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31 Days of Prayer -- January 2024
December 14, 2023
31 Days of Prayer -- January 2024
Let’s begin 2024 on our knees! Below are 31 verses from the Gospel of Matthew—one for each day of January. Let God’s Word prompt you to pray (whether on your own, or together with family or friends).
As you read, be alert to the Spirit’s leading about how to pray—whether praise or thanks or confession or requests. And those requests may be for yourself, your family, friends/coworkers/classmates, our church, or other people/situations God brings to mind. In prayer we speak to God, and it is fitting ...
Tenacious Prayer
December 08, 2023
Our two-year Bible reading plan recently took us to Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (that’s if you began this year—and speaking of Bible reading, the plan for 2024-2025 is ready for you to pick up at church, or you can download it near the bottom of this page: decide now that you will read God’s Word daily in the new year; not planning to read is planning not to read!).
In the closing verses of the letter, where Paul shares greetings from various spiritual companions, a verse I’ve zipped by countless times grabbed my attention: the ...
Children's Ministry Update, December 3, 2023
December 05, 2023
In the final chapter of Luke’s Gospel account, we receive insight into how Christ made His resurrection power known. The manner He chose to reveal His newly resurrected body teaches us how we can share and receive His gospel truths in the present day. Since Christians today represent the body of Christ in action, we serve as living, tangible proof of His resurrection power in the world. Just as the earliest followers sought to make His life, death, and resurrection known within their circles, we too must seek to share the gospel with the ...
With God in the Cave
December 01, 2023
In our Wednesday prayer gathering, while reading Bible passages and asking God to prompt us to pray in keeping with his Word, we recently took in Psalm 57—a song written by David “when he fled from Saul, in the cave.” I don’t know about you, but if I were running for my life and hiding in a cave (e.g., 1 Samuel 22:1), I don’t see myself writing poetry! But God works wonders—including in our hearts amidst the most unexpected and trying circumstances.
David cries out, “Be merciful to me, O God” (v 1); “My soul is in the midst of lions” (v ...
Children's Ministry Update, November 26,2023
November 27, 2023
One of the most magnificent titles given to Christ is that of the complete and perfect King. Paul reflected on both the might and majesty of the risen Jesus as he detailed the immensity of the hope we find in His name. Though we are prone to falter and fail, Christ in His completeness remains the full, sovereign fixture of our faith.
On what basis do we crown Jesus King? How do we see His kingship demonstrated to us and through us as His followers? It is through His sufficiency and might as righteous King that we find our strength and hope....
Thankful for Our Church!
November 23, 2023
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love endures forever!” (Psalm 136:1).
As we move through this holiday weekend, I’m thinking back to the great day we had at Goshen last Sunday. And I’m THANKFUL for the three disciples of Jesus who stood up to testify and be baptized (you can watch again—testimonies here, and baptisms here)!
And I’m GRATEFUL as well for the visit from Shelby Abbott, our guest preacher, who serves with FamilyLife. In case you missed our worship gathering, let me encourage you to listen to Shelby’s ...
Politics for Jesus’ Followers
November 22, 2023
Last week we wrapped up our Sunday Seminar on “First Things First: Distinguishing Biblical Majors and Minors in Relation to Current Issues.” And the issue before us was Christian Faith and Politics (recordings of these sessions are on our website). I put a major emphasis on the believer’s identity: we’re only well positioned to engage with politics when we’re grounded, rock-solid, in our self-understanding as God’s people. First and foremost, that’s who we are: subjects of Christ the King.
In his article, “Bigger Fish to Fry: ...
What's On Your Mind?
November 21, 2023
“What’s On Your Mind?”
A sermon series addressing the questions we’re thinking about
Goshen Baptist Church - Winter 2024
In January and February 2024, my goal is to go to God’s Word and develop messages for our church based on questions you’re asking.
Is there a Bible passage you struggle with, or a theme in Scripture that perplexes you? Are there aspects of Christian belief that are hard to understand? And are there facets of the Christian life that you find confusing? And are there issues related to following Jesus in a ...
Christmas at Goshen 2023
November 21, 2023
Join us as we gather in the season of Advent--as we commemorate and celebrate the coming of God the Son to be among us, to be Emmanuel, "God with us"! (Matthew 1:23). May the Lord pour out his love upon you this Christmas season!
By the way, if all of the holiday festivity rings hollow for you, and you're wondering if there really is a deeper meaning and a basis for hope behind it all, take time and listen to (and pray over) this summary of Jesus' message!
December 3, First Sunday of Advent: “He Came to Our Rescue” (1 Timothy 1 ...
Children's Ministry Update, November 19. 2023
November 20, 2023
Amidst the darkness of the crucifixion story, the promise of new life in Jesus sprang forth. Here in these passages, the truth of Christ’s victory became known first to His closest followers and then was spread throughout the rest of the world.
With what power was Jesus raised from the grave? How did these events tie into the story of the gospel or into our own lives? Every word of the Scriptures works in harmony to point to the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. Through His victory over sin and death, those who believe in His name ...
