From Your Pastor

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…

On Tolerance and Salvation  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)  As I was studying for a sermon on Acts 4, I ran across an exemplary sermon on Acts 4:12 from the preacher we love so much, Charles Spurgeon. Below are some rich nuggets from that to…

Focus on Priorities Not the Past “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt. 6:33). “I press on to take hold of that for which Jesus Christ took hold of me. . . .Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ…

Pe (Part 16)Ps 119.129  Your testimonies are wonderful;therefore my soul keeps them.130 The unfolding of your words gives light;it imparts understanding to the simple.131 I open my mouth and pant,because I long for your commandments.132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,as is your way with those who love your name.133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,and let…

Early Examples of Evangelistic Sermons  “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36) “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.” (Acts…

How Can We Summarize Chronicles?I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever (I Chronicles 17:11-12) If there was one theme above all in Chronicles—and, for that matter, in Scripture itself—it would be the faithful promise of God to King David that…

A Pattern in Acts  “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47b) “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7) The beginning chapter of Acts has a verse in it that is thought to an outline of the book. Acts 1:8 promises that…

Friends, Ann and I, along with our entire family, join to wish you and yours a happy July 4th holiday. This one will be far more celebratory than last years! About a decade ago, I published a small pamphlet about the religious history that evidences itself in the Declaration of Independence and other early colonial American documents. And if you are interested, I’m happy…