Sermon: Why the Gospel?

Why Evangelism?Colossians 2January 29, 2023 All Steve wanted to do was clean his fish tank.  He had no idea of the problems that would create for him.  Here’s a report of the incident: [He] was trying to get rid of a colony of zoanthids — a relative of corals and sea anemones — that was […]

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One more…

I have seen the headlines of the shooting in Uvalde yesterday. I have not read the stories. I started to read one article.  But I closed the web page. My heart couldn’t take it.  I started to cry.  “Lord…Lord…how many more?  How much longer until You return and make all things right?” I have not […]

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Praying for Ukraine

Note:  This article was updated on March 3, from its original post on February 25. I have been graced to be able to take several trips overseas to teach the Scriptures:  Cambodia, Germany, Uganda, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Dubai.  When the opportunity to travel and teach is given, my first response is to ask my […]

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The Gospel in a few words

“…to believe the gospel is not only to accept the awesome truths that 1) God is holy, 2) we are hopeless sinners, 3) Christ died and rose again for sinners, and 4) this great salvation is enjoyed by faith in Christ-but believing the gospel is also to treasure Jesus Christ as your unsearchable riches. What […]

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Sermon: Because of God’s Mercy

Because of God’s Mercy… Romans 12:1 August 30, 2020 A few weeks ago, Americans received an unexpected COVID-gift from the United States government.  And the topic quickly became, “what are you going to do with your money?”  Some paid bills.  Some paid down debt.  Some made purchases for which they had been saving.  Some gave […]

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Sermon: Failure and Faithfulness

Failure and Faithfulness Romans 11:11-16 June 28, 2020 The past four months of COVID-19 and unrighteous killings and riots have led to many questions, and few answers.  Many questions have not just been asked about our political leaders, but also about God.  All the questions about God might be summarized by three questions asked by […]

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What the world needs now

I was going to say it Sunday, but I forgot.  I had thought of it while on a run last week, but I didn’t have a pen and paper handy at that moment, and then forgot to write it down later.  So when I wrote last Sunday’s sermon, it didn’t get included.  When we think […]

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Sermon: What is the Gospel?

What is the Gospel? Selected Scriptures January 12, 2020 Ask the question, “What is the gospel?” (even in the church) and you will get almost as many answers to that question as there are people.  There just does not seem to be much consensus on that question. In his book, What is the Gospel? Greg […]

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God’s shocking grace

In Romans 10:20, as Paul recounts the revelation of the gospel to the Israelites, he notes that Isaiah is “very bold” when he writes what he does in Isaiah 65:1ff.  The word “very bold” has the sense of words that are daring, astounding, and even shocking.  What God says through Isaiah is unanticipated and unexpected.  […]

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Sermon: The Message of Faith

The Message of Faith Romans 10:9-10 November 3, 2019 This week there has been significant conversation on the internet and elsewhere about October 31.  No, not chocolate and Halloween, but Reformation Day.  The discussion about the Reformation has been a good reminder about the gospel and its significance. As someone has said, “The gospel is […]

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Sermon: No Excuses

No Excuses:  The Message of Faith Romans 10:5-8 October 20, 2019 According to a UPI news item, MetLife has received some unusual excuses for accidents from its automobile policyholders over the years. The following are just few: “An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished.” “The other car collided with mine […]

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