Sermon: God’s Plan for a Universal Ruler

God’s Plan for a Universal RulerZechariah 6:9-15December 4, 2022 In June 1945, three-year-old Dennis Helms received a letter from his father Richard, who happened to be stationed in Europe, who was working with the OSS in Germany and was writing on V-E Day: Dear Dennis, The man who might have written on this card once […]

Sermon: God’s Judgment on Sin

God’s Judgment on SinZechariah 5:1-11November 13, 2022 We live in a sinful world. We are well aware of the sinfulness of the world: There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness. (Prov. 30:12) For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man […]

Sermon: God’s Plans for Righteousness

God’s Plans for RighteousnessZechariah 3:1 -10October 23, 2022 I’ve told the story before, but because it fits so well with this passage, because Reformation Day is next Monday, and because I like the story, let me remind you of Martin Luther’s conversion story (in his words): I greatly longed to understand Paul’s Epistle to […]

Sermon: God’s Plans for the Future

God’s Plans for the FutureZechariah 1:18 – 2:13October 16, 2022 Jeanne Calment was born in 1875 in Arles, France. When she was 13, she met Vincent Van Gogh when he came to her hometown to paint (she didn’t like him). She stopped riding her bicycle in 1975 — at the age of 100. The New […]

Sermon: The God of Comfort

The God of Comfort for a Day of TroubleZechariah 1:7-17October 2, 2022 One writer has said, “Life is full of disappointments. The biggest catastrophes (wars and tsunamis) and the smallest inconveniences (lower back pain and unfulfilled desires) infuse unrest into our lives. Trials snatch peace from us.” [Menikoff, Character Matters.] Meg was the mother of […]

A word of encouragement

The young boy approached his father. “Dad, let’s play darts. I’ll throw and you say, ‘Great shot!’” Though probably apocryphal in nature, that exchange still bespeaks of a real need — the need to be encouraged. It is a need that is not unique to our day. Even in Scripture we find people of God […]

Questions to Unbelief

If to Jesus for relief My soul has fled by prayer; Why should I give way to grief, Or heart-consuming care? Are not all things in his hand? Has he not his promise past? Will he then regardless stand And let me sink at last? While I know his providence Disposes each event; Shall I […]

An encouraging word

“…that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.” (Rom. 15:32; NASB) As a boy, Larry Crabb stuttered. Now a speaker, writer, and counselor, Dr. Crabb recalls an incident in the church he attended as a young man. Young men in that church were […]

Need a little encouragement?

In an essay on the life of Dwight Eisenhower, historian Stephen Ambrose recounts the following story: In 1963, when he was filming with Walter Cronkite a television special entitled “D-Day Plus 20 Years,” Cronkite asked [Eisenhower] what he thought about when he returned to Normandy. In reply, Eisenhower spoke not of the tanks, the guns, […]

Comfort from God

The obvious theme of the opening verses of 2 Corinthians 1 is the comfort of God: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the couple of weeks: Greg Lucas offers “Seven Lessons from the Disability Community:” God is both sovereign and good. You have been brought into this community for a purpose. Disability magnifies our vision for joy in the smallest things. Community brings much needed perspective Outspoken men are often minorities. When marriage […]

They said it better than me: comfort

Still thinking about the comfort of God, I came across these statements in my files: “Why does God bring thunderclouds and disasters when we want green pastures and still waters? Bit by bit we find, behind the clouds, the Father’s feet; behind the lightning, an abiding day that has no night; behind the thunder, ‘a […]

Afflicted for the sake of comfort

I don’t recall where I first heard this principle, but after 20+ years in ministry, I believe it is true: in every seat in every sanctuary is a person with a sad story or heartache. Talk to anyone for any significant length of time and ask the right kinds of questions and you will find […]

He learned his lesson

First David was being chased relentlessly by Saul. He was discouraged and evidently despaired of receiving God’s promise of ascending to the throne of Israel. Then Jonathan came and encouraged his friend in the Lord. But you wonder, don’t you, “did he learn his lesson?” “Did the truths about God that Jonathan used to strengthen […]

Courage for the day

To my knowledge, no one has ever wanted to kill me. Oh sure, I’ve had people angry with me. I’ve had people want to use me as a punching bag (a couple did back in the junior high years). I’ve had people speak to me in angry and hostile tones. Some have shaken in rage […]