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This year a group of 15 from OBC attended the Christian Counseling Educational Foundation (CCEF) 2018 National Conference in Virginia Beach, VA. The theme of the conference was "Living Scripture." David Powlison, Executive Director of CCEF, described the topic as one that is at the very center of why we exist and what we do. "Scripture is the living Word of the living God...

In a world where we fill our spare minutes with tidbits of info instantly accessed on our phones, it's far too easy to neglect reading longer books. In fact, because some have convinced themselves they don't have time to take on an entire book, they settle for short summaries, quotes, or whatever internet candy clickbait that's trending today. Still, there are others who ...

"You were made for this!" This phrase seems to be thrown around quite a bit these days: Sports commentators talk this way about athletes; teachers about pupils; mentors about those they coach. In short, it is a way of speaking that comes from a recognized "authority" on someone who is ascending in their field. It is language meant to boost esteem and put everyone on alert...

A few years ago Thabiti Anyabwile published a little book calledWhat is a Healthy Church Member?In it, he urged healthy church members to be expositional listeners, by which he meant that just as the faithful pastor makes the main point of his message the main point of the text (i.e., expositional preaching), so healthycongregations will also make it a priority to comprehe...

Expositional Preaching is 'Empowered Preaching' This week seven members from OBC attended a Charles Simeon Trust workshop at Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. As a preacher unapologetically-committed to expositional preaching, I was deeply encouraged to join many other 'expositors. In the three-day seminar, we walked through preaching from 1 Samuel and 'worked ou...

Last weekend, I was in Iceland teaching a biblical theology of the Old Testament. Drawing on The Drama of ScripturebyCraig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen, I sought to explain how the Old Testament is organized around the twin concepts of Kingdom and Covenant. The following videos are put up by Loftstofan Baptistakirkja (Upper Room Baptist Church) and their pastor Gunnar...

Over the summer, our church considered many of the things Jesus said about money. In a Sunday School series following Randy Alcorn'sThe Treasure Principle,we learned much about how to invest our lives in things eternal. This Sunday, in our Sermon on the Mount series, we will again look at Jesus's words about storing up treasure in heaven and not on earth. Reflecting on th...

As we consider the topic of fasting this week, here are a few articles and books that you may find helpful. At the end of this resource blog is also a website calledThe Common Rule,that offers some common sense practices for creating habits (including fasting) that are aimed to cultivate godliness. Articles Drinking Deeply from Our Father in Heaven: Nine Observations a...

Gospel-Motivated Generosity is a Mark of True Obedience For the last two months, our church has thought about Jesus' words concerning giving. In Sunday School, we have considered Randy Alcorn's helpful little book called The Treasure Principle. You can listen to the series here. This Sunday we will again consider Jesus' words about giving in Matthew 6:14. And as we prepa...

"Be mature as your Heavenly Father is perfectly mature." It doesn't have the same ring as "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect," but it may be closer to the reality of what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:48. On Sunday we finished the last of six expositions of the law that Jesus gives in Matthew 5:4348. And as Jesus addresses the topic of love and hate, we learn h...