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For the last century, entertainment has becoming increasingly individualized. From the inception of record players, to drive-in theaters with individual speakers, to the release of headphones, and now the ever-common individualized playlist, we are a people trained to consume the world as individuals. And when we bring that approach to God, we can easily think of our spir...

What is the purpose of the Law? How are we supposed to apply Moses' commands to our lives? How does Jesus read the Old Testament? Is there any good news for Christians in the Law of Moses? These questions and more have been raised by Christians for centuries.And one of the most challenging passages on the relationship of the Old Testament to the New is Matthew 5:1720. Thi...

Thank you for your support and prayers that made my recent trip to Togo possible. Obviously God was at work in all the preparations, in the lives of the students, and in my own life as well. I apologize for taking so long to let you know that I've returned, but after arriving back in the U.S., I left less than a week later to go to Ohio to visit my parents. For those of yo...

This little light of mine, I'm goin' let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. If you have been around church for any length of time, you've probably heard this children's song. It takes its wording from this week's passage, Matthew 5:1316, where Jesus tells his disciples that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In truth, this is an important passa...

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matthew 11:27 Perhaps of the most surprising (and edifying) aspect of the Sermon on the Mount is the emphasis Jesus makes on his Father in heaven. While we may consider the Sermon as ...

This Sunday we started walking through the Sermon on the Mount. Considering the question of true happiness, we first looked athowwe should read Jesus' words. And then we looked at the nine statements of blessing/happiness known as the Beatitudes. After stating that the Beatitudes are not entrance requirements for the kingdom, but words of wisdom given to Christ's disciple...

The Bible is the world's most enduring classic. It addresses universal concerns of man, influences people's views on life matters, influences other literary works, and is reviewed by experts trying to mine the thoughts behind the book. I recently read an article on what makes a book a classic and I found myself seeing how the Bible met all 14 criteria listed. Even though m...

This Sunday we started a new series on the Sermon on the Mount. In this introductory message, I sought to outline the whole message and to highlight the center section, where Jesus gives us the Lord's Prayer. You can listen to the sermon online. But be sure to listen with this visual aid. Discussion questions and additional resources can be found below. Discussion Ques...

The Sermon on the Mount is probably the most famous sermon ever preached, and for good reason. Its speaker is the Lord Jesus Christ; its location on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee is unique; and its language is both beautiful and profound. Even non-believers are familiar with many of the words Jesus spoke in this sermon. Yet, for as well-known as the Sermon is, it ...

In many ways this weekend marks the start of summer and with that the chance to pick up a book or two that is not required by class or work. While the summer often provides some times of relaxation, it also provides chances to invest in things that are eternal. Here are five books that will help you read the Bible better. Each of them are available on the bookshelf at chu...