Sermon: Blessings and Dying Words

Blessings and Dying WordsHebrews 11:20-22May 8, 2022 The legacy of people’s final words is fascinating. What were the final words and thoughts on people’s minds as they departed this life for eternal life (or eternal death)? These words are significant because death is the ultimate enemy of all men. There are more harsh and less […]

Sermon: A Test of Faith

A Test of FaithHebrews 11:17-19May 1, 2022 More than 30 years ago, I walked out of a classroom and building, and crossed the street to head to the school-owned apartment in which Raye Jeanne and I lived. It was a pleasant early May day, with bright sunshine and moderate temperature. As I crossed the […]

Sermon: Living By Faith When Promises are not Fully Fulfilled, Pt. 2

Living By Faith When Promises are not (Fully) Fulfilled, Pt. 2Hebrews 11:13-16April 24, 2022 I came across a synthesis of some important life lessons this week: “I’ve learned that you can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.” “I’ve learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, […]

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: Living By Faith When Promises are not Fully Fulfilled, Pt. 1

Living By Faith When Promises are not (Fully) Fulfilled, Pt. 1Hebrews 11:8-12April 3, 2022 I placed a book order last week. And a few minutes after I placed the order, I received an email telling me when I would receive the order, along with a tracking number from UPS so that I could follow it’s […]

Sermon: Living by Faith in the Present

Living by Faith in the Present, for the FutureHebrews 11:7March 27, 2022 I don’t have to tell you that we live in a perverse world. When you open up your news browser you are assaulted by that reality. Just this week: The latest Supreme Court nominee refused to provide a definition for the word […]

Sermon: Living to Please God, Pt. 2

Living to Please God, Pt. 2Hebrews 11:4-6March 20, 2022 A generation ago, Charles Schultz helped us identify the nature of happiness: Happiness is a thumb and a blanket (Linus) Happiness is an umbrella and a new raincoat (Lucy) Happiness is having a friend (Charlie Brown and Snoopy) Happiness is sharing (Linus and Snoopy) Happiness is […]

Sermon: Living to Please God

Living to Please GodHebrews 11:4-6March 13, 2022 A year ago, Sirin Kale, a journalist for the British newspaper The Guardian, wrote: In the past fortnight, I have bought the following items online: a hideous cat tree that takes up most of my living room, a lavender pillow spray, two scarves, a pair of gloves, two […]

Sermon: Living…by faith

Living…By FaithHebrews 11:1-3March 6, 202 We live in an unjust world. This is the hospitality center for Slavic Gospel Association in Irpin, Ukraine, where I stayed two years ago. And this is now one of the roads that leads to that house. The war against Ukraine has grieved many of you; it provokes me to […]

Sermon: Excel Still More – Marriage

Excelling Still More: Marriage1 Peter 3:1-7February 13, 2022 The couple that stands before their friends and family and in front of the preacher in a gleaming white dress and an immaculate tux, with flutters in their hearts and beaming smiles on their faces (and maybe tears in their eyes) can never imagine the time when […]

Sermon: Excel Still More – Evangelism

Excelling Still More: EvangelismColossians 4:2-6February 6, 2022 Randy Newman introduces his book Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others Who Know You Well by writing this: When I informed a friend I was writing a book on witnessing to family, he told me he had the perfect chapter titles: Chapter […]

Sermon: Excel Still More – Prayer

Excelling Still More: Prayer for One AnotherEphesians 1:15-19January 30, 2022 I am going to go out on a limb and make a generalization that I believe applies to all people. No one is satisfied with his prayer life. None of us will say, “I pray enough; I am content that God always gets my best […]

Sermon: Help Me!

Help Me!Psalm 119:145-152January 23, 2022 I know some of y’all enjoy hiking and camping. But serious hiking is not for everyone. Several years ago, the staff of the Bridger Wilderness in the Tetons released some of the comments taken after people had concluded their hikes. Here are a few samples: Trails need to be […]

Sermon: Living in Our Changing Unchanging World

Living in Our Changing Unchanging World2 Timothy 3:1-17January 16, 2022 In December Canada passed bill C-4 that outlawed what is called “Conversion Therapy” or “Reparative Therapy” for counselors. The bill became Canadian law eight days ago, on January 8. Conversion Therapy is a practice where people with homosexual desires and actions are re-oriented and “converted” […]

Sermon: Excel Still More

Excel Still More1 Thessalonians 4:9-12January 2, 2022 I have been asked many times (most often by visitors), “What is your vision for the church?” I haven’t always known how to answer that question. Sometimes that question implies other things like, “How big do you see the church being in five years? Ten years?” “What […]