More than a political party or social cause

by | Jun 2, 2021 | Uncategorized

This past Sunday we looked at Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18). In the parable, the Pharisee’s disposition and attitude towards God is one of relief that he is “not like other men.” He considers those who are known to be sinners or at...

Committed to mercy

by | May 17, 2021 | Uncategorized

Something that we have seen repeatedly in our journey through the Minor Prophets is that God has committed himself to a course of action that depends on his extending mercy. From before time began, God set in motion a plan that would require his compassionate and...

God is not mild in his affections

by | Apr 20, 2021 | Uncategorized

One of the most significant and pressing questions we are constantly asking, even if subconsciously, is, “What does God think about me?” Or, “How does God see me,” “What is God’s disposition or heart or affections towards me?” And our answer to this question has...

Always reforming: A pastoral confession

by | Feb 24, 2021 | Uncategorized

Those who know me have likely heard me say something along these lines: Everyone has a theology, and everyone is doing theology all the time. That is, everyone has ideas of who God is or isn’t, and these ideas are continually being shaped by, while also themselves...

A plea for reasonableness

by | Jan 11, 2021 | Uncategorized

I write this first and foremost to my church, to those I know and love, to those who claim Christ and display it with their lives. While I would love to extend this plea to Christians more broadly, my responsibility and my heart go first to the health, love and...

Reflections on a new year

by | Jan 4, 2021 | Uncategorized

Closing off one year and beginning a new year provides a good time for reflection. As I reflect on our life together as a church at this moment, there are so many things that come to mind. The story of a church is always a complex picture that includes the individual...

Shame and guilt

by | Dec 12, 2020 | Uncategorized

Both the Bible and our contemporary, western culture have much to say about human identity. And central to both the Bible’s and our culture’s understanding of identity are the issues of guilt and shame, and specifically how to overcome guilt and shame. But the ways...

Prioritizing the gospel, because of the gospel

by | Dec 2, 2020 | Uncategorized

This past Sunday, I preached from Mark 13, where Jesus is warning his disciples of suffering and persecution to come. At one point, he tells them, But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will...

Dependent on God’s word

by | Nov 18, 2020 | Uncategorized

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) This past Sunday I preached on Mark 12:35-37, and briefly pointed out something Jesus says almost as an aside, but something that...