Christ Church (Moscow, ID)

The Apostle John’s teaching here is at once simple and deep. The simplicity isn’t because John was a simpleton; and the depth isn’t a secret knowledge intended only for a scant few. We find here a depth that comes from maturing faith and love. A bride and groom avow their love on their wedding day, but as it is nurtured year upon year, decade upon decade, the depth of that trust and love grows swe...

INTRODUCTION Remember that the point of this epistle is for Paul to defend the authenticity of his ministry. There are three groups involved. There were the false teachers, the agitators that stirred up the trouble. They had initially swayed the whole church, but after Paul’s severe letter, the bulk of the church had come back into their loyalty to Paul. That is the second group. The third group w...

Text: Gal. 2:11–21.

The Reformation was a recovery of the Gospel of grace. Not by the merit of saints, or the good works which we or others have done, or the penance paid into the coffers, but by the free grace of God are you saved. But in every age, various attempts are made to cloud and obscure and bury this glorious doctrine. It is the church’s duty to proclaim and defend this Glorious Gospel through all ages.

INTRODUCTION The early church father John Chrysostom once said that the apostle Paul went through a “blizzard of troubles.” This passage, this text, is one of the places where we learn something of them. But, if truth be told, we are probably just learning a fraction of them. Paul’s adversaries at Corinth were apparently arguing that Paul could not be from God—look at how much trouble he was in, a...

TEXT Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to...

Text: Gal. 2:1–10

Would you see faith strengthened in the little ones among us? Then shout your loud amens go God. Would you see churches planted? Then sing aloud to the Lord. Would you see godless politicians bend their knee to Christ? Then raise your voice to the God who hears and acts. He fulfills his promises and every one of those promises in Christ is yes and amen.

There are still kingdoms to be subdued, promises to obtain, and lion’s mouths to be stopped. And all of it will come about through daily, practical obedience; not by hearing only, but by doing the word.

You’re raising up never-dying souls. You’re showing them what God is like, day after day through your words, attitude, and demeanor. Our heavenly Father rejoices over us with loud singing. So rejoice over them with loud singing. He has compassion on us so do likewise. He disciplines us so discipline them. Our Father makes his face shine upon us. So turn your face toward them and bless them abundan...

INTRODUCTION When the gospel is stated in its bare outlines, it is the kind of thing that takes the breath away. It leaves us stupefied. If we hear the preacher declaring the unvarnished truth, we look heavenward in amazement. You can’t be serious. But in the cross, that moment of glorious exchange, an exchange of sin and righteousness, we see that wisdom of God is terrifying in its mere goodness....

THE TEXT For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show...

Text: Galatians 1:10–24

Take a deep breath and remember that God has not changed. His Word and Kingdom have not changed. The blood of Christ has not changed. And your work of faith has not changed. Obey right where you are. The scenery changes as you go farther up and farther in. But the call to go farther up and farther in, nothing has changed about that.

It is through these steady, cheerful, and sacrificial blessings that true friendships are built. And here is the abiding principle of friendship, no matter the season of life: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).

INTRODUCTION The fear of God is not a craven, crawling thing. In this passage, the fear of God is a driving motive force for evangelism, and evangelism is a proclamation of the good news, not the declaration of dreadful news. The fear of God therefore needs to be something that we understand as powerful and attractive. THE TEXT “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are...

INTRODUCTION This book is truly a Divine Comedy. It is no tragedy, although it seems initially to be so. This story has a happy ending. A wedding, a baby, and a genealogy. What could be more thrilling? THE TEXT Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside...

Enjoy session 1 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID. When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world....

Enjoy session 3 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID. When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world....

Remember the objective. The first stage of parenting is to make self-controlled children who live joyfully under life-giving authority. If we can keep the unity of command, maintain our lines of communication, concentrate our forces, and stay mobile, victory is to be had. But the victory is not through our own doing, it is the work of Jesus Christ our Savior. For indeed, this is entirely an effort...

Women are the glory of their husbands, and that glory should be as obvious as a pillar of fire by night. It needs to be as obvious as a circlet of diamonds around his forehead. How would biblical obedience in this instance be slandered and caricatured? If we were really living this way, it could never be that “those Christian men browbeat their wives.” A more plausible slander would be that Christ...

Enjoy session 6 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID. When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world....

The Reformation that has to take place for this country to be salvaged has to occur marriage by marriage, family by family, congregation by congregation. It cannot be a top-down solution. Enjoy session 7 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID. When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with...

Perhaps no other region of modern life is less scrupulously evaluated by Christians than their media choices. You may be a faithful churchgoer. Your kids may be getting a Christian education. You may read a Bible verse or two after supper. But many Christians apply next to zero discernment regarding their entertainment choices.

INTRODUCTION As Christians, we must live our lives here in the light of the life to come. Those who live in the ways of YOLO are like pigs under a vast oak tree, looking for acorns. They do not consider what is above them, not at all, they do not care about the source of their blessings, not at all, and they keep their snouts pointing toward the dirt always, hunting for the next acorn. We are summ...