11:17-44 April 5, 2020 Who will care for you when you are suffering? Who will care for you if everyone is suffering? Who will care for you when care and connection and human touch are being restricted by governmental controls? We are not the first people to ask that question. […]

Sermon: Peace and Courage in a Troubled World

Peace and Courage in a Troubled World John 16:32-33 March 22, 2020 This is an odd morning. I have preached to this church body almost 1400 times, by my count. I have never preached with music recorded by our musicians ahead of time, and I have never preached to an empty auditorium. There have been […]

“It is Finished” — a word of victory

What follows is the manuscript of the devotional given at our Good Friday worship service this evening. “It is finished.” “I’m done.” “It’s over.” When we use those words and say something is finished, we might mean one of several different things: We might mean we have simply endured a process — e.g., “the house […]

Sermon: Blessed Are Those Who Believe

“Blessed Are Those Who Believe” John 20:19-31 April 16, 2017 — Easter Morning As a young man, Benjamin Franklin wrote an epitaph for himself that he hoped would be used on his gravestone after his death (though it wasn’t): The body of B. Franklin, Printer, Like the cover of an old book, Its contents torn […]