Preserving Unity — Ministry Focus for 2025Ephesians 4:1-3January 19, 2025 For several years, we have had a theme for the year — a biblical truth that would help orient us and guide us as we serve Christ. Often those themes come from circumstances that we see in the culture (both secular and church) that […]
Read More Preserving UnityMany years ago, I walked into my pastoral office for the first time, organized my books on my shelves, and sat behind my desk and began thinking about my first duties as a pastor. That week, the tasks included a hospital visit for a newborn baby in our church, a sermon to write, and a […]
Read More What a Pastor Must Not ForgetGod’s Expectations for Your Shepherds1 Peter 5:1-3 January 19, 2025 Tanner, I will share a job description for you that was shared with me (by my father!) on the Sunday I was installed as pastor at GBC; the privilege to be a pastor/elder is immeasurably great; and so are the responsibilities. You need to know […]
Read More God’s Expectations for Your ShepherdsFrom virtually the first page (Genesis 3) until the last page, the Bible acknowledges, confronts, and exposes the sinfulness of mankind. The reality of sin in its heinousness is not hidden (e.g., the sin of Lot and his daughters in Genesis 19). The vast amount of sin in every individual is recognized (see Jesus’ parable […]
Read More The God Who ForgivesA Prayer From God’s WordPsalm 19:12-14 January 12, 2025 Think about a moment in your life when you have been awed by some part of creation: You have walked through trees to arrive at a vast meadow that leads to the foot of a towering mountain; you are swallowed up in the immensity of the […]
Read More A Prayer From God’s WordI enjoy books. I like bookstores — new bookstores, old bookstores, used book stores, and digital (online) bookstores. I spend a significant amount of time and money in bookstores each year. And I read, too (though not as much as I’d like, typically). Several years ago, I began keeping track of what I read each […]
Read More The Best books I read in 2024One of the best and favorite purchases I have made in the past five years (decades?) is a pellet smoker. It has transformed our family’s eating habits. I had wanted a smoker for several years, but purchased it a little reluctantly; we bought it used from Facebook Marketplace, and when we went to use it […]
Read More Because the Bible Is What the Bible Is…The Wondrous Works of God’s WordPsalm 19:1-11 December 29, 2024 Christmas is over and two days of this year remain. That means we have moved from the Christmas season to the season of resolutions. In my files, I have the following articles to help you set some goals for this year: 7 Surprising Traditions to […]
Read More The Wondrous Works of God’s WordGod Sent His Son1 John 4:7-10December 24, 2024 The theologian Karl Barth was once asked, “what is the greatest truth about God you have ever learned?” “Jesus loves me…” That statement is both simple, and deeply profound… At Christmas, it’s easy to talk about the love of God and the love of Christ. As we […]
Read More God Sent His SonThe Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 2Luke 4:38-44December 22, 2024 I suppose Elizabeth was a couple of months old the first time she got sick. I don’t remember all the particulars, but I do remember it was something respiratory and she was struggling to breathe. One night she was especially uncomfortable and was […]
Read More The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 2The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 1Luke 4:31-37December 15, 2024 Authority. Authority is a word that can bring comfort when we are under wise and benevolent leaders. And it is a word that can provoke us to be fearful when we are under foolish, ungracious, and harsh authoritarians. Yet we all live […]
Read More The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 1James Smithson was born in 1765 in France, the son of Hugh Percy (Smithson), a prominent and wealthy English duke, and Elizabeth Hungerford Keate Macie, a direct descendant of King Henry VII. A life of prominence would have awaited him apart from one other significant factor — his parents were not married at the time […]
Read More Rejecting God?The First Reactions to the Son of ManLuke 4:22-30December 8, 2024 First impressions are not always accurate impressions. And first evaluations are not always true. I have experienced those truisms many times in my life, but one of the first times was when I was about seven years old. Mom and Dad were going […]
Read More The First Reactions to the Son of ManThe Father’s Mission for the Son of ManLuke 4:14-21November 17, 2024 On Monday, April 2, 1739, John Wesley began preaching open-air evangelistic sermons at Kingswood Bristol. That decision and event was the start of a revival in England that the country had never seen before (or since). Wesley later wrote this in his diary about […]
Read More The Father’s Mission for the Son of ManThe Son of Man’s ValidationLuke 4:1-13November 10, 2024 In Jesus’ ministry, several times people questioned Jesus’ ability to speak or act — even questioning His nature and character: When he healed and forgave the lame man who was let through the roof, the Pharisees asked, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive […]
Read More The Son of Man’s Validation
Words of Grace 