I recently had the opportunity to preach a sermon on one of my favorite Psalms at First Artesia CRC. Psalm 3 tells us that salvation belongs to the Lord. In understanding this truth, we will also find that he is our glory and the lifter of our heads. The sermon takes a verse-by-verse look at the Psalm and how it applied to David and then closes with a quick review of how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this Psalm. Click for video and audio versions.
Every one of us, unless Christ returns, is going to face death. Some of us may already be feeling its effects. We cannot do many things we used to be able to do; the older we get, the more illness and health issues we deal with. When death becomes more of a reality, to whom will we turn and place our hope? To priests who still die? -CLICK TO READ MORE-
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
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." This quote by A.W. Tozer is true because our understanding of God and our response to him shapes our actions and character and determines how well we know and trust him. Even people who say there is no … Continue reading The Most Important Thing About Us
I recently had an experience that reminded me of the need to stay mentally sharp and pursue intellectual growth. The month of June was hectic. First, my wife and I spent a week working at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) in the Chicago area. Then we spent a week with my parents and siblings in … Continue reading Pursuing Intellectual Growth for God’s Glory
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
"Come on, Apostle Paul! Are you serious?" That is an understandably frustrated response to Paul's cryptic phrase, "I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need" (Phil 4:12). Why is frustration to this verse so understandable? Because Paul does not share his secret! Before this sentence, he discusses the Philippians' renewed … Continue reading The Frustrating (and Liberating) Secret of the Apostle Paul
The "yoke" symbolizes subjection and obedience. The yoke of Jesus includes the subjection of the understanding to His teaching. We must receive the kingdom of God as little children. All that He says, we must believe; and all that He commands, we must do. The yoke of Jesus includes the subjection of the conscience to … Continue reading The Yoke of Christ
Paul Washer, the great man of God, often says, “There is no such thing as a great man of God, only weak, pitiful, faithless men of a great and merciful God.” Is he right? Before we seek to answer that question from a biblical perspective, we should recognize the importance of the question. This question … Continue reading Are There Great Men of God?
The Fight of Faith 