Let us pray with boldness the simple prayer of Moses: “LORD, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18). John Piper writes: "In the church, our view of God is so small instead of huge, so marginal instead of crucial, so vague instead of clear, so impotent instead of all determining, and so uninspiring instead of ravishing … Continue reading Show Me Your Glory
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing our children to faith?
This week Chris Ammen, our Children's Ministries Director, ask me a number of questions. Here's the first installment.
Reflections on Psalm 23
"I shall not want" is the theme of Ps. 23. I shall not lack for: rest and refreshment (v. 2), restoration and righteousness (v. 3), protection in trouble (v. 4), provision in the wilderness (v. 5), and a home to go to at the end of the days (v. 6). More is implied than is … Continue reading Reflections on Psalm 23
When God Pursues the Frustrated – A Sermon from Luke 5:1-11
Listen to a MP3 of this sermon According to Luke 5:1-11, when God pursues the frustrated, four things occur… He shows you: How great is his power, how great is your need of His pardon, how crucial it is to adopt His purpose, and how vital it is to value him above all else. Intro: … Continue reading When God Pursues the Frustrated – A Sermon from Luke 5:1-11
Personal/Family Worship Guides
We want to urge you to take some time during the week to worship God personally and with your family. These guides serve to develop further the themes of our corporate worship services. Simple Church (Isaiah 40:1-11). This devotional guide delves into the mission of our church. Isaiah's prophecy highlights four non-negotiables: There is a … Continue reading Personal/Family Worship Guides
When Sin Looks Normal and Righteousness Seems Strange
When we abandon friendship with God to become a friend of the world, sin looks normal and righteousness seems strange (James 4:4). David Wells defines worldliness like this: “that system of values, in any given age, which has at its center our fallen human perspective, which displaces God and his truth from the world, and … Continue reading When Sin Looks Normal and Righteousness Seems Strange
The Great Hindrance to Friendship with God – Gleanings from James 4:1-10
I am preaching through a series entitled: 2:42 - Routine Investments in Redemptive Friendships. This coming Sunday we will address "The Great Hindrance to Friendship with God." Below are some gleanings and insights put together by our pastoral intern from Covenant Seminary, Nathan Lucy. They were very helpful to me personally and I commend them … Continue reading The Great Hindrance to Friendship with God – Gleanings from James 4:1-10
Spiritual Friendship and Spiritual Direction
I led a group of men in our church through a study on Spiritual Friendship this summer. We used as a companion guide to the Scriptures David Benner's book entitled Sacred Companions. He basically contends that every follower of Jesus needs two types of companions in their spiritual journey: Spiritual friends and a spiritual director. … Continue reading Spiritual Friendship and Spiritual Direction
Women Who Impacted the World for Christ – The Dragon Lady
For much of my childhood, I thought there was one missionary...Charlotte (Lottie) Diggs Moon (1840-1912). Much later in my life I learned of her incredible impact in the country of China. Her words that follow highlight her love for the Chinese people: “If I had a thousand lives, I would give them all for the women … Continue reading Women Who Impacted the World for Christ – The Dragon Lady
Women Who Impacted the World for Christ – The Mother of a Count Shoots Her Arrow
Her husband died shortly after Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf was born. In her Bible, where she recorded his birth, she wrote: ‘May the Father of mercies rule the heart of this child, so that he may walk honestly and uprightly. May sin never rule over him, and may his feet be steadfast in the Word, … Continue reading Women Who Impacted the World for Christ – The Mother of a Count Shoots Her Arrow
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