From virtually the first page (Genesis 3) until the last page, the Bible acknowledges, confronts, and exposes the sinfulness of mankind. The reality of sin in its heinousness is not hidden (e.g., the sin of Lot and his daughters in Genesis 19). The vast amount of sin in every individual is recognized (see Jesus’ parable […]
Read More The God Who ForgivesA Prayer From God’s WordPsalm 19:12-14 January 12, 2025 Think about a moment in your life when you have been awed by some part of creation: You have walked through trees to arrive at a vast meadow that leads to the foot of a towering mountain; you are swallowed up in the immensity of the […]
Read More A Prayer From God’s WordThe Wondrous Works of God’s WordPsalm 19:1-11 December 29, 2024 Christmas is over and two days of this year remain. That means we have moved from the Christmas season to the season of resolutions. In my files, I have the following articles to help you set some goals for this year: 7 Surprising Traditions to […]
Read More The Wondrous Works of God’s WordGod’s Love for MissionsSelected ScripturesJune 2, 2024 John Paton was a missionary to the Hebrides (19th C.). Late in life he recounted the 40-mile walk he took when in his early 20s to go from his home to the train station where he would find transportation to go to seminary to prepare him for the […]
Read More God’s Love for MIssionsOne Thing…Psalm 27May 26, 2024 I have read that in Deadwood, SD there is a sign in a museum that had been left by a beleaguered prospector in the area: “I lost my gun. I lost my horse. I am out of food. The Indians are after me. But I’ve got all the gold I […]
Read More One Thing…It is undoubtedly the most well-known song in the world. If asked, “what follows these words, ‘the Lord is my…’” even most unbelievers could quote, “…shepherd, I shall not want.” The song, penned by David and placed in the psalter as the 23rd song, has served as a comfort to mothers cradling ill children, husbands […]
Read More The Persistent Care of the Great ShepherdSinging the Shepherd SongPsalm 23May 12, 2024 Where do you go or what do you do when you are uncomfortable — when you are discouraged, sad, hurting, uncertain about the future (or even today)? You could go to the internet for some suggestions: Comforting Smells — Scents from lavender to rose, cinnamon to vanilla, delivered […]
Read More Singing the Shepherd SongThe Godly Life in an Ungodly WorldPsalm 15May 5, 2024 Gracie Allen, an actress from a couple of generations ago and the wife of comedian George Allen once received an alligator as a gag gift. What do you do with a gift alligator? Who knows? So she put in the bathtub and left for […]
Read More The Godly Life in an Ungodly WorldGod’s Glory in the Pinnacle of His CreationPsalm 8April 28, 2024 How has your week been? Do you ever have weeks or days when you stop reading the news alerts on your phone and email because it just is too distressing for your spiritual heart? I have some good news for you: Worldwide, there […]
Read More God’s Glory in the Pinnacle of His CreationPuritan Edmund Calamy insightfully observed: “What is the reason why men go on in their sins without repentance? It is for want of meditation.” Part of being steadfast in fighting sin is knowing the nature and result of sin, and meditating on the personal implications of ongoing, unrepentant sin in our lives. A familiar […]
Read More Fighting SinYou and the WordPsalm 119 SummaryJanuary 21, 2024 When I was a child, at Christmas my maternal grandparents always had a candy gift bag for each of the grandchildren. But there was a requirement for receiving that gift: you had to quote a Bible verse from memory. We shared Christmas with them in my sixth […]
Read More You and the WordScripture is filled with testimony to itself — of its reliability, permanence, clarity, truthfulness, power, and authority. Consider just a few examples: Pss. 1, 19; Josh. 1:8; Jn. 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pt. 1:24-25; 2 Pt. 1:3, 19-21 are all testimonies in Scripture about Scripture (and those are only a few of […]
Read More The Work of the WordSuffering might be the most common experience of the human condition. It is common because every person is a sinner who sins against others (inflicting suffering on them) and who is the recipient of the sins of others (receiving suffering from them). And everyone lives in this fallen world in which things break and fail. […]
Read More We need helpThe Bible and PrayerPsalm 119:169-176January 14, 2024 At the beginning and middle of every new year, we spend one Sunday being reminded of the importance of the Word of God in our lives from Psalm 119. This morning, we come to the last stanza in this great text. We will find in this passage many […]
Read More The Bible and PrayerPray for God’s GloryJohn 17:1-5January 15, 2023 Relationships are hard work. Communication is hard work. Listening carefully, thinking rightly, talking, and talking graciously are all hard work. There are times it seems like it might just be easier or better to be silent. (It’s not better.) Unfortunately, we sometimes consider the hard work of […]
Read More Sermon: Pray for God’s Glory
Words of Grace 