Sermons
The Tasty Pastry & the Magi
The visit of the magi is recorded only in Matthew's gospel. They are mentioned in Matthew 2, and no reference is made to them again in the scriptures.
New Heaven, New Earth
Our year of the message closes with the final two chapters in the Revelation of the Apostle John. These two chapters describe the passing away of the first earth bringing us full circle to where we began in the Year of the Message, beginning to end, creation to new creation.
Alpha and Omega
Jesus is the All-sufficient One, as we have seen in Galatians and Colossians and as we can see in every book of the New Testament. John introduces him in the Book of Revelation as "the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5).
God is Love
This succint statement by the Apostle John may be the most memorable quote from the three letters that bear his name. His entire letter revolves around the love of God made clear to us through Christ Jesus.
You Are a Chosen People
The Apostle Peter was usually the first to speak and the first to act among the Twelve. He took his lumps for always jumping ahead. And he learned in the process to let the Lord Jesus do the speaking and the leading.
Faith Expressed in What I Do
The Book of James was likely written by James, the Lord's brother (Galatians 1:19) and the influential pastor of the church to Jerusalem (Acts 12:17, 15:13, 21:18). The book has sometimes been called the "Proverbs of the New Testament" because of its very practical teaching about Christian living. It echoes the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus in many ways.
Faith is the Substance
The greatest single statement concerning the person and work of Christ in the Bible is the introduction to the Book of Hebrews. I memorized the first chapter of this book when I was a boy. The first three verses have stuck with me all these years, and I have rehearsed them often.
Freedom from Human Righteousness
Here we have the secret for continuing to be victorious in our walk with Christ. We are to continue as we began--in faith. We are to be rooted in Christ, built up in Christ, strengthened in faith, and overflowing with gratitude.
Law and Grace
What is the role of the Old Testament for followers of Jesus? How do the Ten Commandments fit into my life as a believer? How do I know which ancient commands are no longer obligatory and which ones I should obey?