24-Dec-22 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.” Those are some of the most familiar words in all of the Scriptures. They are simple and straight-forward words, and yet there is […]
Joseph Strives for Grace
18-Dec-22 Matthew 1:18-25 Fourth Sunday in Advent It is quite possible that Joseph might have missed Christmas. There is a whole lot of space between his discovery that his intended had been unfaithful, and the angelic visitation that set him on the right path. Much could have happened, and much did happen in that intervening […]
Strengthen Your Hearts
11-Dec-22 James 5:7-11 Third Sunday in Advent It’s all about hanging in there, isn’t it? It’s all about Jesus coming back, and it is all about being patient while we wait. But waiting for something is always difficult, isn’t it? It’s hard work. And sometimes, it’s scary; like when we are awaiting the results of […]
Coming Together for the Glory of God
04-Dec-22 Romans 15:1-7 Second Sunday in Advent It has been said that church is the only place that we willingly and joyfully and regularly go, where we will interact, fellowship, worship and do ministry with people that we would ordinarily have no other reason to associate with*. I’m totally convinced that this is one of […]
The Beginning Is Nearer
27-Nov-22 Romans 13:11-14 First Sunday in Advent This year, as we gathered around the Thanksgiving table it was very obvious to us that the passing of time had taken its toll. Around that table was a brand new generation. It was not the kind of brand new generation that is represented by small children, or […]
This is Jesus
20-Nov-22 Col 1:15-20 All of us have images in our minds of Jesus that we keep and cherish. And, as our observance and celebration of Christmas gets closer and closer, and at a fairly rapid pace, I might add, some of those images in our minds will be switching over to a little boy in […]
The Grace of the Lord Jesus
13-Nov-22 Malachi 4 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. I can’t think of a more wonderful blessing to bestowed upon us. Can you? Wrapped up in that blessing is the entirety of this life and the whole of eternity. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the […]
Oh, the Glory Days!
06-Nov-22 Haggai 2:1-9 The year is probably 520 BC. By most of our reckonings, that was a very long time ago, and for us, it is very likely lost in the hazy mists of irrelevancy, perhaps forever. Nobody wants to hear anything about what happened on June 14, 1992, much less than anything that happened […]
A Thorny Struggle
30-Oct-22 II Corinthians 12:1-10 The Apostle Paul is in deep trouble with the folks who call themselves followers of Jesus and who live in the city of Corinth. They don’t like him anymore, and maybe they never did. Paul’s popularity in Corinth has plummeted severely. The Apostle Paul was the one who brought faith in […]
Jesus Told This Parable
23-Oct-22 Luke 18:9-14 Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. Two things Luke tells us about the people to whom Jesus told this parable: one, these people were self-trusting and self-righteous. And, two, they regarded others with contempt. If we are trusting […]