The power of the cross

The cross of Christ is a foolish thing. The cross of Christ is a shameful thing. The cross of Christ is a hated thing. The cross of Christ is foolish, shameful, and hated, that is, by those who are perishing, by those who are “wise” according to the way of the world. But to those […]

Sermon: The “Foolish” Gospel

The “Foolish” Gospel 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 December 30, 2018 Tuesday is New Year’s Day. So perhaps you, like many of us, will spend some time in the next couple of days doing some self-evaluation — where have you done well physically, financially, relationally, and spiritually this year? Where have you not done so well? And […]

2019 Bible Reading Plans

It’s almost New Year’s Day. And New Year’s Day means new resolutions to live a re-newed kind of way in the coming year. And there is no resolution (and no new habit actually practiced) that will benefit you more than regularly immersing yourself in Scripture to expose your heart to God’s revelation so that you […]

Our great King and Savior

At Christmas, many sermons, blog posts, and magazine articles rightly expound the greatness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Those writings echo the theme of Scripture, which exposes Christ’s glory with unique and superlative terms [my emphasis]: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Col. 1:15) “For those whom He […]

Christmas Joys

Below is the text of the message I preached this evening at our Christmas Eve service: “Christmas Joys” (Luke 2:25-35). It’s a little late to send a letter to Santa with your gift requests tonight. But people have been sending in requests for a while now. It’s usually just children that send in their wants, […]

Sermon: Christmas Sorrows

Christmas Sorrows Matthew 2:13-23 December 23, 2018 What is your dream of the perfect Christmas? Paint the picture in your mind: who are the people who are around you? Where are you celebrating? What are you eating? What gifts are you giving and receiving? What will make the perfect Christmas day? On the first Christmas […]

Sermon: He Prays for You

He Prays for You Romans 8:26-27 December 16, 2018 I saw another article on the topic this week. We are lonely. The Wall Street Journal article even called baby boomers, “The Loneliest Generation,” saying, Baby boomers are aging alone more than any generation in U.S. history, and the resulting loneliness is a looming public health […]

Sermon: The Believer’s Great Longing

The Believer’s Great Longing Romans 8:22-25 December 9, 2018 Life is difficult. But you don’t need me to tell you that to know that it is true, do you? And suffering has always been the way of living in this world — especially for believers. One historian says this about the early church: Every Christian […]

Sermon: What in the World is Going on with the World?

What in the World is Going on with the World? Romans 8:19-21 November 25, 2018 It’s quite a world in which we live, isn’t it? Everywhere you look, there seem to be problems. I’m not talking about the problems from people who sin against us, or the problems that come from corrupt and ungodly legislation […]

Thankfulness — they said it better than me

Do you have trouble cultivating a heart of gratitude this week of Thanksgiving? Perhaps you are discouraged by your circumstances, despairing of some relationship, struggling with some sin, or just simply tired. It seems like others have many things for which they can be thankful, but you have few or even no reasons for gratitude. […]

Sermon: Today’s Sufferings, Tomorrow’s Joys

Today’s Sufferings, Tomorrow’s Joys Romans 8:17-18 November 18, 2018 This coming week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. But those who are suffering often find it difficult to be thankful in the midst of their suffering. There may be turkey, dressing, and pecan pie on the table, but there is resentment, anger, hostility, and ingratitude in the […]

How great the Father’s love

In what almost seems to be a passing comment at first, Paul tells the Romans that if they are mortifying sins by the power of the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:13), it indicates that they are being led (controlled and indwelt) by the Spirit and since the Spirit only indwells believers, then they “are sons […]

Sermon: Sons of God

Sons of God Romans 8:14-17 October 28, 2018 Many children, if not all children, at some point will ask their parents, “Am I adopted?” They want to know their place in the family. They want to know if there is a biological connection between their parents and them. They ask the question out of a […]

Prayer and temptation

I’ve been to the Grand Canyon once. I was in my early 20s and was just there for one afternoon while on a cross-country trip. Because I wasn’t sure when or if I would ever return, I took many pictures. But I wanted only the pure beauty of the canyon; I didn’t want man-made objects […]

Help for mortifying the flesh

This morning I finished preaching a brief series on the mortification of the flesh (Rom. 8:12-13 and Col. 3:1-17). Fighting against remaining sin is the greatest difficulty in the believer’s life and the greatest opportunity to experience the sufficient power of Christ and the Spirit. As I have studied and thought about this topic over […]