The Dark Night of the Soul (Psalm 42-43)

The dark night of the soul. This phenomenon describes a malady that the greatest of Christians have suffered from time to time. It was the malady that provoked David to soak his pillow with tears. It was the malady that earned for Jeremiah the name, “The Weeping Prophet.” It was the malady that so afflicted … Continue reading The Dark Night of the Soul (Psalm 42-43)

Love Stoops to Conquer – Worship Reflections for John 13

The foot washing episode of John 13 serves as “a rebuke to the disciples’ ambitious strife, far more powerful than words could have spoken: Such a rebuke that never again do we see a hint of the old question, ‘Who should be greatest?’ It was Christ's answer to their unseemly conduct, and a lesson to … Continue reading Love Stoops to Conquer – Worship Reflections for John 13

Reflections for Palm Sunday Worship

No word in my vocabulary expressed deeper hatred than the word interference. And the Bible placed at the center what seemed to me a Transcendental Interferer. —  C.S. Lewis Glorious as Jesus is in Himself, as a conqueror over death, and hell, and the grave, the Son of God is still ‘meek and lowly of … Continue reading Reflections for Palm Sunday Worship

Is there any hope for the church?

Our world seems to be descending more and more into moral chaos and confusion as moral relativism and secularism wreck havoc on people's lives. Rather than the church of Jesus stepping up to provide the gospel cure and model a better way forward, the church and many of her leaders seem to have been ensnared … Continue reading Is there any hope for the church?

Why Do We Take Time to Confess Our Sins in Corporate Worship?

Have you ever wondered why we regularly confess our sins to God during our worship services?The regular discipline of confession enables us to grasp more fully the beauty and wonder of grace as we are made continually aware of the depth of our need of God’s unmerited favor. Christopher Ash explains why we confess our … Continue reading Why Do We Take Time to Confess Our Sins in Corporate Worship?

Because You Love Jesus…

Jack Miller served for years as a writer, pastor, seminary professor, and missionary. He constantly and uncomfortably asked probing questions of those who read his books. Here’s one that fits well with this Sunday's sermon text (John 21:1-23) from his book Outgrowing the Ingrown Church: Have you done a single good deed recently simply because … Continue reading Because You Love Jesus…

The Powerful Benefits of Communion

What benefits should you expect to receive when you celebrate the Lord's Supper? 1 . Right reception of the Lord’s Supper has a “humbling” effect on the soul. The bread and wine serve as emblems of Christ’s body and blood and remind us of how sinful sin must be! 2 . Right reception of the … Continue reading The Powerful Benefits of Communion

The Design of the Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is meant to humble us by a vision of the absolute sovereignty of God over history: past, present, future. There is nothing outside of God’s control. Every power, every evil-power is subject to His rule. ‘There is not a single inch of the whole terrain of our human existence,’ wrote Abraham Kuyper, … Continue reading The Design of the Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation: A Manual of Comfort

The book of Revelation is a manual of comfort to the Church
in her pilgrimage through this world
to the Heavenly Canaan of her rest.

Prayer of Thanksgiving from Psalm 95

Psalm 95 tells us to come into his presence with thanksgiving. We come today to thank you for what you have already done in Jesus to rescue rebels like us. We come as well to thank you for what you have promised to do in the future. Scripture exhorts us to praise and thank you … Continue reading Prayer of Thanksgiving from Psalm 95