The Triumphal entry is one of the most fascinating events in the life of Jesus, but it is one of those events that does not give up its treasures to halfhearted readers. However, when you spend time with it, it will reward you. This is why I was honored to preach this Palm Sunday morning. … Continue reading Behold, Your King is Coming to You
Often, the very things we need to grow are the same things we work to avoid because we think we are fragile. Scripture uses the metaphor of running a race to describe the Christian life on more than one occasion. In running the race, there are weights we should cast off and weights we should pick up if we are going to compete to win the prize. CLICK TO READ MORE...
Why did Jesus speak in parables? The standard answer, in one sense, seems to be the exact opposite of what Jesus told us. The typical response to that question is that Jesus spoke in parables to make his teaching clearer to his audience. After all, they tell us, parables are earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. Most people view … Continue reading Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables?
The storm is a gift. This phrase ran through my mind as wave after wave crashed upon me. In part because I knew it was true and partly because I hoped it was true. When the skies turned dark, they caught me off guard. I found myself lost in confusion as every bit of my weakness was exposed, but that … Continue reading The Storm Killed My Idols
When we call the sloppy sentimentalism that has overrun many churches “feminine,” we do a disservice to Godly women everywhere. Over the past 15 to 20 years, there has been no shortage of people claiming the church has become soft and ineffective because it has become feminine. This tactic was a favorite of Mark Driscoll, but Driscoll … Continue reading The Problem with Church is Not Femininity
The imputation of Christ's righteousness to us is essential to the gospel, but many people still seem to lack clarity as to why. They ask, is it not enough that Jesus bears our guilt on the cross making us guiltless? Is not guiltlessness and righteousness the same thing? Here is a short and simple illustration of why our salvation is incomplete without imputed righteousness... CLICK TO READ MORE
We often see the fires of sin burning in our world, and like all fires, we want to hurry to put them out, but through his Word, our Father tells us, “there is something more important you must do first.” When Moses was on the mountain with God, there was an extreme spiritual emergency going on in the foothills. Astonishingly, God seemed to ignore it. God... CLICK TO READ MORE
Many Christian people are willing to confess to an ungentle temper. They seem to think it a matter of not very grave importance. Perhaps the very commonness of the infirmity blinds our eyes to its ugliness and its sinfulness. We are apt to regard the malady more as a weakness than as a sin which … Continue reading The UnChristlikeness of Irritability
Many people have been moved by a young woman named Brooklyn as she lived out her last days at home on hospice care. Though her outer self was wasting away, her inner self was being renewed day by day. Many people have been encouraged by her social media posts, but not as many people are … Continue reading Brooklyn: 2 Months Before Her Death
Guilt has a way of remaining long after our transgressions have passed. The question is, "what are you going to do with it?" Lingering guilt is what Herod, the tetrarch, was experiencing when he heard about Jesus and the miracles he was working. Herod was sure it was John the Baptist who had come back to life. There is an aspect of this story that we often miss, but before I address it, I need to give a little more context to the passage.
The Fight of Faith 