“All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53.6). If you do not see yourself in this statement, then you are not a child of God. If you have never felt the pangs of sinfulness wrapped around your soul, you cannot claim to understand the grace of God. We have all gone astray. “We have … Continue reading For Those of Us Who Have Gone Astray
Many people want power from God, but they do not desire the things that power is for. “You will receive power.” These are Jesus' words to his disciples as he prepared them for his ascension (Acts 1:8). He was speaking of the coming Pentecost. However, the possibility of receiving power still holds true for believers … Continue reading You Will Receive Power
He asked God to prove his innocence and forgive him in the same prayer. Up until his mid-40's, Gene's career was his only aim, but legal action brought him to his knees. He knew he was guilty, but not of the charges they were bringing against him. He came to Christ during a time of … Continue reading The Restless Bible Teacher
The following is a guest post by Rob Golding, pastor of Artesia CRC. David Foster Wallace gave a commencement speech that shook the world; then he killed himself. It was hailed as wisdom for living, yet he could not live by it. The address was “met with universal acclaim.” The New Yorker, Huffington Post, and The … Continue reading This is Water: The Currents of a Christless Life
The following is a guest post by Rob Golding, pastor of Artesia CRC. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He wasn’t just referring to the tasks He gives us as our Lord (though that is part of it). He was also describing His experience as He worked harder and more … Continue reading The Heavy Yoke of a Rushed Life
This sermon on Psalm 51 reflects on God’s faithfulness to forgive, cleanse, and restore us when we repent. It explores God’s unchanging faithfulness in His covenants, the seriousness of sin and the weight of our guilt, and the hope of forgiveness and renewal through His steadfast love and abundant mercy. At the heart of the … Continue reading The Steadfast Love of the Lord Endures Forever
In a Christian culture saturated with messages of constant victory and unshakable peace, we’ve lost something vital—the ability to lament. This sermon on Lamentations 1 walks us through the sorrow-soaked poetry of Jeremiah, inviting us to rediscover lament as a holy, Spirit-led act of worship. Too often, Christians are made to feel that grief, sorrow, … Continue reading Finding Grace in Lament
When we lose something, we first look in the last place we saw it. Charles Spurgeon suggests that this advice applies when we seem to have lost the company of Christ. Though the Christian is secure in his salvation, God will sometimes withdraw his presence from us (Psalm 13:1). Does this describe your current condition? … Continue reading When God Seems Distant
There are days when the weight of life feels heavier than usual—a loved one tells you of their diagnosis, economic hardships abound, and uncertainty in almost every realm of life rears its head. In moments like these, we should begin looking for blessings. The Lord is gracious to his people—as a farmer looks for rain, … Continue reading Showers of Blessing
You check the news, your inbox, and your bank account—and your heart sinks. Somewhere in the background, you remember God is there, but you forget he is your Father. We are too quick to forget that we have a heavenly Father, and our forgetfulness is the source of many of our anxieties. If we would … Continue reading The Trinity: The Father’s Fatherhood
The Fight of Faith 