When I Can’t Forgive Myself
You blew it. You knew it. And be honest: this time, it was big time. Maybe it was a major sin. Maybe it was that nagging sin. Maybe it was a brand-new sin. You can’t believe you did it, but you did. Now you feel terrible. The guilt is crushing. The regret is...
FAQ About Family Worship
From time to time, in my sermon, I will share a moment from our family Bible time. It’s usually something funny or insightful that one of my children said. The old TV show’s name is true: “Kids Say the Darndest Things;” and our family worship seems to bring out the...
Were Jonathan & David Lovers?
Tuesday is Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love. In 1 Samuel 18, we will see the theme of love highlighted. We learn how David was the beloved son of Israel. While he was hated by Saul, David was adored by everyone else. Saul’s kingdom loved David (vs. 16), Saul’s...
Goliath is Dead: A Whodunit
Today, in 1 Samuel 17, we arrive at the famed account of David vs. Goliath. Everyone knows the story. Everyone loves the story. But not everyone knows there is more to this story than meets the eye. If you ask 100 children in Sunday School, “Who killed Goliath?” you...
“Run With Endurance…” (Hebrews 12:1)
On Saturday, November 12, I checked off a bucket list goal: I ran my first-ever marathon! While it was freakishly hot and I had to finish with an injured foot, I am super proud of my accomplishment and glad to be done. It wasn't pretty but, to quote the Lord Jesus,...
Missionary Memoir: The Life of David Brainerd
When we think of inspiring missionaries, we quickly think of men like Adoniram Judson, Jim Elliot, and William Carey. Their courage motivates us and their sacrifice humbles us. Like featured paintings in an art gallery, their colorful ministries have earned them a...
An Experiment in Baptist Catholicity
“A Baptist walks into an Anglican church on Pentecost…” That might sound like the start of a goofy joke, but that’s actually what I did this past month. For a few weeks, I have been away. First, I was at the Southern Baptist Convention. But after that, I took some...
SBC Sex Abuse Report Findings
(The following is a summary of the recent SBC Sex Abuse Report. I relied on the report itself and numerous articles to condense the findings. Read accordingly.) The Background For decades, within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), there have been accusations and...
Are You Guilty of Love?
Let’s talk about your love life. (Not that love life.) I’m talking about your love life as a Christian. In John 13:25 our Lord said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love is not just a mark of being a Christian,...
Getting the Most from a Sermon Series
I love preaching through books of the Bible. So far, I’ve preached through 25 of the 66. (Thirteen of those were Minor Prophets!) Lord-willing, I will be able to preach through them all by the time my ministry ends. We’ll see. I believe that verse-by-verse preaching,...
Pastoral Tips for the Lord’s Supper
What does the Lord’s Supper mean to you? Some people think of it as a magical meal that saves them. (It’s not!) Others as a tiresome ritual that bores them. (It’s also not!) But I wonder how many of us just don’t think about the Lord’s Supper much at all. One author...
The Theological Triage Triangle
A church member once asked, “I listen to a lot of radio Bible teachers, and I don’t believe in some doctrines that they hold. Sometimes I wonder if I should listen to them at all? What do I do?” That’s a great question! How do you decide when to turn off the radio,...