Christ

Advent 2022 – Free Family Devotionals

The Word Christmas is not in the Bible. Never once does Paul, or Peter, or James, or any of New Testament tell us that we must celebrate the birth of Christ. In fact, sometimes we must lament some of what Christmas has come to mean to many people. To many, it is a...

Have You Learned Christ?

In Ephesians 4:20, Paul says the Christians at Ephesus had "learned" Christ. By that, Paul means, the Messiah. What Christians have learned is that Jesus is the true God of the universe. He is the 2nd person of the Trinity who is the fulfillment of all the OT...

Jesus Tempted As We Are, In Context

There is a common misunderstanding concerning Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (ESV; bold emphasis mine) What happens during our...

The Love of Christmas

We covered Ephesians 3:18-19 recently at Perryville Second Baptist Church. Strange interpretations...

A Change of Heart – Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 4)

A Change of Heart – Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 4)

For the last year+, I've been working on a new book, A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. Now that I've finally completed my M.Div, I've taken this project back up again. I thought I would share the first two chapters in a series of blog...

A Change of Heart — Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 3)

A Change of Heart — Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 3)

For the last year+ I've been working on a new book, A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. Now that I've finally completed my M.Div, I've taken this project back up again. I thought I would share the first two chapters in a series of blog...

A Change of Heart — Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 2)

A Change of Heart — Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 2)

For the last year+ I've been working on a new book, A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. Now that I've finally completed my M.Div, I've taken this project back up again. I thought I would share the first two chapters in a series of blog...

A Change of Heart — Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 1)

A Change of Heart — Chapter 2: Mere Christianity (Part 1)

For the last year+ I've been working on a new book, A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. Now that I've finally completed my M.Div, I've taken this project back up again. I thought I would share the first two chapters in a series of blog...

A Change of Heart, ch. 1 — Heart Matters

A Change of Heart, ch. 1 — Heart Matters

For the last year+ I've been working on a new book, A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. Now that I've finally completed my M.Div, I've taken this project back up again. I thought I would share the first two chapters in a series of blog...

The Preciousness of Christ – Benjamin Keach

The Preciousness of Christ – Benjamin Keach

The following comes from a sermon excerpt from Benjamin Keach (1640-1704) on Matthew 13:45-16 which says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had,...

Full Stomach, Empty Heart: A Sermon Outline from Ruth 1, Part 2

Full Stomach, Empty Heart: A Sermon Outline from Ruth 1, Part 2

Last time we looked at how Elimelech's departure from Bethlehem to Moab revealed that he failed to, Discern the Purposes of God, Delight in the Precepts of God, and Dwell in the Presence of God. We have two final points to mention in today's post. Elimelech's...

3 Most Important Parts of a Marriage Ceremony

3 Most Important Parts of a Marriage Ceremony

There are truckloads of webpages about how to officiate a marriage ceremony. And for the most part, what the couple wants may dictate the majority of those details. But I believe there are three essential parts of a marriage ceremony where I encourage every Bride and...

Pandemic, Wildfires, and Holy Matrimony

Pandemic, Wildfires, and Holy Matrimony

I recently had the privilege of officiating two weddings. And what a treat it was! But because of our "pandemic" and wildfires, there were plenty of details that made these events, well...special. First, in an effort to honor the godly couples, I must point out that...

Why We Groan (Short Devotional)

Why We Groan (Short Devotional)

[2Cor 5:1–5 ESV] 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on...

They Pray For Us (Short Devotional)

They Pray For Us (Short Devotional)

[Rom 8:26–27] Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit...

Four Things We Must Consistently Believe About Original Sin

Four Things We Must Consistently Believe About Original Sin

I praise God that many are aware that man is born sinful. But the sad part is that we don't really believe it. What I mean is, we don't understand two main things: 1) The depth of the implications and 2) The doctrines we must affirm to consistently believe this...

Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge

Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” – Hosea 4:6 Knowledge is power, so they say. When it comes to knowing the character of God, the lack of knowledge is detrimental. Contextually, the weight of this verse lies on the spiritual leaders of God’s people....

Why We Should Have Seeker Sensitive Churches

Why We Should Have Seeker Sensitive Churches

I can't really document the dates so well, but I think most will generally agree that at the turn of the century the "Seeker Sensitive" movement was in full gear. This movement's mantra is, essentially, that churches should be designed for seekers. In my own state of...

Bulls on Your Altar

Bulls on Your Altar

How does sacrificing bulls on God’s altar teach us about right sacrifices to God?

After establishing the right relationship with God through His cleansing power, we see that God WILL delight in right sacrifices and that bulls will be offered on God’s altar. It isn’t that God is completely displeased with sacrifices and offerings (religion). It is that sacrifices and offerings (religion) are only acceptable to God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Once we know Jesus we are made holy so that we may offer sacrifices to God in Spirit and in Truth (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:5; Matthew 5:23-24).

To Give His Son a Bride

To Give His Son a Bride

God put the helpless Man to sleep and opened up his side A promise old, intent to keep, to give His Son a Bride Adam awoke to see the gift, his eyes on her steadfast, A perfect helper for him fit, he cried to God ‘At Last!’ The glory of that fateful day, too soon it...

The Essence and Effects of Sin

The Essence and Effects of Sin

In 2017 I had the joy of preaching through the book of 1 Peter at our church. It is amazing how Scripture continues to shape and transform us as we gather around it each week eager to hear from God’s Word. We were going along at a pretty good pace until we hit 1 Peter...

Christ’s Preserving Prayers: The Reason for Our Perseverance

Christ’s Preserving Prayers: The Reason for Our Perseverance

From the world's perspective, there isn't any beneficial reason to continue in the faith. I mean, why would anyone want to swim against the constantly swelling tide of persecution knowing full well it may cost us our friends, family, jobs, and yes, perhaps our very...