Sanctification and all things working together for good

“What good is it going to do, anyway?” is a common lament among many people: an elementary student who is frustrated by his attempts to hit a baseball and wants to stop going to practice a high school student who is resigned to not getting a needed score on her SAT to enable her to […]

Sermon: All Things for Good

All Things for Good: Trusting God and Sanctification Romans 8:28-29 March 10, 2019 In his book Rise and Shine, Chuck Swindoll recounts a significant event from the past century: When the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations was opened by Queen Victoria in 1851, people flocked to Hyde Park to behold […]

Sermon: Hope in God

Hope in God Psalm 42 March 3, 2019 John Bunyan is one of the most well-known believers in Christ. He wrote numerous books, including the still-in-print, Pilgrim’s Progress. A bold pastor in a difficult time in the church, he was imprisoned for 12 years for preaching the gospel, yet he did not always exude confidence […]

There’s no boasting in Heaven

It often first surfaces in the seemingly innocent words of a three-year-old venturing into unknown tasks — “I can do it!” the child adamantly asserts to his parent. Yet he likely cannot do it and he may even be endangering himself in his quest. Oh, that we learned to stop bragging after those first foolish […]

Sermon: God’s Gospel

God’s Gospel Ephesians 2:8-10 February 24, 2019 If I were to ask you to complete this sentence, how would you finish it? The most well-known verse in the Bible is… My guess is the first thing you’d say is, “John 3:16.” Then you might suggest, Genesis 1:1. Or Psalm 23. Or Romans 3:23 (“all have […]

Warfield on inspiration

The inspiration of Scripture is a reference to the divine authorship of Scripture — the Bible has God as its singular source and authority. It comes from God. Perhaps no theologian wrote as carefully or extensively on the topic of inspiration as B. B. Warfield. In his classic work, Inspiration and Authority, he writes this […]

God’s inspired Word

We speak often of the Bible as “God’s Word.” It originates in Him. He is the author and source of Scripture. It was written by men in their own languages and vocabulary, and out of their education and background. But it was not their message and idea. It has its source in God. Perhaps no […]

Sermon: The Inspired, Sufficient Word

The Inspired, Sufficient Word 2 Timothy 3:16-17 February 17, 2019 I am surrounded by Bibles. One day in my office several years ago I counted 22 Bibles on my shelves and desk. I don’t have as many at home, but another dozen or so is likely (I haven’t counted them). I have 20 English translations […]

The writing sabbatical is over

Four weeks ago I began a writing sabbatical. I had four writing objectives for my time away: Complete my application for ACBC Fellowship Plan and begin working on a book on biblical counseling, tentatively titled, Teach the Word: Biblical Expositions for Biblical Counselors Write teaching notes for 11 teaching sessions for a biblical counseling training […]

Writing sabbatical begins today

Today, due to the generosity and encouragement of the GBC elders, I begin a one-month writing sabbatical. I have been anxious to get started on this project. For the past two weeks, most mornings when I awaken, I am thinking about aspects of the project — structure, chapters to include, and books to read to […]

Sermon: The delight of God’s Word

The Delight of God’s Word Psalm 119:97-104 January 6, 2019 Several years ago, after reading through Psalm 119, I was fascinated by all the different ways that the psalmist said he responded to the Word of God. So I re-read through the psalm and made a chart of as many different responses as I could […]

The power of the cross, exemplified

We have noted that the cross is powerful. We need to be convinced of its relevance, power, and wisdom. That’s Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. But just how powerful is the cross? In 1838, Robert Murray M’Cheyne preached a sermon, “God Let None of His Words Fall to the Ground.” To demonstrate the power […]

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 […]