The kind of sex God prohibits — and why

God has created mankind according to two genders (Gen. 1:26-28). And with those two genders God makes clear that there is to be sexual union that results in children (Gen. 1:28). And as Moses explains the institution of marriage in Gen. 2:24-25, it is clear that God has not only created us as sexual beings […]

Sermon: The Bible and Sexuality

“The Bible and Sexuality” Selected Scriptures October 11, 2015 Years ago I preached a series of sermons on marriage and family issues. Near the end of the series, I preached a sermon on a biblical perspective of sexuality from 1 Corinthians 7. And I talked pretty plainly about the topic. When we got home from […]

Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 4

“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 4 Romans 1:20-25 October 4, 2015 It has been said many different ways: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you want to dance you have to pay the fiddler. “We are free to choose our paths, but we can’t choose the consequences that come with […]

What a man needs to know

One writer recently compiled a list of “100 skills every man should know.” It’s an interesting list. The first 10 items on the list are: Tie a Necktie Build a Campfire Hang a Picture Shine Your Shoes Treat a Snakebite Read a Book Survive a Bear Attack Wet Shave Parallel Park Paddle a Canoe The […]

The value of godliness

“Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness…” (Titus 1:1; NASB) In this simple introduction to his letter to Titus, Paul provides the reader with several foundations of ministry. Ministry is an expression […]

Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 3

“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 3 Romans 1:20-25 September 20, 2015 They have been called some of the world’s weirdest festivals. Consider: On the last Tuesday of January on St. Ninian’s Isle (Scotland) the local men dress in full Viking regalia, light torches, and go rampaging through town. Of course. (What else is there to […]

The Scriptures are endowed with God’s authority

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from A Body of Divinity. How does it appear that the Scriptures have a divine authority stamped upon them? Because the Old and New Testament are the foundation of all true religion. If their divinity […]

Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 2

“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 2 Romans 1:20-25 September 13, 2015 I believe it was about April of 1990 that I was first contacted by Grace Bible Church after I’d submitted my resume for consideration of the open pastoral position here. I responded to the nine questions they sent me and then waited for their […]

What’s the difference between general and special revelation?

The two means by which God revealed Himself to mankind were through general and special revelation. General revelation is that which may be generally known and understood by all men, regardless of their relationship with God. It includes that which can be known about God through creation (Rom. 1:20), through an inner “testimony” or reason […]

Sermon: God’s Revelation, Man’s Rejection, Part 1

“God’s Revelation; Man’s Rejection” Part 1 Romans 1:20-25 September 6, 2015 The day after Christmas in 1944, Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda was sent by his commander to Lubang Island in the Philippines with these orders: You are absolutely forbidden to die by your own hand. It may take three years, it may take five, but […]

Reading Titus

In our “Bible book of the month” reading plan, we are reading the book of Titus in September. As we begin reading the book this morning, perhaps some background might be helpful. Who was Titus? Titus a protegé of the apostle Paul and was installed by Paul as something like an interim pastor over the […]

Sermon: God’s Wrath Revealed

“God’s Wrath Revealed” Romans 1:18-19 August 30, 2015 It is clear that the world hates God. God’s morality is mocked. His truth is ignored. His commands are violated. Christ is scorned. What Jesus told his disciples in the first century is still true of both Him and us today — “If the world hates you, […]

Living in uncertain times

This morning I glanced at the headlines of the newspaper and commented to my wife, “The Lord must certainly be coming back soon.” It wasn’t just the headline about China’s financial troubles and the resulting uncertainties in our stock market that triggered that comment. It was also the moral chaos that we have seen unfolding […]

The biblical basis for God’s wrath

There are several common objections to the wrath of God: The wrath of God is inconsistent with God’s love The wrath of God is inconsistent with God’s forgiveness The wrath of God is unfair/unjust The wrath of God isn’t taught in the New Testament Yet Scripture consistently affirms that both the Old Testament and the […]

Sermon: The Wrath of God

“The Wrath of God” Romans 1:18 August 23, 2015 It was spring of my sophomore year in college (in Jacksonville, FL) and I had a bad case of spring fever. A group of friends was headed to the beach on one particular day, and I had a dilemma — “beach or class?” Sand and surf […]