“If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 This post is the beginning of a new blog series that I’m titling Not-So-Straightforward Scripture. Within each post … Continue reading Not-So-Straightforward Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14
Belonging in the Midst of a Broken World
This is an edited sermon manuscript from a message I delivered on November 28, 2021. It was a one-off meditation on what it means to belong as a Christian within a world that seems bent on division and disunity. If you would prefer to listen to this sermon, click on this link here. My wife … Continue reading Belonging in the Midst of a Broken World
Wired For Belonging
“And the man and his wife were both naked and not ashamed” – Genesis 2:25 Howard J. Ross, in his bestselling book Our Search For Belonging: How Our Need to Connect is Tearing us Apart,[1] writes that all people have a “desire to fit into groups. The need for belonging is an inherent survival mechanism.”[2] … Continue reading Wired For Belonging
Wrathful Christianity
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” - Proverbs 15:1 This past Spring, my house became practically infested with earwigs. If you don’t know what earwigs are, they’re little black bugs no more than an inch long. But they have a pincer attached to their abdomen which they like … Continue reading Wrathful Christianity
The Manipulation of Sentiment
“[Sentiment is] the luxury of having an emotion without paying for it.” – Oscar Wilde In the mid-1700’s, a series of Christian revival campaigns took place in colonial American and Great Britain. Preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield called unsaved listeners to make a profession of faith and believers into a deeper personal piety, … Continue reading The Manipulation of Sentiment
Why Does Obedience Matter?
This is an edited sermon manuscript from a message I delivered on July 11, 2021. It was the second part of a 5-part series that acted in conjunction with my church’s Vacation Bible School titled “Building on the Rock.” If you would prefer to listen to this sermon, click on this link here. We are … Continue reading Why Does Obedience Matter?
On Patience
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the name who carries out evil devices!” – Psalm 37:7 I’ve been thinking a lot about patience lately. There’s two reasons for it. First, my almost one-year-old daughter is cutting teeth. She has … Continue reading On Patience
Palm Sunday, a Parody
Palm Sunday is this weekend. This is the Sunday that Christian churches all over the world remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, a narrative that’s recorded in each of the four Gospels (Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19). This is also the Sunday that many churches in my tradition … Continue reading Palm Sunday, a Parody
Tensions Between Unity & Truth
This is the second sermon in a series that I started last week. The first one can be found here: Tensions Between Truth & Unity. But if you'd prefer to listen to this message instead of just reading it, you can find the video recording here: https://youtu.be/vdfJaM8ZkR8 Tensions Between Unity & Truth (Acts 15:19-35, 16:1-5) … Continue reading Tensions Between Unity & Truth
Dishonest Leadership Destroys Community
“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
Scripture Simplified 