Sermon: A Tale of Two Men (Pt. 1)

“A Tale of Two Men, and the Sad Story of Sin’s Origin” Pt. 1 Romans 5:12 September 10, 2017 If you read the news most days, you will find many stories that are filled with tragedy and senselessness that inevitably leads us to ask, “why?” Why does a man drink alcohol and then get behind […]

If all things work for good… (Pt. 3)

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from All Things for Good. (This post continues a previous post.) Inferences from the proposition that all things work for the good of the saints.… (6) Learn how little cause we have then to be […]

Worship God

When a high school student considers her options for college, her fundamental question is, “which school will be best for me so that I can achieve my goals?” When a job applicant interviews with a prospective employer, he will ask about the compensation package — “what benefits will I receive for giving you 40-50 hours […]

If all things work for good… (Pt. 2)

Sermon: The Blessings of Justification, Pt 4

“The Blessings of Justification” Pt. 4 Romans 5:9-11 August 27, 2017 One pastor decided to take his family, including his four children on vacation — “We’re going to Junction City, Kansas,” he said. “It’s where my dad used to pastor a church, and we can have lots of fun there — they have playgrounds, and […]

The outpouring of God’s love

The love of God may be one of the most misunderstood attributes of God’s character. Talk to an unbeliever about the wrath of God and the consequences of sin and you are likely to hear a comment something like, “My God is not like that. I don’t believe in a God who is angry; my […]

Encouragement for when you’re suffering

We have noted that suffering is normal in the life of the believer. And thinking (meditating) on Scripture and the product of our suffering is helpful. In His grace, the Lord has also provided other helps for us as well — primarily the help of other faithful men who have suffered well and written about […]

The fruit of suffering and trials

Trials start on page three of my Bible. On that page, the Serpent approaches Eve with the temptation to rebel against God, and in that moment, she and her faith are on trial. And because she and Adam chose to disobey, suffering enters their lives on page four. Pain in childbirth, conflict in marriage and […]

If all things work for good…

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from All Things for Good. Inferences from the proposition that all things work for the good of the saints. (1) If all things work for good, hence learn that there is a providence. Things do […]

Sermon: The Blessings of Justification, Pt 2

“The Blessings of Justification” Pt. 2 Romans 5:3-5 August 13, 2017 Four years ago, Ryan Boomershine, a principle of a Christian school in Nashville, wrote this account: Last Wednesday, the third day of this year, I was working at my desk at school when Christie called me on my cell. She said a jumble of […]

We have the grace we need

Someone reminded me this week that an oft-quoted cliché among Christians is, “God gives us grace for whatever we need.” But, my friend asked, what does that really mean? How does God give us grace? What does that grace practically look like? Paul addresses a similar idea in Romans 5:2 when he identifies one of […]

Sermon: The Blessings of Justification, Pt 1

“The Blessings of Justification” Pt. 1 Romans 5:1-2 August 6, 2017 Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord.” So the day that Raye Jeanne and I got married, I knew I was a blessed man. Only a little more than a year before we […]

The Counselor’s Hidden Life of Shame

This article first appeared in a post at The Center for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship. We like to hide. From playing peek-a-boo as an infant to hide-and-seek as a child. From that game the child learns there is a reward for being hidden. As adolescents and teenagers, more hiding ensues. If the teen is a […]

Sermon: Delivered and Resurrected for Us

“The Message of Justification: Delivered and Resurrected for Us” Romans 4:23-25 July 23, 2017 In Geneva, Switzerland, there is a park near the church where John Calvin preached and conducted his ministry. In that park there is a memorial wall containing the statues of 10 of the leading men of the 16th Century Reformation. The […]

How important is Sola Fide?

For 1-1/2 chapters at the beginning of Romans, Paul repeatedly emphasizes the doctrine of justification by grace alone (3:24) through faith alone (3:25, 28). Justification is not received through any kind of good works (4:1-8), though circumcision or physical heritage (4:9-12), or through obedience to the Law (4:13-16). It is by grace alone and through […]