Remarkable Ordinariness

Scripture is filled with examples of God using ordinary means and ordinary people to accomplish His purposes. When He chose a man to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He chose a reluctant man with a stammering tongue (Ex. 4:10). When Jesus chose the 12, he chose a group of uneducated and overlooked […]

Luke and the Holy Spirit

All of the gospel writers tell the story of Jesus. They are all Christ-centered, Christ-exalting, Christ-revealing books. Consequently, there is much overlap between the books, especially the first three (the Synoptic) gospels. Yet they also tell the story of Christ from their own perspectives and emphases. There are distinctives in the accounts that make each […]

Are You Now Being Perfected by the Flesh?

The sermon I preached for the ACBC National Conference in October, “Are You Now Being Perfected by the Flesh?” is now available on the ACBC website. The message is from Galatians 3:1-5 and focuses on the sufficiency of the Spirit to address every issue of life — and every issue that might arise in a […]

The Holy Spirit and Biblical Counseling

Last week I preached at the annual conference for the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. My task was to address the sufficiency of the Holy Spirit from Galatians 3. I had more than a year to prepare the message. I regularly have too much material for a weekly sermon; having a year to prepare (even […]

What the Spirit has done (and does)

The Galatians overlooked and minimized the work of the Holy Spirit of God. They acknowledged that He was instrumental in their salvation, but they were determined to bypass His work for their ongoing sanctification — they believed that they were capable of sanctifying themselves without His efforts. The temptation that derailed their walk with Christ […]

What the Spirit of God does

When a believer in Christ is saved, the Spirit of God unites him to Christ (Rom. 6:2-3), and Christ gives the Spirit to the believer (Eph. 1:13-14). This gift is of such great benefit that Christ told the disciples it was better that He leave their presence physically so that they might be given this […]

The Holy Spirit and the Old Testament

Every year, we receive information about new products — new cell phones, computers, and tablets. New cars, new houses, new software, new books, new detergent, new laws, new lawmakers, new exercises, new diets, new clothes. And often the sales pitch for these items goes something like this: “It’s the same brand you’ve always loved, but […]

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit was not “created” with the inception of the New Testament church. Yes, He functions differently in this new age than He did in the old age, but as a member of the Triune godhead His nature is unchanging. What He is today, He always has been. So how does the Old Testament […]

Live by the Spirit by setting your mind on Christ

Romans 8 is one of the most beloved chapters in Scripture. It speaks of the believer’s responsibility and ability to mortify sin. It speaks of the believer’s adoption to become sons of God. It speaks of the coming liberation from the sufferings of this world. It speaks of the intercessory prayer of both the Spirit […]

Sermon: The Spirit, Sanctification, and Security

The Spirit, Sanctification, and Security Romans 8 May 5, 2019 When I go to the mountains, the last morning I am there I invariably go outside for one last round of pictures of those majestic hills. Then, as we leave the area — when my car is about to take me out of view of […]

Sermon: He Prays for You

He Prays for You Romans 8:26-27 December 16, 2018 I saw another article on the topic this week. We are lonely. The Wall Street Journal article even called baby boomers, “The Loneliest Generation,” saying, Baby boomers are aging alone more than any generation in U.S. history, and the resulting loneliness is a looming public health […]

Sermon: The Believer’s Great Longing

The Believer’s Great Longing Romans 8:22-25 December 9, 2018 Life is difficult. But you don’t need me to tell you that to know that it is true, do you? And suffering has always been the way of living in this world — especially for believers. One historian says this about the early church: Every Christian […]

Sermon: What in the World is Going on with the World?

What in the World is Going on with the World? Romans 8:19-21 November 25, 2018 It’s quite a world in which we live, isn’t it? Everywhere you look, there seem to be problems. I’m not talking about the problems from people who sin against us, or the problems that come from corrupt and ungodly legislation […]

Sermon: Today’s Sufferings, Tomorrow’s Joys

Today’s Sufferings, Tomorrow’s Joys Romans 8:17-18 November 18, 2018 This coming week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. But those who are suffering often find it difficult to be thankful in the midst of their suffering. There may be turkey, dressing, and pecan pie on the table, but there is resentment, anger, hostility, and ingratitude in the […]

Sermon: Sons of God

Sons of God Romans 8:14-17 October 28, 2018 Many children, if not all children, at some point will ask their parents, “Am I adopted?” They want to know their place in the family. They want to know if there is a biological connection between their parents and them. They ask the question out of a […]