The Town

The world was starved for hope before the first advent, but it has always had the gospel promise.

At his first advent, Jesus brought salvation. At his second advent, he will bring judgment. We can know that we will be received if we trust in the person and work of Christ.

Anticipation means hope, eagerness, and expectation. Anticipate means to "beat someone to it", get ahead, or do in advance. Christmas reminds the Christian that we live in anticipation but that in living in hope we are called to actively anticipate. We are to live like children who anticipate the Christmas season by working hard at their school work. For instance, in my home, my kids work really h...

There are two cultures described in Revelation. One is the culture of the Kingdom of God and one is the culture of this world. We're called to live in one while being citizens of the other.

There's a great spiritual battle going on over whom/what we will worship. Revelation depicts two types of people: those that worship the beast and those that worship the Lamb. Judgement is coming for those that worship the beast and the doctrine of hell helps Christians to endure in loving our neighbor and loving our Savior.

The devil has been warring against the church since the very beginning. His tactics are broad; he uses force and craftiness, and he engages both the people of this world and its institutions to conquer the saints. Meanwhile, the world rejoices in the splendor of its accomplishments, not realizing the reality of its state; that it is subjugated to terrible (and defeated) forces. The church should k...

Every one of Jesus' purposes for the church come from one main purpose - to receive His Word, hold fast to his Word, bear testimony in our lives to his Word and to proclaim his Word.

Prayer is the gracious means God has given his people to invite them into his redemptive and sovereign purposes. God hears our prayers. God accepts our prayers because of the mediating work of Christ. God answers our ultimate prayer for his Kingdom to come and His will to be done.

Jesus has given us a future to look forward to. The anticipation of this future is on aspect of the Christian hope that drives us in life and mission. When we look at what the King offers and the vision of His Kingdom that He shared with John we are filled with hope and joy as we navigate the tribulations of this life.

When Jesus died, rose, and ascended into heaven he was given all authority in heaven and on earth to rule, reign and defeat his and our enemies. He continues to reign until he returns and restores all of heaven and earth. But until then, it seems that evil often wins the day. It doesn't take long for us to see the evil in this world when we flip through our news feed. How then, can a Christian cla...

John's vision of the throne room in heaven is a cause for worship as it is seen through the lens of Scripture. The throne room of heaven puts the worth, glory and welcoming goodness of Christ on display for all to see.

Jesus tells the church in Philadelphia that he is pleased with their holding fast to his person and work. He encourages them to remain confidence that He is holy, true and unstoppable. Their confidence is born from these facts. The confidence we have in Christ is the basis of fruitful mission, unwavering perseverance and our standing before a Holy God.

God will do even greater works through his church when they continue to hold on to the same old thing. The same old thing is the greatest news the world has ever heard - the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells the church in Pergamum that he knows they are in the thick of a heated battle. The only way to conquer was to withstand the pressure to compromise. The church today is called to the same uncompromising faith that Jesus called the early church to in Revelation. What does an uncompromising but loving church look like?

In Revelation 3:14-22 Jesus rebukes the church at Laodicea for resting in their material wealth and neglecting to provide spiritual care for the community around them. He then counsels them to come to faith in him knowing that good works can only come from true faith. In this sermon we challenge the church in America today with one question. Are we doing all we can to reach the spiritually sick, d...

Jesus writes to a lively, active church. But he gives them some unexpected news: they're dead. Not closed. They're spiritually dead because they've severed themselves from their source of life: Christ and his Gospel of grace. We ought to learn from their negative example and guard the Gospel message which has been entrusted to us!

The calling to follow the Lord Jesus Christ requires all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27), and we see in the church at Smyrna saints who are willing to do this. The physical capacity of those crushed by the systems of the devil bear no weight on their spiritual capacity. God delights in using all faithful and courageous people as his mouthpieces of grace and truth, and his rewar...

Imagine a church full of hard-working Christians who battle against heresy and fight for doctrinal truth. They know what they believe and why they believe it. They have spent years making sure that what they teach is sound. But as the church fell under cultural attack, they began to retreat into the walls of their community. They began to keep what they knew to themselves. That is until the King a...

The Revelation of Jesus Christ can be one of the most confusing New Testament letters to understand in our current context. And yet, the blessing of the book comes to those who hear the words and understand them. Revelation is not meant to confuse us but rather encourage us in trials, engage is in urgent mission and enrapture us with the coming King.

The marriage union is a blessing given by God from the very beginning of creation, and it has also taken on important redemptive elements in light of the fall of humanity. It should not be missed that our marriages are meant to be mirrors reflecting something much more than simply living out our lives with another person. The Church is the Bride of Christ, and our marriages should make a declarati...

We spend so much time, money and effort on the first day of our marriage. But what about the last day? What will your marriage become and how will you impact one another. The last day is not a promise of a once and for all, one time victory. It is a race in which we must continually strive and pres on toward the goal. Our priority must be the priorities of God. Our Goal must be the goals God has f...

God loves sex and wants you to enjoy sexual intimacy. Sex is something many Christians do not talk about in their churches. But it is a revelatory gift that God wants us to talk about. It is not something to be hidden away. Sex is either ruling us, repulsing us or reminding us of the greatness of a loving and gracious God who wants us to know and be known. When sex is ruling us or we are repulsed...

God's preferred method of revelation has always been His Word. His Word is how we can know him intimately. The Apple has not fallen far from the tree. God has given his creatures the ability to speak to one another that we might know one another more intimately. The Bible gives us specific instruction on how to talk to one another in a Christ like way that can breathe life.