Injustice, suffering, and persecution are normal and will happen in this world. That doesn’t mean persecution is right; but it does mean that nothing unusual has happened when someone is ostracized, condemned, persecuted, or even martyred for having faith in Christ. To be a follower of Christ is to live with the expectation that one […]
Read More When threatened with persecutionChoosing to Live by FaithHebrews 11:23-26May 29, 2022 In The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz tells of a trip to his local moderately sized grocery store. He found 285 varieties of cookies, 13 sports drinks, 65 box drinks, 85 kids’ juices, 75 iced teas, 95 types of chips and pretzels, 15 kinds of bottled water, […]
Read More Sermon: Choosing to Live by FaithI have seen the headlines of the shooting in Uvalde yesterday. I have not read the stories. I started to read one article. But I closed the web page. My heart couldn’t take it. I started to cry. “Lord…Lord…how many more? How much longer until You return and make all things right?” I have not […]
Read More One more…A few weeks ago I made a case for organizing your biblical counseling resources (or any other discipling and teaching resources you use in caring for others). I had at least one request for the complete list of categories. So here it is. Most of the folders just have the articles and homework ideas sorted […]
Read More Organizing Resources for Biblical Counseling, Part 2Yesterday, I wrote about thinking about death. Today I offer some quotations from others who have spoken biblically and wisely about death: “The question is not whether we will die, but whether we will die in a way that bears much fruit.” (John Piper, Filling up the Afflictions of Christ) “Death is a threat to […]
Read More They said it better than me: DeathA few months after I became a pastor, a funeral home called me and asked if I would do a funeral service for a woman whose family did not have a relationship with a church in our community. I agreed and went to meet with the family to talk about the service. They wanted one […]
Read More Thinking about deathBlessings 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 […]
Read More Sermon: Blessings and Dying WordsTrials are regular and normal. Disappointment is inevitable. Failure is common. One skeptic rightly noted, “In times like these it’s good to remember that there have always been times like these.” If we expect a trouble-free life, we will never be satisfied. However, the goal in life is not to avoid trouble and trial, […]
Read More Remember God’s PromisesI don’t have OCD. Really. I don’t. (And denying it doesn’t mean that I do have OCD.) I just like things organized. So my personal library is organized by the Dewey Decimal System. I have more than 20,000 file cards (both printed and digital) of preaching illustrations organized by topic and biblical passage. I have […]
Read More Organizing Resources for Biblical CounselingA 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 […]
Read More Sermon: A Test of FaithWhat we think is important. I don’t mean that our opinions about various topics are important. They may or may not be important; but I mean that the content of our thoughts — what we are thinking about in any given moment is important. The millions of thoughts that travel around our six-inch diameter […]
Read More What are you thinking?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, […]
Read More Sermon: Living By Faith When Promises are not Fully Fulfilled, Pt. 2The 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 […]
Read More Sermon: The Slain, Exalted Lamb“It Must Happen This Way:”The Arrest of Christ and the Sovereign Purpose of GodMatthew 26:47-56April 15, 2022 (Good Friday) Facts reflect the reality of a condition. They are true. They can be believed. But interpretations of facts are variable, inconsistent, at times inaccurate, and invariably not to be trusted. One husband was complaining to […]
Read More “It Must Happen This Way”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 […]
Read More Sermon: Living By Faith When Promises are not Fully Fulfilled, Pt. 1
Words of Grace 