Sermon: Paul’s Missionary Vision

“Advance Christ:”  Paul’s Missionary VisionRomans 15:22-29September 5, 2021 William Carey has come to be well-known for his work in missions, but he started in relative obscurity.  When he first sought ordination from the Baptist church in Olney, he was rejected by them in 1785, before being ordained the following year and taking the pastorate of […]

Read More Sermon: Paul’s Missionary Vision

Sermon: Paul’s Missionary Message

“Preach Christ:”  Paul’s Missionary MessageRomans 15:17-21August 29, 2021 Some sermon topics invariably provoke listeners to experience a sense of guilt: Sermons on prayer lead to thoughts of “I don’t pray enough…” Sermons on evangelism lead to thoughts of “I don’t tell enough people about Jesus…” Sermons on missions lead to questions like “should I go?…” […]

Read More Sermon: Paul’s Missionary Message

Sermon: Where We Go From Here

Where We Go From HereRomans 15:14-16August 15, 2021 What verse or passage of Scripture is most meaningful in your life?  What verse has changed your life?  There have been multiple verses that I have repeatedly referenced and found helpful:  Jn. 14:27; Ps. 19:14; Eph. 5:25ff; 1 Pt. 3:7.  And more.  What are your “influential verses?” […]

Read More Sermon: Where We Go From Here

Ecclesiology matters

In the past two months I have heard several allegations (some public and some private) about pastors who have plagiarized sermons.  The allegations also appear to be much more than allegations; some of the video evidence I’ve seen seems indisputable and indefensible.  I don’t know what motivates a pastor to take sermons that do not […]

Read More Ecclesiology matters

Sermon: Accept One Another

Accept One Another Romans 15:7-13 August 8, 2021 In the early 1980s I moved with my parents to a new city and our family began looking for a new church.  One Sunday we entered worship at another new place that (at least by name) sounded orthodox — and things seemed normal enough.  But as I […]

Read More Sermon: Accept One Another

Sermon: Liberty and Unity

Liberty and Unity Romans 15:1-6 August 1, 2021 I began praying for this church long before I knew the name of this church.  I knew that coming straight out of seminary to pastor a church that both the church and I would need particular attributes if we were going to thrive together.  Because I didn’t […]

Read More Sermon: Liberty and Unity

Sermon: Encourage One Another

Encourage One Another 1 Thessalonians 5:11 July 24, 2021 I love the story told by Larry Olsen in Outdoor Survival Skills: A guy has been lost in the desert for days. He’s out of food and water. His lips are parched, his tongue swollen. His legs are bruised and bleeding from crawling, his skin is […]

Read More Sermon: Encourage One Another

It’s been a year

“It’s been a year…” How often did you hear that lament last year?  And how much more often have you heard it this year?  It’s not only been a remarkably unusual year — it’s been a remarkably unusual pair of years — politically, medically, socially, religiously, and for many of us — personally. But when […]

Read More It’s been a year

Sermon: An Acceptable Debt

An Acceptable DebtRomans 13:8-10March 28, 2021 What makes a church a church?  Biblical preaching and teaching.  Corporate worship (including baptism and communion).  Purity of the gospel.  Evangelistic proclamation.  Generous fellowship.  Sacrificial service.  Church membership and church discipline. What makes Grace Bible Church Grace Bible Church?  What sets us apart and makes us unique?  What identifies […]

Read More Sermon: An Acceptable Debt

When we sin in terrible ways

I did not know Ravi Zacharias.  I certainly knew of him and I have a couple of his books on apologetics, though I never read them.  I never attended a conference where he spoke, though I have had conversations with several people who were helped by his ministry of speaking and writing.  I heard of […]

Read More When we sin in terrible ways

Sermon: When You are Hated, Pt. 2

When You are Hated…, Part 2 Romans 12:17-21 November 15, 2020 We all have expectations for relationships.  We have desires for how they will work and what we will receive through those relationships.  However, we live in a fallen world, so… Our relationships will never work completely according to our plan Our relationships will never […]

Read More Sermon: When You are Hated, Pt. 2

Sermon: When You are Hated

When You are Hated… Romans 12:14-16 November 8, 2020 Like you, I’ve had relationships where I’ve known the other person didn’t like me.  Those are hard relationships.  You know that and have experienced that.  But I don’t know that I’ve had anyone ever really hate me — hate me to the point of working against […]

Read More Sermon: When You are Hated

Sermon: When Life is Hard

When Life is Hard… Romans 12:12-13 November 1, 2020 I am what you might call a “fair-weather exerciser.”  I prefer to get my exercise outdoors, but I prefer to get it within certain parameters.  I don’t like it (and generally won’t go) when it’s over 80° and I definitely won’t go when it’s below 40° […]

Read More Sermon: When Life is Hard