Because the Bible Is What the Bible Is…

One 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 […]

The Wondrous Works of God’s Word

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 […]

God Sent His Son

God 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 […]

The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 2

The 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 […]

The Authority of the Son of Man, Pt. 1

The 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 […]

Rejecting God?

James 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 […]

The First Reactions to the Son of Man

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 […]

The Father’s Mission for the Son of Man

The 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 […]

The Son of Man’s Validation

The 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 […]

After the election, will anything be the same?

There are many who are lamenting the changes of our culture and the degradation of morality. We understand that grief. We weep for those who are enslaved by sinful desires, and who at the same time assert that they are free. It’s a trap (as all sin is, see Prov. 7:21-27 for a particularly sobering […]

What in the World Should We Do?

What in the World Should We Do?2 Timothy 1:13 – 2:8November 3, 2024 In Romans 13, God explains the provision He has made for care and protection of people civilly through the government. What should the government do (Rom. 13)? This is the context of living in this (political) world: Government is given by […]

Counseling Like the Good Shepherd

Counseling Like the Good Shepherd: Leading Counselees to Rest in JesusJohn 10 A few years ago I was running some errands one afternoon when I noticed that one car tire was almost completely flat. I slowly made my way to a tire store. There was a long line and wait. Finally, I spoke to […]

The Son of Man’s Genealogy

The Son of Man’s GenealogyLuke 3:23-38October 20, 2024 In 1963, Walter Cronkite filmed a television special entitled “D-Day Plus 20 Years,” which was aired on June 6, 1964. In the filming, Cronkite asked President Eisenhower what he thought about when he returned to Normandy. In Character Above All, Steven Ambrose summarized Eisenhower’s response: he “spoke […]

The Baptism of Jesus

The Baptism of JesusLuke 3:15-22October 13, 2024 We know little about the ministry of John the Baptist; we only have one sermon (really, just one line from a sermon — “be baptized for the forgiveness of sins”). Yet, for all the limited information about him, he was an important person. He came from humble beginnings, […]

Repentance and its Fruits

Repentance and Its FruitsLuke 3:1-14October 6, 2024 What is the beginning of the spiritual life? Martin Luther said in the first of his 95 theses of discussion against the Roman Catholic Church, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, said ‘Repent,’ He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Repentance […]