Seasonal Preaching

When Jesus was accused of blasphemy for calling Himself the Son of God, He argued from Psalm 82 –  “‘I said, “You are gods“‘  – that if God referred to men as gods and  “children of the Most High”  ( Psalm 82:6 ) then He was not blaspheming. The weight of His argument is noted –  “and the Scripture cannot be broken”  ( John 10:35 ). God’s word is authoritative, complete, and infallible. We cannot...

What should we do when we feel like, or see signs of, our faith beginning to wane? When my love to Christ shows signs of weakening, what can I do to rekindle it?

In Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia, he used an incident which occurred in Antioch involving Peter to make a strong point for justification by faith, and not by works of the law -  "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed"  ( Galatians 2:11 ). The incident serves us by helping us understand the nature of the problems Paul w...

“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”  (Romans 6:17) Paul noted the transition of the Roman saints from the slave master of sin to another –  “that form of doctrine.” “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”  (Romans 6:18) Ultimately, the  “form of doctrine,”  or patt...

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  (Matthew 7:11) The Lord took for granted that parents know how to give good gifts to their children. We must make sure that is what we are doing. Do we give them what the Lord says we should?

Abraham was considered by Paul in his letter to the Romans as a case for justification by faith. He concluded,  “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead”  (Romans 4:23-24). What a tremendous blessing! What does it mean that righteousness is imputed to those who hav...

Paul told the Thessalonians to  "test all things"  (1 Thessalonians 5:21). However, he pointed to the standard by which they were to test all things - God's word. We must make sure we test everything by the reliable standard, and following it fully.

Peter addressed his first epistle,  "To the pilgrims of the Dispersion...elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father"  ( 1 Peter 1:1-2 ). These Elect Pilgrims, Christians, are encouraged to endure while suffering for doing good. The foundation for that endurance is addressed in chapter 1 - faith, hope, and love.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”  (Matthew 10:16). As we’re sent into the world with wonderful good news that many will violently reject we must strike the balance Jesus instructed.

"The turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them"  ( Proverbs 1:32 ). Complacency is destructive in general, but especially spiritually. We must fight complacency, and ever strive to grow and improve.

John 11 records the 7th and final miracle of Jesus’ ministry in John’s record. In the text, Jesus makes a bold claim, and then proves it by raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus said,  “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  (John 11:25-26)

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”  ( 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ) The love of Christ showed for us by dying for our sins motivates us to do great things for Him. In seeing how His love was manifested, we ought to...

Acts 16 records Paul's response to the vision of the "Macedonian call" ( Acts 16:6-10 ). In Philippi, a city in Macedonia, Paul was imprisoned and found opportunity to preach the gospel to a jailor. The account of the Philippian jailor's conversion is instructive in many ways (cf.  Acts 16:25-34 ). The urgency of obedience to the gospel in the account is especially apparent.

John 9 records the sixth of seven miracles performed by Jesus in John's gospel. In the account, Jesus gives physical sight to a man who had been blind from birth. However, this was in order to lead this man, and others, to the more important spiritual sight. Jesus makes an important application at the close of the account saying,  "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who...

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”  (Romans 6:4) What does life look like for those who have been raised with Christ in baptism? What is the newness of life? How does one walk in newness of life?

John 6:15-21 records the familiar miracle where Jesus walks on the sea. In it we observe that Jesus has the power over nature. The implications are significant for us who live in the natural world, and long for the spiritual home promised by God.

Sympathy is an important responsibility of the Christian to his brethren, and all men. It must be well rounded, as Paul wrote,  "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."  ( Romans 12:15 )

John 17 records Jesus' prayer concluding His final moments with His disciples before His betrayal. The prayer is one concerning consecration - concerning Jesus' final work on the cross, the apostles' ministry that was to begin after Jesus was glorified, and for all those who believe through the apostolic ministry to be united in the Father and Son.

“Paradise” is used three times in the New Testament. Despite the limited use, the word is filled with comfort and joy. Christians have the assurance of Paradise in death, and in the the resurrection from the dead.

John 6 records Jesus’ fourth miracle in John’s gospel. By feeding over 5,000 with only five loves and two fish, with twelve baskets full of fragments remaining, Jesus displayed His power over quantity.

The Hebrew writer contrasted the old which was of the earth with the new which was heavenly by noting the former could be shaken, and the latter could not (cf.  Hebrews 12:25-29 ). It is wise for us to put our faith in that which cannot be shaken, and which will remain.

John 5:1-15  records Jesus’ third miracle in the gospel of John. By immediatly healing a man with an infirmity of 38 years, Jesus demonstrated His power over time. This is significant for all of us for many reasons.

What is the context of  John 14:1-6 ? Is Jesus referring to mansions in heaven, or something else?

God’s eternal plan for the church included special appointed servants. These are called deacons. What is their work? Why is it important? What are the qualifications?

The erroneous doctrine of Premillennialism is prevalent. Among the many details of this doctrine is the secret and silent “rapture,” or catching away, of the saints at Christ’s coming. Is this taught in scripture?