Some Questions Doubt Asks

Doubt is common. It always has been common. Too common. As far back as Genesis 3 and the rebellious sin of Adam to eat fruit forbidden by God, mankind has doubted God. Not every doubt is the same, but there are some common objections and complaints against God in our questions and doubts of Him. […]

Jesus and Omniscience

What did Jesus know in His incarnation? Was there anything He didn’t know? Was it possible for the God-Man to not know something? Those questions relate to one’s understanding of the hypostatic union of Christ. The term hypostatic union refers to the union of His divine and human natures; classically it is defined as “the […]

What in the World Should We Do?

What in the World Should We Do?2 Timothy 1:13 – 2:8November 3, 2024 In Romans 13, God explains the provision He has made for care and protection of people civilly through the government. What should the government do (Rom. 13)? This is the context of living in this (political) world: Government is given by […]

Counseling Like the Good Shepherd

Counseling Like the Good Shepherd: Leading Counselees to Rest in JesusJohn 10 A few years ago I was running some errands one afternoon when I noticed that one car tire was almost completely flat. I slowly made my way to a tire store. There was a long line and wait. Finally, I spoke to […]

The Son of Man’s Genealogy

The Son of Man’s GenealogyLuke 3:23-38October 20, 2024 In 1963, Walter Cronkite filmed a television special entitled “D-Day Plus 20 Years,” which was aired on June 6, 1964. In the filming, Cronkite asked President Eisenhower what he thought about when he returned to Normandy. In Character Above All, Steven Ambrose summarized Eisenhower’s response: he “spoke […]

The Baptism of Jesus

The Baptism of JesusLuke 3:15-22October 13, 2024 We know little about the ministry of John the Baptist; we only have one sermon (really, just one line from a sermon — “be baptized for the forgiveness of sins”). Yet, for all the limited information about him, he was an important person. He came from humble beginnings, […]

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 […]

The Son of Man as a Child

The Son of Man as a ChildLuke 2:39-52September 22, 2024 A mom and dad were still sleeping one morning when their young son came bounding into the bedroom and jumped onto their stomachs with significant news: “Today’s my birthday! It’s here! I’m five-years-old today!” And then holding up his open hand with all five fingers […]

Having Seen God’s Salvation

Having Seen God’s SalvationLuke 2:21-38September 15, 2024 At least for some things, I am not the most patient person in the world. I have been known to get a little hangry while waiting for dinner to cook. I don’t like waiting for traffic lights or for accidents to clear. I don’t like waiting in checkout […]

Christ Has Come

Christ Has Come: Give Glory to GodLuke 2:8-20September 8, 2024 Five years ago, prior to moving to California, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle had a baby. While babies are born every second of every day, this birth captured the attention of royal followers around the world. Like many other parents, the birth was first […]

The Birth of the Son of Man

The Birth of the Son of ManLuke 2:1-7August 25, 2024 While perhaps not the most significant authority on the subject, a couple of years ago the India Times compiled a list of “The 10 Most Important Events in Human History.” They didn’t reveal what the criteria for making the list was, or who voted on […]

God’s Visitation

God’s VisitationLuke 1:67-80August 18, 2024 For those of you have children, was your experience with your newborns like mine? I would stand over the bassinet and hear her cry and wonder, “what will your voice sound like?” I would look at her hands and wonder, “what will you like to do?” and her feet and […]

What’s in a Name?

What’s in a Name?Luke 1:56-66August 4, 2024 One of Raye Jeanne’s sisters was married and pregnant before we got married; one day when I was at her parent’s home, the family was in earnest discussion about names for the coming baby. As soon as suggestions were made, they were rapidly shot down for all […]

Why study eschatology?

There is so much about eschatology (the doctrine of end times) that is perplexing (how should we understand all those visions in Ezekiel?), debatable (can dispensationalists and amillennialists get along with each other?) and parts are (much is?) unknowable (even Jesus in His humanity did not know the day or time of His return, Mt. […]