“God Raised Him Up”

“God Raised Him Up”Acts 10:34-43April 20, 2025 Every preacher, every week asks himself the same question, “what do you preach this week?” What do you preach to those who are suffering by walking through the valley of the shadow of death? (Six church members have had mothers die in the past 4-6 weeks.) What do […]

Standing on the Word

Standing on the Word in a Shaky WorldPsalm 1April 21, 2024 What’s on your music playlist today? Or better yet, what kind of playlists do you have on your music app? If you’re like me, you have different playlists for different times of the day and different activities: I have a list of quiet […]

Christ, Resurrected

Christ, ResurrectedMatthew 28:1-15March 31, 2024 Every Easter we talk about the resurrection. We gather on resurrection morning to read the story, be reminded of Christ’s life, rejoice in the good gift we have been given through His resurrection, and meditate on the essential nature of the resurrection. For the believer in Christ, nothing is more […]

The answer for our need

In his book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle wrote, What humanity needs…is a transformation of consciousness. This consciousness “can flow into what you do and spread into this world” through “three modalities in which you can align your life with the creative power of the universe”—acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm. [quoted […]

Transformed by the Resurrection

Transformed by the ResurrectionJohn 21:15-25April 9, 2023 “If you ask where God’s glory is most seen, I will not point to creation, nor to providence, but to the raising of Jesus from the dead.” [Spurgeon] We make much of the resurrection. For good reason. It is one of two fundamental pillars of salvation: We are […]

Lavish Love

It was a take-your-breath-away kind of thing to do. It was crazy — though it had been planned, it appeared irrational. It was a waste, or so it seemed. It happened so quickly and unexpectedly that no one tried to stop her. But given a few moments of reflection and instigated by one comment of […]

Preparation for Resurrection day

Preparation for Resurrection DayJohn 12:1-11April 2, 2023 Some of the great adventures in the history of the world are the trips men have taken to the moon. While we look back at the ventures with a sense of awe because of the technology that was used to get astronauts there — the quests were filled […]

Resurrection Work

In summarizing the necessity and nature of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul draws a very short conclusion: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord (15:58). That exhortation can be made even more […]

Sermon: The Slain, Exalted Lamb

The Slain, Exalted LambRevelation 5April 17, 2022 We are Christians. We are followers of Jesus Christ. No day on our calendar of worship demonstrates our dependence on Christ more than Easter morning. On this day we affirm we need Him and we will worship Him above all other things and people. But on this […]

Sermon: The Resurrected and Revealed Savior

The Resurrected and Revealed Savior John 21:1-14 April 4, 2021, Resurrection Day What is your source of discouragement today? What is keeping you awake and night and occupying your thoughts when you have quiet moments during the day, or even when you are in conversation with friends? What is enticing you to not just buy […]

Sermon: Our Risen, Returning Savior

Our Risen, Returning Savior John 14:1-3 April 12, 2020 What do you offer a man who is discouraged and hopeless? What do you offer someone whose world is shattered? What do you offer someone who has captured a glimpse into the future, and the fear of it is not startling, but terrifying in its deadliness? […]

Why the resurrection is important

Sometimes people get into debates (arguments?) about what is most necessary for a particular task. What is the most essential component in flying an airplane? Or in building a house? Or in parenting children? Or in educating college students? Or in growing a church? And it is amazing the diversity of answers you might receive […]

Sermon: “O Foolish Men”

“O Foolish Men…” Luke 24:13-35 April 1, 2018 A pastor in California tells the story of a secondhand store in California that resells wardrobes of “the stars” of Hollywood. If you have enough cash, you can buy something worn by your favorite actor and play your own role, pretending to be that star. A number […]

Sermon: The Final Words of Jesus

“The Final Words of Jesus” Selected Scriptures April 5, 2015 (Easter Sunday) They are some of the dying words of famous and infamous men: Napoleon Bonaparte, the French general and emperor, said, “I die before my time, and my body will be given back to the earth. Such is the fate of him who has […]

Sermon: He is Risen

He is Risen Mark 16:1-8 April 20, 2014 Some words are life-changing words. After they are uttered, the direction and course of one’s life is irrevocably changed. Words like the ones I said to Raye Jeanne a few months after we first met — “I love you.” Everything about our relationship changed after that. Words […]