Archives for January 2018

In recent years, it's been hard to miss our country's rise in racial tensions. Or maybe we are just seeing what's been there under the surface all along. Our country seems overwhelmed by all kinds of racialized sentiments.And in the church, Christ's multi-ethnic bride continues to bear the scars of deep-seated racial division and hurt that goes back decades and centuries. ...

As we finish up a month-long study on the personal and public spiritual disciplines, and this Sunday we turn to consider the subject of racial reconciliation, I want to share a book I've recently read: Plain Theology for Plain People by Charles Octavius Boothe (18451924), edited by Walter Strickland. In what follows I will introduce the man and his work, as well as the nin...

Since 1973,60 million babies have been killed through the legal practice of abortion. Tragically, the legal nature of abortion doesn't change its lethal nature, nor does it change the fact that abortion unfairly targets minorities in our country. In other words, abortion is not unjust in general; abortion's injusticespecifically targets black and Hispanic babies. Since 20...

Scripture is clear on defending the life of the unborn, but so is church history. As we approach Sanctity of Life Sunday, here are a few quotes from church history. From the first century to the twenty-first century, care for orphans and the unborn is a priority of the church (see James 1:2627). (Many of these quotations listed below were collected from printed material f...

Review and discussion questions for Sunday's sermon on Psalm 119:25-32....

Review and discussion questions for Sunday's sermon on Psalm 119:17-24....

This Sunday we will continue our study of spiritual disciplines with a focus on prayer. With Bible reading, prayer is one of two primary disciplines. It is the breath of the Christian life and one that we should continue to cultivate as we walk with God. However, growth in prayer only comes as the Word of God teaches us about prayer. For that reason, it is worthwhile to s...

"Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart" (Psalm 119:111). Is your time in God's Word is marked by joy and delight? Let me encourage you as we enter this new year to read and meditate on Psalm 119. I have found this psalm to be personally transformative in growing in love for God's Word during my own personal study over the years. Psalm...

Robert Murray McCheyne said famously and wisely: "For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Jesus." On this last day of 2017, we spent our Sunday considering the person and work of Christ from Isaiah 61:13. This sermon wraps up a three-part series on Isaiah 5961 and encourages us to look to Christ as we enter the new year. Indeed, whether we are coming off a great 2...