Jared ordered his mocha grande from the church's Jehovah Java coffee shop and headed into the sanctuary. He was looking forward to being back in church after missing several weeks. Worship always encourages him, and this week, he felt the need more than others because he had taken a few hits politically at work. He noticed an attractive woman sitting to his right. CLICK TO READ MORE
We often approach the Word of God as if we are above it—as if we are the judge to determine what is significant and what is not. We do this unconsciously when we give Scripture a surface-level reading and think we have given it the consideration it deserves. We regularly sit as judges over the … Continue reading An Encounter with the Word
I am concerned that our preponderance of virtual activity affects us more than we realize, especially concerning the church. Context is crucial when it comes to worship; let me give an example. If I were sitting alone at my kitchen table and took a small piece of bread and gave it to my dog, it … Continue reading The Sacrifices of Virtual Church
Many preachers today seem to know our anxieties, worries, and depression. When they speak, it is as if they know what we’re going through. We hang on their every word with bated breath, for it seems that the “secrets of our hearts are disclosed” (1 Cor 14:24-25). However, many of these preachers describe our hearts … Continue reading Warning: False Prophets in Pulpits this Christmas
We find some of Jesus' most shocking words in Matthew 7:21-22. He essentially says that some people who call him Lord do not know him. He will one day say to them, "Depart from me; I never knew you." These people are self-deceived. There are signs of self-deception. Seven are listed below, and many come … Continue reading 7 Signs of Self-Deception
1) Sisyphean Striving – The Job Can Feel Pointless (Ironically) Work is difficult when the purpose is obscured. The story is told about two janitors working in the NASA building during the 1960s. One janitor was depressed because he thought he was insignificant compared to the literal rocket scientists in the building. He found so … Continue reading What Is So Difficult About Being a Pastor?
Who has the authority to determine how and when the Church will worship? That question is more penetrating than it first appears. It is not asking how your nation's government is structured or how your constitution is written. It is not even asking what your church believes. It is an ultimate question. Who has the … Continue reading The Essential Church Movie Review
I am concerned that some churches and Christian institutions have grown timid in their stand for truth. They believe their silence is based on wisdom, but it is not. Their reticence may help them avoid social pressure for now, but in the end, they are merely kicking the can down the road. It will likely … Continue reading Bowing to Ungodly Pressures
This sermon delivered at First Artesia CRC unpacks 2 Timothy 4:1-5 in three heads. 1. Why preaching the Word is the most important activity of the church. 2. What is preaching? 3. Three ways Christians neglect the preaching of the word.
Over the years, corporate worship in many churches has been vanishing. The calling of the local church, first and foremost, is to gather for worship, but we do it much less frequently now than we did in the past. Sinclair Ferguson has a test he likes to apply to those who tell him that the … Continue reading The Disappearance of Corporate Worship
The Fight of Faith 