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 Are You Thinking?

What Are You Thinking? Colossians 3:1-4 April 26, 2020 What we think is important. I don’t mean that our opinions about various topics are important — they may or may not be important — but that what we are thinking about in any given moment is important. The millions of thoughts that travel around our […]

Something for every person, redux

I originally wrote the post below almost 10 years ago. It is still (particularly) appropriate today, in the midst of the Covid-19 physical isolation. You have been a Christian for years. Ministry seemed intimidating at first, but you’ve been involved in your church for a number of years, you’ve volunteered in some civic organizations, and […]

Some reflections on John 1:16

At least during Covid-19, I’m doing at least one weekly video update about ministry at Grace Bible Church and a short meditation on something from Scripture. Here is this week’s update, from John 1:16:

Sermon: Be Afraid – to the Glory of God

Be Afraid — to the Glory of God Proverbs 1:7 April 19, 2020 When we are afraid, we are tempted to do things we would otherwise consider irrational. Consider these three folks who have a fear of bugs and spiders: A man was filling up his car at a gas station when he noticed a […]

Resources to combat fear and anxiety

The days of Covid-19 have done what pressures and trials are designed to do — they are revealing our hearts. This circumstance, which is the most unusual situation any of us has ever experienced, is revealing whether we are fearful of the situation, anxious about what might yet happen, content and confident in God to […]

Sermon: Our Risen, Returning Savior

Our Risen, Returning Savior John 14:1-3 April 12, 2020 What do you offer a man who is discouraged and hopeless? What do you offer someone whose world is shattered? What do you offer someone who has captured a glimpse into the future, and the fear of it is not startling, but terrifying in its deadliness? […]

Jesus’ seven words from the cross

While He hung on the cross, Jesus made seven statements. The first three words concern His personal relationships — a prayer for His executioners, a promise to the thief (His fellow-sufferer on that day), and a provision for His mother. The next three words concern His work of salvation — the cry concerning His moral […]

“Into Your hands I commit My spirit”

What do you say when you are suffering? What comes out of your mouth when you are hurting? Those are not theoretical questions. In the middle of Covid-19, we know what comes out of our mouths when we suffer. We don’t have to guess at what we might do and say when we have troubles. […]

Sermon: The Compassionate, Competent Savior

The Compassionate, Competent Savior John 11:17-44 April 5, 2020 Who will care for you when you are suffering? Who will care for you if everyone is suffering? Who will care for you when care and connection and human touch are being restricted by governmental controls? We are not the first people to ask that question. […]

Loving your neighbor during Covid-19

Jesus said that the Old Testament Law can be condensed into two principles: Love God with all your heart Love your neighbor as yourself That’s it. The Old Testament is pointing people to being lovers of God and lovers of others. You might also say it these ways: You cannot love God without loving others. […]

Some more Covid-19 biblical resources

Here are a few more resources I’ve come across in the past week or so that I have found helpful to think about Covid-19, the Bible, God, and my life: Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) has many excellent resources and articles on a variety of topics related to Covid-19 and suffering. Anxiety: Knowing God’s […]

Coronavirus and gratitude

Here is a short ministry update from Grace Bible Church, and a few thoughts about gratitude during Covid-19:

God is with us. Always.

The kinds of questions children sometimes ask about God are not so different than the questions we have about God: Who created God? What does God look like? Why can’t we see God? How can Jesus fit in my heart? Why did God create Satan? Why do people get sick and die? Where is God? […]

Sermon: Our Infinite, Intimate God

Our Infinite, Intimate God Psalm 139 March 29, 2020 Loneliness is a common affliction. While living in an increasingly connected world, many feel increasingly disconnected relationally. As one secular writer noted a few years ago, “…if you’re an average American, you’re not nearly as connected to the people around you as your parents or grandparents […]