“If a ruler listens to lies, all his ministers will be wicked.” – Proverbs 29:12 About a decade ago, I worked a part-time job at Best Buy. I was a sales associate in the home theater department, which meant that it was my goal to sell as many high-end televisions and home-audio solutions as I … Continue reading Dishonest Leadership Destroys Community
Tensions Between Truth & Unity
Here is the sermon manuscript for a message I delivered at Word of Life Baptist church on 2/21/21. I often post these manuscripts because not everyone has been able to return to in-person services, and they are one additional way for the local body here to stay connected and engaged within the teaching of our … Continue reading Tensions Between Truth & Unity
Answering a Fool According to His Folly?
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.” – Proverbs 26:4-5 This post is a follow-up to the one released a few weeks ago: On Truthfulness. I received a lot of good comments, questions, and … Continue reading Answering a Fool According to His Folly?
On Truthfulness
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” – Proverbs 12:22 A few months into my very first ministry, the church that I was serving went through a rough split. There were a variety of factors that led to this happening. However, one of these factors was more … Continue reading On Truthfulness
Looking Backward
Here is the manuscript of a sermon I preached on January 3rd, 2021. It was also a New Year’s reflection with the goal of helping my congregation process the previous year using the worship practice of lament. If you’d like to listen to it, the video version can be found here: https://youtu.be/-iTIm_py-Bs I also provided … Continue reading Looking Backward
Top 5 Books I’ve Read in 2020
With two different orders to work from home, I’ve had a lot of extra time this year to read. That has been a huge blessing. As a pastor, I feel that it’s my duty to continually sharpen my skills in this way. But I would be lying if I said that was the only reason … Continue reading Top 5 Books I’ve Read in 2020
Trust God & Live in Fear
“Have faith not fear.” “God’s got this.” “I’m just choosing to trust God and not live in fear.” These are three examples of slogans that many believers are using in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic and America’s current political climate. Not all who say these slogans are Christians. But it does seem like the vast … Continue reading Trust God & Live in Fear
Habakkuk: Active Faith in Uncertain Times
Here’s an edited manuscript of the sermon I delivered at Word of Life Baptist Church on November 15th, 2020. I have removed some of the material that doesn’t lend itself to this format. Some have also asked me to explain more of what I mean about current Christian-like slogans. I will plan on writing a … Continue reading Habakkuk: Active Faith in Uncertain Times
Demons – What Are They? (Halloween Edition)
As a culture, we are fascinated with the unknown. Monster and horror movies are all the rage. Exorcism has become a popular genre of film, and it seems like there’s a never-ending catalogue of tv shows about people trying to catch ghosts. This fascination with the unknown is not foreign in Biblical study either. For … Continue reading Demons – What Are They? (Halloween Edition)
On Listening (to Others)
“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as the love of God begins with listening to His word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them.”[1] “Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not … Continue reading On Listening (to Others)
Scripture Simplified 