“Let the dead bury their own dead!” – Jesus
Wait, what?
We live in a culture of sound bites. Our attention spans are incredibly short, and if a story doesn’t catch our attention in the first couple of seconds, we move on. But sometimes we need to listen more carefully to what is being said. Continue reading
It’s the most important question in the history of the world. But it requires more than an answer… it requires a relationship. What’s the question? Listen to Pastor David’s sermon on Matthew 16:13-20.
What is evangelism? Why is it so scary of a word? What does it mean? How do we do it? Pastor David helps us explore these questions in the first message, based on Matthew 28:18-20, of a new sermon series for this autumn.
Jesus gives two shocking warnings at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, warnings that are pointedly directed to people like us. What is the solid foundation on which we should build our lives? Listen to Pastor David’s final message in this series, based on Matthew 7:21-29.
Today marks an important day in our reading of the Chronological Bible. After almost nine months of reading, we have come to the end of the Old Testament. What began on January 1 with the words “In the beginning” has now concluded with Joel’s final thought:
“I, the LORD, will make my home in Jerusalem with my people.” (Joel 3:21 NLT)
Let’s pause to consider the journey of the past nine months. Continue reading
Good fruit and bad fruit: you know the difference. What kind do you consume? What kind do you produce? What kind are you? Pay attention to the Sermon on the Mount as Pastor David preaches from its conclusion, Matthew 7:13-20.
We are right, and they are wrong. Love the sinner, hate the sin. You love your brother, but what about the speck of sawdust in his eye? Listen in to Pastor David’s sermon on Matthew 7:1-6.
Three short teachings, arranged together on purpose: you cannot serve both God and money. How then shall we live? Listen in to Pastor David’s message on Matthew 6:19-24.
Why do you do the things you do? What is your motivation? And how does God enter into this discussion? Listen in to Pastor David’s sermon on Matthew 6:16-18, a reflection on two spiritual yet physical practices: fasting and baptism.
What if people who wouldn’t attend church would come to a Bible study, if it were at a different kind of location?
That’s the question that prompted a local Christian leader, Kurt Faust, to host the “Bible, Blessings, and Brews” pub ministry at the Midland Brewing Company on N. Saginaw Road this summer.
Last month, I was invited by Kurt to come and lead the pub ministry’s Wednesday evening discussion on the topic of forgiveness. Now, you might expect the pastor of a conservative-ish holiness congregation like ours to say “no” to the invitation. But truthfully, I only hesitated a moment before saying “yes.” Continue reading