Posts from August 2021

Perspective on Prayer “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord . . . And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled.” Acts 4:24, 31 Phil Newton is a reformed Baptist pastor, serving near where I grew up. He has some great quotes and thoughts on prayer that I wanted to share with you. Some of you are…

From Your Pastor, August 17Tsadhe (Part 17) Ps 119.137   Righteous are you, O LORD,and right are your rules.138  You have appointed your testimonies in righteousnessand in all faithfulness.139  My zeal consumes me,because my foes forget your words.140  Your promise is well tried,and your servant loves it.141  I am small and despised,yet I do not forget your…

Assisting (and Assisting by Occasionally Resisting) Civil Governors  As emphatic as Romans 13:1 seems, Christians eventually learn to nuance various submission commands while still preserving space for lawful resistance to wrongful authority. Such perspective, including both assisting and sometimes assisting by resisting limits of authority, was a signature Reformation…

Your Confidence: In whom or Whom? “Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) “I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he’s able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12) In preparing our morning sermon series, I told you that I consult…

God’s Work and Ours  Then I replied to them,“The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:20).”  Ezra and Nehemiah were originally written (about 430-400 BC) and read as one book that drew from many sources available at the time, particularly the memoirs of…