The Best books I read in 2024

I enjoy books. I like bookstores — new bookstores, old bookstores, used book stores, and digital (online) bookstores. I spend a significant amount of time and money in bookstores each year. And I read, too (though not as much as I’d like, typically). Several years ago, I began keeping track of what I read each […]

Repentance and its Fruits

Repentance and Its FruitsLuke 3:1-14October 6, 2024 What is the beginning of the spiritual life? Martin Luther said in the first of his 95 theses of discussion against the Roman Catholic Church, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, said ‘Repent,’ He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Repentance […]

The Enduring Word

The Enduring Word1 Peter 1:22–2:3September 29, 2024 This morning we have heard the rest of the story about the translation of the Feni Bible. We are aware of multiple other missions events in our church (Lebanon, Joyners, etc.). Why do churches invest tens of thousands of dollars to send missionaries to people they don’t […]

God is a Missionary God

Israel was called to do missions and the church does missions because God does missions. We love missions because God loves missions. We sacrifice in giving and going and we go to risky places because God sacrificed and gave and went to a “risky” place (Jn. 1:10-11). We long to see sinners saved by the […]

William Carey: an influencer of modern missions, Pt. 3

This is the third of a three-part series on the life of William Carey and his commitment to missions and his influence on the modern missions movement. (Part 1, Part 2) Two final lessons from Carey’s life may be particularly appropriate for the contemporary American church. The first is this: God uses “small people” from […]

William Carey: an influencer of modern missions, Pt. 2

This is the second of a three-part series on the life of William Carey and his commitment to missions and his influence on the modern missions movement. Biblical principles that guided Carey’s life To gain encouragement and wisdom from the life of this man, the question “What were the truths that sustained Carey in pursuing […]

William Carey: an influencer of modern missions

This is the first of a three-part series on the life of William Carey and his commitment to missions and his influence on the modern missions movement. It has been well-noted by a historian that “The history of Christian missions is the story of God employing individual believers to spread the Gospel message around the […]

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 […]

Sermon: Paul’s Missionary Prayer

“Pray Christ:” Paul’s Missionary PrayerRomans 15:30-33September 12, 2021 Early this year, we decided to replace most of the fencing in our backyard. It was rotting in several places and falling down in others. So we counted the panels and pickets and headed to the lumber yard to buy replacements. We were told that they only […]

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 […]

God is a Missionary God

At the end of Romans, Paul reveals the reason for that theological treatise. His letter was a missionary letter — a request for financial and spiritual support and encouragement as he took the gospel of Christ to Spain. All the theology of the letter was simply his way of affirming his beliefs and teaching, demonstrating […]

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?…” […]

A biblical mandate for missions

Last year, our church elder board developed a policy for missions to determine what missions is and what kind of missionaries our church is committed to support and what our expectations are for ourselves and our missionaries in the missionary endeavor. The process was enlightening as we began to see the breadth of God’s passion […]

Reflections on my recent trip to Russia and Israel

Earlier this month I took a trip to Siberia and Israel to teach biblical counseling with Pastor Dan Kirk and Eric Mock (SGA). I have traveled with these men previously and was particularly anticipating returning to one location in Siberia where we taught two years ago. The goal of the trip was two-fold: Finish a […]

Sermon: Go to the Nations, Pt 3

Go to the Nations: Our Responsibilities in Missions 3 John June 24, 2018 It has been suggested that Acts is the best manual for missions that the church has. We learn a tremendous amount about missions by reading Acts. But many of the principles of missions we glean in Acts are also present in 3 […]