Sermon: He is Risen

He is Risen Mark 16:1-8 April 20, 2014 Some words are life-changing words. After they are uttered, the direction and course of one’s life is irrevocably changed. Words like the ones I said to Raye Jeanne a few months after we first met — “I love you.” Everything about our relationship changed after that. Words […]

Good Friday: “Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

“Why Have You Forsaken Me?” Mark 15:33-34 April 18, 2014 (Good Friday Communion Service) How do you estimate something’s value? If you own a home, you can have a property evaluator or insurance adjuster come to your home and give you and estimate of your property’s value. If you own a car, you can take […]

What’s on your mind?

Since it is true that there are certain things that should occupy our thoughts, it is also true that there are certain things that should have no place in our minds:

Sermon: “If Jesus Had Been Here…”

“If Jesus Had Been Here…” John 11:17-46 April 6, 2014 I was 15 the first time I remember looking into a casket and standing at a graveside. It was my grandfather and he died suddenly and without warning and I didn’t understand the implications then of what happened. It was my first funeral and I […]

Reading Judges

This week we began reading the book of Judges in our Bible reading plan. What is this book about? One of the overriding themes in this book is that of apostasy. “This book is a revelation of the perpetual proneness of the human heart to wander away from God.” [Donald Campbell] Furthermore, Gleason Archer says, […]

Sermon: The Gifts of the Spirit, Pt. 2

The Gifts of the Spirit, Pt. 2 Romans 12:3-8 March 30, 2014 There are many characteristics of Christianity that set it apart from all the religions of the world: Only Christianity recognizes the extent of man’s sinfulness and inability to do good to save himself from the judgment of God. Only the God of Christianity […]

How to Overcome Temptation

From Desiring God: Meet Ben Stuart. He leads Breakaway, a campus ministry at Texas A&M University. Over the past decade, Ben has taught the Bible every week to thousands of students in the throes of college life, often speaking practically into their sins and struggles. In this short video, building off the Book of James, […]

Reading Joshua

This week we have been reading the book of Joshua in our Bible reading plan. The key person in the book other than God is Joshua, and it is important to remember that he was one of only two men who survived the 40 years in the wilderness due to his good report that the […]

They did not drive them out completely

Moses was gone and God had replaced him with Joshua. Egypt with its leeks and cucumbers and the wilderness were a fading memory and the Promised Land with its milk and honey were a delightful new reality. The nation had reaffirmed its commitment to God and His Word (Josh. 1:16-18) and demonstrated that faith when […]

Be strong and courageous

“A dead fish can float downstream,” observed comedian W. C. Fields, “but it takes a live one to swim against the current.” That is true not only for fish, but for people as well. It takes a life of vitality and courage to go against the prevailing tide of public opinion. But that is the […]

Sermon: The Gifts of the Spirit

The Gifts of the Spirit, Pt. 1 Romans 12:3-8 March 23, 2014 Gifts are funny things — sometimes what we think would be a nice gift for someone is hardly noticed or received well; other times something we think is insignificant or even inappropriate is the favorite gift of all. Many years ago — back […]

Sermon: The Fruit of the Spirit

The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:16-26 March 16, 2014 It’s about the size of a bowling ball, covered with sharp, stiff, spiny points, and grows on trees throughout southeast Asia, most predominantly in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The business end of a durian, which is the inside, is mucuslike in consistency, and the unique […]

The fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 reveals to us the kinds of fruit that the Spirit produces in the life of the believer who is walking with and filled with Him (Gal. 5:16; Eph. 5:18-21). These are not only in contrast to the deeds of the flesh, but they also relate to virtually every aspect of life, as shown […]

2015 Shepherds’ Conference

This year’s Shepherds’ Conference has just ended (some audio is already available here). And now the information for next year’s conference has already been released. And next year, the conference will be extended from three days to four (March 3-6) and will include many more plenary speakers. And next year (for the first time in […]

Sermon: The Filling of the Holy Spirit

The Filling of the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18-21 March 2, 2014 One day last April, a couple in northern California that owns a few acres went for a walk on their property. It seemed innocuous enough. After walking for a while they stopped by a particular tree and noticed something that made them dig around […]