We Remember

Each month we come to the table of communion — the table of remembrance. You may have taken those elements hundreds of times, so that the practice may now seem ordinary and perfunctory. It is not. It is a time to remember some of the most powerful truths God has revealed to us. We gather […]

Christ’s Death and Joy

In a recent sermon I mentioned that I think about death regularly — daily. I think about my age and the reality that I am in the last third/quarter of life (at most). I think about my death because of the recent invitation that the Social Security Administration sent me to begin drawing funds from […]

The Compassionate Son of Man

“The Compassionate Son of Man”Luke 7:11-17August 17, 2025 Death is something that is often joked about (or not really taken seriously): Groucho Marx was frequently asked what he’d like people to be saying about him in a hundred years: “I know what I’d like them to say about me…I’d like them to say, ‘He […]

A Faithful and Worthy Man

“A Faithful and Worthy Man”Luke 7:1-10August 10, 2025 Last Sunday was a special day for us — a humbling and gratifying day. We are thankful. Leading up to the day, and even during the dinner and recognition, I couldn’t help but think about one of my mentors, J. Dwight Pentecost, who participated in my installation […]

Thankful for 35 Years of Ministry

After 35 years and a most gracious celebration this past Sunday of the privilege we have had to be a part of the ministry of Grace Bible Church, our family is grateful. So grateful. I have often said about our time at GBC, quoting the psalmist, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant […]

On the heart

The Bible has hundreds of verses on the nature of the heart. And when one includes other “inner man” topics like conscience, will, desires, motives, mind, and thoughts, there are hundreds more. Consider this very small sampling of Scripture’s instruction on our hearts: The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They […]

Useless? No. Useful.

A couple of weeks ago I went through some rarely opened cabinets and drawers in my office. I knew they were full, but I was a little surprised by some of the items I found in them. I repeatedly found myself saying something like, “I forgot that was there…I’ve not used that or thought of […]

Jesus Teaches

“Jesus Teaches”Luke 6:20-49July 27, 2025 Jesus Christ is the Son of Man. That is a title that denotes His position as both God and Man. He is the fulfillment of the promise in Daniel 7:13-14 — the One who is given authority over all things by God the Father (the Ancient of Days). As the […]

Jesus Teaches: On Obedience

“Jesus Teaches: On Obedience”Luke 6:46-49July 20, 2025 Last Sunday afternoon we became aware that John MacArthur was ill, in the hospital, and not expected to survive past a few more hours. Indeed, Monday evening he entered his heavenly reward. Faith was made sight. Tuesday morning the elders gathered to pray, as we do each week, […]

Questions for the Heart

The heart is one of the great themes of the Bible. It first shows up near the first page of the Bible in the story of the flood — “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only […]

Jesus Teaches: On the Heart

Jesus Teaches: On the HeartLuke 6:43-45July 13, 2025 Theodore Dalrymple is a British medical doctor and psychiatrist who has spent his life with the worst of the worst people; he has spent the last 15 years of his life working in British prisons treating “serial killers, petty thieves and everything in between.” Much of his […]

Don’t Forget “After These Things…”

Burdens. Difficulties. Disaster Illness. Pressures. Problems. Suffering. Tragedies. Trials. Untimely death. We all have experienced situations that we could put in those categories. We have all experienced situations that we could put in those categories too often. At times we have experienced the suddenness of those trials. We receive an unexpected phone call with unwanted […]

Identifying My Hypocrisy

Many years ago, a friend stopped by my office to talk to me about something. As soon as he walked in, I noticed that something was wrong: he was red-faced and somewhat agitated (which was unusual for him). So I asked (accused) him: “why are you so angry? You’re red-faced…” And he said, “why are […]

Jesus Teaches: On Judging and Judgmentalism

“Jesus Teaches: On Judging and Judgmentalism”Luke 6:36-42June 29, 2025 While Jesus was known as a compelling speaker and a plain speaker, He was regularly misunderstood. And He continues to be misunderstood. One of the most misunderstood statements is the one that is in our passage this morning, “Do not judge and you will not be […]

Praying for Our Enemies

There are statements by Jesus Christ that are known as His “hard sayings.” They are not hard because they are hard to comprehend. They are hard because they are hard to do. They are counter to our fleshly desires. They are strongly counter to our fleshly desires. We are naturally resistant to doing what He says. […]