Watts in the Word

Ezekiel contains many memorable analogies, symbols, and word-pictures, but perhaps none of them is so applicable to the modern Christian as the watchman analogy in Ezekiel 3 and 33. What was this analogy used for in Ezekiel, and how does it apply to us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ezekiel. This sermon was preached … Continue reading The Watchman in Exile

Having just finished a series on “Developing an Identity in Christ”, we transition to thinking about Christ – who was he? Who is he? Like anyone else, the identity of Jesus is composed of many different facets. We will begin with the most basic part of the identity of Jesus – his Jewishness. Click Here … Continue reading Jesus the Jew

We begin our study of Ezekiel (as we usually begin book studies) by examining the historical and political context of Ezekiel’s life and visions. What was going on at the time Ezekiel prophesied, and who was his original audience? How does this matter for the modern reader? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ezekiel. This … Continue reading Introduction to Ezekiel

As we develop our identity in Christ, there is room for us to maintain our unique personality and to develop individual identities as followers of the master. How can we maintain the core of discipleship to Christ while retaining the things that make us who we are? And how does God want to use us … Continue reading Who Am I Personally?

We make a lot of decisions about how we present ourselves to the world that we might describe as aesthetics, or style, or a vibe. Does God care how we present ourselves to the world? What role do our aesthetic choices play in cultivating a holy identity in Christ? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on … Continue reading Who Am I Aesthetically?

The last five chapters of the book of Judges doesn’t really seem to fit with the rest of the book. There are no judges, and the stories exist seemingly devoid of context. But these chapters serve as a conclusion that reinforces and solidifies the main themes of the book as a whole. What can we … Continue reading An Israel Without YHWH

The story of Samson is both heroic and tragic. Samson’s supernatural strength creates several memorable moments, but his lack of any other kind of strength led him into sorrow, anger, and despair. What can we learn from this tragic judge? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Judges. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading A Study of Strength

In many ways humans are defined by their relationships to others. It can be easy to allow our individual identities to be subsumed by these connections. How does God expect our relationships to influence our identities, and how can we develop an identity in Christ while also righteously connecting with others? Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading Who Am I Relationally?

The story of Judges is one of a steady decline in Israel away from God and further into unrighteousness. The judges themselves were not exempt from this digression. The sequence of Gideon-Jephthah-Samson highlights how even the leaders in Israel fell further and further from God. What can we learn from Jephthah’s failure? Click Here to … Continue reading A Failed Judge

Politics dominates modern discourse, but what exactly are politics. What makes something political? And, most importantly, what does God expect of the Christian in regards to politics? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 1, 2024.)

Most adults spend most of their waking hours at work, so it’s not surprising that working or professional identity becomes a central part of our sense of self. But what is the point of work in the Bible? What does God have to say about the role of work in our identity? Click Here to … Continue reading Who Am I Professionally?

It’s not saying anything special to note that sexuality is at the heart of a lot of modern life, from advertising to politics to entertainment and culture. What does God have to say about human sexuality and gender, and how can we fit our sense of self into God’s design for humanity? Click Here to … Continue reading Who Am I Sexually?

The story of Abimelech in Judges 9 is really the conclusion to Gideon’s story, and brings up many of the themes we have seen throughout our study of Judges: foreshadowing against kings, the rule of God versus the rule of men, and the tension between boldness and arrogance, insecurity and humility. Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading A Bramble Among Trees

We continue our study on identity by considering the difference between the word “Christian” and “disciple” – which word did the early Christians use to identify themselves? How does our spirituality relate to our self-formulation of identity? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on identity. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on … Continue readi...

Many (if not most) Christians are familiar with the first two-thirds of Gideon’s story, with good reason. It’s full of great lessons and easy-to-remember events. But to fully situate Gideon in the context of Judges, we need to consider his whole story. How did Gideon’s success and failures echo down to Israel after his death? Click Here … Continue reading A Reluctant Leader

Questions of personal identity have become endemic to modern politics and culture, from the way we teach our children to the way we vote for president. How does the Bible talk about identity, and how can we righteously consider the question “who am I”? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on personal identity. This sermon was … Continue reading Who Am I?

James gives an interesting take on our attitude toward the future when he instructs the reader to say “if the Lord wills.” What does an “if the Lord wills” attitude look like, and why is it important? Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 28, 2024.)

What is the point of reading or studying the Bible at all? James uses a particularly striking analogy to both consider the importance of the question, and to answer it. Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 21, 2024.)

The story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael gives us a little bit more insight into the actual day-to-day job of a Judge in Israel, as well as reminding us what exactly God is looking for in His servants. (Click Here to Listen.) (Preaching through Judges. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading A Woman’s Triumph

We wrap up our introduction to the book of Judges by considering the variance in detail between each judge’s story, and some of the reasons why the cycle of evil persisted as it did throughout the book. Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Judges. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on … Continue reading Introduction to Judges, Part 2

In times of turmoil and instability, we need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness, and what exactly it is about God that makes Him so faithful. James wrote to people in such instability, and made sure that they knew how God was faithful, and why. Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of … Continue reading The Faithfulness of God

“Discernment” can be one of those specialized religious words that we don’t use very much, but the concept of discernment is one used rather often in the Bible. What is discernment, why does it matter, and how can we develop it? Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading Discovering Discernment

This father’s day, I want to consider the value of fathers. What does God say about the importance of fathers, and how should we as children respond to and treat them? Click Here to Listen. You can find more information on fatherless statistics here, here, and here. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading The Value of Fathers

We begin our study of Judges by setting the stage in Israel and asking the question: is Israelite history one of mostly faithfulness with occasional bouts of rebellion, or one of mostly faithlessness with occasional instances of repentance? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Judges. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading Introduction to Judges

We are in a war, but it’s not against another nation, or other people, or “culture” or whatever else. The only way to win is to understand the terms of engagement, the enemy, and his strategy. How does Satan wage war against our souls, and how can we fight back? Click Here to Listen. (This … Continue reading The Schemes of the Devil