Marriage Mirrors the Gospel
November 17, 2023
In last week’s Sunday Seminar, I said the Bible presents marriage as a metaphor of the gospel: “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church…” (Ephesians 5:25). And I noted that several authors point this out and draw out its significance. For example:
Trevin Wax, The Thrill of Orthodoxy, “Marriage is not a one-off doctrine disconnected from the rest of Christian teaching. The Bible begins and ends with a marriage ceremony, the first in a garden between a man and a woman, and the last in a garden city when the church is united ...
Children's Ministry Update, November 12, 2023
November 13, 2023
Here in the New Testament crucifixion accounts, we read of Christ taking to the cross on our behalf. In this place where Jesus was stripped of His dignity, we find ourselves clothed in His righteousness by faith.
Why did the omnipotent Jesus choose the cross? How did the suffering of Jesus lead to life everlasting for us? It was through the undeserved disgrace He endured that we would receive God’s unwarranted grace and the gift of new life.
In the events leading up to His crucifixion, the King of glory faced criminal charges based on His ...
God's Good Design
November 10, 2023
Christian maturity involves “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We do speak up; the Lord calls us always to be ready to give an account of the hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). As Jesus’ ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), we have been sent into his world with a message to share—the word of Life.
But the manner of our speech is crucial; how we say what we say makes a huge difference. Love is the greatest command (Matthew 22:37-40)—loving God and neighbor. So, even if others hate us, we are called to love our enemies in word ...
Children's Ministry Update, November 5, 2023
November 08, 2023
All four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ trial revealed the innocence of the Son of Man amid the injustice of the court’s proceedings. From the plotting of the chief priests to the scoffing of those in the crowd, each detail revealed the reality of the Savior’s choice to step forward as the substitute for our sins.
Why did this court case unfold in the manner that it did, with the religious leaders taking their troubles to the Roman courts? How do we see God at work amid Christ’s suffering? The answers to this lay in the Old Testament prophecies ...
No More Room
November 02, 2023
Every Christian is “called into the ministry”: to love neighbors, build up the church, and give an account of our eternal hope. Every follower of Jesus receives his charge: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). We’re all on mission.
But even if all Christians on the planet were to share the gospel with every human with whom they can communicate, over 3 billion people would remain completely in the dark—unreached, unengaged, lost. (See joshuaproject.net.)
That’s because over 3 billion souls are within people groups ...
On Mission
October 27, 2023
As we begin our Fall Focus on Missions, listen to the heart of these mission leaders. Can you feel their pulse of love for Christ?
“Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God” (William Carey).
“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered but a command to be obeyed” (J. Hudson Taylor).
“I never made a sacrifice” (David Livingstone).
“I have a firm conviction that I am immortal until my work is done” (Lottie Moon).
“If God has called you to be a missionary, don’t stoop to be a king” (Jordon Groom).
“Some ...
Children's Ministry Update
October 24, 2023
Christ’s arrest and betrayal remain some of the darkest accounts we read in the Scriptures. The sinless Savior experienced rejection at the hands of His closest friends, knowing the darkness of death He would soon encounter in the hours that followed. The recurring theme that resurfaced throughout each unfolding event was that Christ foreknew all that would come next, yet He took to the cross for our salvation anyway.
The all-knowing Jesus recounted to His disciples the deceitfulness of not only the chief priests and elders, but also of His ...
Trivial Pursuit?
October 20, 2023
I’m feeling an odd dissonance from flipping channels between baseball and warfare. From “it’s just a game” to life and death. Same TV—just different channels. It’s all very jarring.
Maybe I’m the problem, and I should just watch one or the other. Or neither, or nothing: so much spin and sensationalism in cable news, and such triviality getting all fired up over a game.
But, stepping back, there may be reasons to expose yourself to at least a measure of both the heavy and the light, the serious and the playful. After all, there’s a ...
All People Everywhere
October 13, 2023
In our Prayer Gathering this week, we read Scripture passages on God’s heart for the world—for all peoples, every tribe and tongue. And as we did, the Lord was grabbing my attention:
Psalm 67:1-7: “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” (vv 3, 5). Not some—but all of them.
Luke 10:25-37: In Jesus’ Good Samaritan story, the crossing of ethnic and religious barriers of hate with compassion for the hurting depicts God’s love for the lost (John 3:16). No clan or class or category of sinners is too far gone ...
Children's Ministry Update, Oct. 10, 2023
October 10, 2023
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John all recounted Christ’s anointing in the last days before Passover. As Christ, His disciples, and friends all gathered to remember what God had done for His people so long ago, Mary anointed Jesus. We continue to celebrate the legacy of her worshipful act, just as Jesus proclaimed we would.
What was the significance of Mary’s extravagant offering? Why did Christ declare that she would always be remembered for the affection she displayed for her Lord?
While Judas’ eyes were blinded by his own greed, ...
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