I’ve heard it and I’ve said it more times than I can count… “I wish I had joy in my life.” That desire for joy is a good thing that goes bad when it is pursued in the wrong way and in weak things. Problems abound...
When the first-century Jews and devout converts to Judaism heard the gospel of Jesus the Savior in the synagogue on a Sabbath day, they wanted more. They followed the preachers Paul and Barnabas because their hearts were warmed by their message, and they took the...
The sermon passage in Acts last Sunday gave us a glimpse into the praying and fasting practices of the church in Antioch (Acts 13). This Sunday we will see the work of missionaries who were sent from that church to proclaim the gospel. It is...
Most Christians in our culture observe Good Friday and Easter. It’s what their church does each year to remember the death of Jesus on the cross and to celebrate his resurrection from the dead. Many Christians observe other holy days throughout the year that are...
It’s been a while since I have written a Your Weekend Prayer version of Words of Grace. I decided to do so today because I have found myself praying this week while working on the sermon for Sunday. So why not ask you to join...
“What God has made clean, no longer call unclean.” Acts 10:15 Sometimes the gospel is presented as God helping us overcome a negative view of ourselves. But the good news is really that God cleanses us from the defilement of our sin and makes us something new...
Yes, you read the title correctly. There is a time when works lead to faith. A cherished doctrine of the gospel is that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works (Ephesians 2: 8-9). The work of salvation is all Christ’s, who died...
My Bible app tells me that in the book of Philippians the Apostle Paul makes thirty-five references to “Christ”. That’s impressive given that Philippians is only three and a half pages of the Bible. But what is more impressive than the quantity of references to Christ...
When reading the Bible, we often find small pieces of doctrine among the larger narratives of God’s grace. If we stop to investigate, we are richly rewarded with grace upon grace. So it is with the epic account of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus....
“Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7 (ESV) Attending church on Sundays should be more like going to a family reunion than to a concert or a movie. In other words, gathering for church comes with responsibilities and...
