Posts from 2019
Here we are to worship
There’s stuff to joke about, things to be flippant and casual about, to laugh at. God is not one of those things. I cringe when I hear someone refer to God as “the Man upstairs.” I’m sure most of them don’t mean anything disrespectful, but I think they’re missing something important about God. Several times in the Bible people came into God’s presence in a special, miraculous way. It scared them to death. Here’s one of those times: In the…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on November 20, 2019
Sermon Title: Faith Works Text: James 2:14-26 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body,…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on November 13, 2019
Sermon Title: Which one do you want? Text: Matthew 27:15-23 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on November 6, 2019
Sermon Title: This is my body . . . my blood Text: Matthew 26:26-29 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on October 30, 2019
Sermon Title: He Must Go Text: Matthew 16:21-28; 17:22-23; 20:17-19 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This…
The Preacher and Porn
Not long ago I read an all-too-familiar story: another preacher got caught. He was looking at pornography on his computer, then switching to his Bible software program to work on his upcoming sermon, then back to porn . . . all in the span of a few hours. Are you shocked? Unfortunately, you’ve probably seen too many headlines to be too surprised. I don’t know this preacher, and I don’t know any of his circumstances, but I think I can…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on October 23, 2019
Sermon Title: The Son of David Text: Matthew 1 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. . . . So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations (Matthew 1:1, 17, ESV).…
Shouldn’t have said that
I’ve rarely regretted keeping my mouth shut, but fairly often I kick myself for saying something I shouldn’t have (and wouldn’t have if I’d stopped to think). You might be the same way. Your child irritates you, and you spit out something that bites. You get in an argument with your spouse, and before you know it you’ve thrown a dart that hurts. (In marriage, we know where all of the tender spots are . . .) Or maybe it…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on October 16, 2019
Sermon Title: But he was a leper Text: 2 Kings 5 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought…
God is Good
My, how things change. Have you looked at any of your old high school pictures lately? One of the unfortunate consequences of our Facebook world is the ease with which others can post constant reminders of how we used to look. Time changes things, and mostly not for the good. We get older, grayer, and sometimes, well, bigger. There’s often a corresponding decrease in efficiency as well. In other words, some things just don’t work as well as they used…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on October 9, 2019
Sermon Title: Where are the other 9? Text: Luke 17:11-19 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on October 2, 2019
Sermon Title: Consider One Another Text: Hebrews 10:24-25 Resources: Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV). The word “consider” in Hebrews 10:24 translates the Greek word katanoéō—a word that…