The believer’s hope

The true account of the death of the philosopher Socrates serves as a parable of the hopelessness of the world. With the poison of hemlock already flowing through his veins and death momentarily awaiting him, one of his disciples leaned forward to him and whispered, “Master, shall we live again?” That’s an important question for […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles I’ve bookmarked recently (or not so recently): “How to Pray for Afghan Christians” (Kevin Carson) “Jesus Is Literally All They Have Left” (Randy Alcorn) “9 Things You Should Know About the Taliban” (Joe Carter) “Celebrating 50 Years Of Marriage” (Paul Tripp) “Preaching the Funeral Sermon I Once Most Dreaded” (Hershael York) — […]

The last miracle of redemption

I would not say that miracles “abound” in Scripture. There are miracles in the Bible. There are many miracles. By definition, miracles are astounding, incredible, unusual, and wondrous. And the miracles of the Bible are all those things. Think of the miracle of 2 million people crossing the Red Sea on dry land, getting across […]

Think hopefully, not wishfully

Last week, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled, “Finding Hope When Everything Feels Hopeless.” The thesis of the post was that people today feel hopeless and need hope. But hope “feels increasingly elusive,” with COVID, the election, winter, and more weighing on people’s minds. Author Elizabeth Bernstein suggests that hope “guards against anxiety […]

Sermon: In Praise of God

In Praise of God Romans 11:33-36 July 26, 2020 John Wesley Powell was a government explorer who led a boat expedition through the Grand Canyon in 1869. He wrote a description of his impressions of that trip entitled, “The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth” in his book, Canyons of the Colorado (1895): The Grand Canyon […]

Sermon: God’s People? Saved! (Pt 1)

God’s People? Saved! (Pt 1) Romans 11:25-27 July 12, 2020 How have you spent your COVID? It’s not the only thing we have done, but we spent at least four days attacking trees and shrubs in our yard — trimming, cutting down, and then digging out roots. By my count, I have dug out 10-12 […]

Sermon: Israel, God’s Promises, and Unexpected Favor

Israel, God’s Promises, and Unexpected Favor Romans 11:17-24 July 5, 2020 In Romans, Paul is establishing his credibility as an apostle and as a missionary. He wants the Roman church to be his sending church on his journey to Spain, and he is giving them his understanding of the gospel — man’s sin and lostness […]

Sermon: When Your Soul is Tempted to be Despondent, Pt. 2

When Your Soul is Tempted to be Despondent, Part 2 Psalm 103:6-22 May 17, 2020 Over the past couple of months I’ve thought several times of a popular and catchy, but ridiculous song from the late 1980s: In every life we have some trouble But when you worry you make it double Don’t worry, be […]

Sermon: When Your Soul is Tempted to be Despondent

When Your Soul is Tempted to be Despondent Psalm 103:1-5 May 10, 2020 Several months ago, while reading my Bible, I was struck by the beauty of a particular psalm and though I didn’t have time to study it in detail that day, I knew I didn’t want to forget to study that psalm, so […]

36 Spiritual Blessings of Salvation

Lewis Sperry Chafer delineated at least 33 blessings that the believer receives upon coming to Christ. He comments: “The Scriptures reveal 33 stupendous works of God which together comprise the salvation of the soul. They are wrought by God instantaneously, are grounded on the merit of Christ, and are eternal. Accordingly each member of the […]

Sermon: What Happened???

What Happened??? Romans 11:7-10 March 8, 2020 I suppose that the most asked question in the universe is “why?” Because 2-4 year-olds ask that question so many times, no other question gets asked more often. But perhaps the next most-often asked question is, “what happened?” As in, “I just received this month’s credit card bill. […]

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. […]

Sermon: Why People Don’t Believe in Christ

Why People Don’t Believe in Christ (And the Shocking Grace of God) Romans 10:16-21 December 1, 2019 The turkey is (probably) finished. There might still be a little leftover cranberry sauce. I know the pecan pie has been gone for at least two days. Thanksgiving is over. I hope it was an encouraging and reflective […]

Sermon: The Believer’s Evangelistic Privilege

The Believer’s Evangelistic Privilege Romans 10:14-15 November 17, 2019 The apostle Paul was a remarkable man. He was a prolific writer (13 letters in the NT) and an astute linguist He was a careful theologian (e.g., Romans) He was an effective and wise church planter and pastor He was a bold apologist (Acts 17) and […]

If Jesus is Lord…

The Apostle Paul makes the lordship of Jesus Christ a central theme in his letter to the Romans. Forty three times Paul uses the word “Lord” in that letter, often with the pronoun, “our,” to indicate our fellowship with Him — Christ is not just any Lord, but He is the Lord who belongs to […]