Blog: January 2019

“How should we pray for people in need?”  This may seem like a simple question:  just pray that God would meet their needs.  Pray that the sick will get well, the unemployed find work, the estranged be reconciled, the downcast be comforted, travelers be safe, etc. Of course, those are good prayers—like asking for “daily bread.”  But there are other angles to consider.  Like what is a “need,” and when might it be beyond us to grasp what our greatest needs are?  And which types of human needs does God consider to be most urgent? A good way ...

Moses and the Israelites had experienced a harrowing journey from Egypt into the wilderness. They made their way toward Midian, a land familiar to Moses. As a young man, Moses had fled from Egypt to Midian after he killed an Egyptian. (See Ex. 2:11-15.) Exodus 2 describes Moses’ first interaction with Jethro (also referred to as Reuel, Ex. 2:18), the priest of Midian. Moses rescued Jethro’s seven daughters from some shepherds at a well and drew water for their sheep. Jethro invited Moses to dinner. Moses stayed with Jethro and married his ...

Yesterday our sermon adventures into “Doxology for Life” brought us to Ephesians 3:20-21—a passionate prayer that God would be glorified.  It is simply breathtaking how the Apostle Paul prays for the church in those verses.  So, do we pray for fellow believers in such a way?  Are our prayers characterized by exuberant wonder at the greatness of God, and does that heart of praise move us to plead with the Lord for a life-changing, soul-forming, hope-igniting work of his grace in the lives of Christians we know? Good questions!  Keeping those ...

In recent weeks we’ve been talking a lot about anchoring our day-to-day lives in God’s Word:  read, reflect, study, pray!  After all, ’tis the season of New Year’s Resolutions and turning over a new leaf—all in all, a great time to reaffirm our spiritual survival practices, like hear­ing from God (in Scripture) and talking with God (through prayer). God’s Word is our survival.  Jesus says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).  Scripture is no trifle, “but it is your life” ...

The Israelites’ future looked bright. The Lord, through Moses, had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. He fought for them, displaying His power by parting the Red Sea and subsequently destroying Egypt’s army. God was working out His plan to bring the Israelites to the promised land, the land God promised to Abraham’s family. But the journey from Egypt to Canaan was not direct. The Lord led His people into the wilderness. The Israelites’ bright future seemed to fade. Their dry mouths and rumbling, empty stomachs produced complaints and ...

Since God has written “two books” (i.e., the book of nature and the book of scripture—as I mentioned in last Sunday’s sermon on Psalm 19), how are we to understand the relationship between them?  Is it sufficient only to have access to one or the other? Romans 1:18-21 asserts that all people have an awareness of God’s existence—and more, of his eternal power and deity—through the witness of nature.  Creation gives evidence of a Creator.  This is true for everyone (Psalm 19:3-4).  So asking if we need to have access to God’s “book of nature” ...

"Doxology for Life" Messages on the Practical Vocation of Praise Winter 2019 There’s nothing more practical than getting your head and heart centered on GOD.  All those how-to talks and life-hack lists will fall flat if you’re not, first and foremost, practicing “doxology.” Doxa is the Greek word for glory.  And doxology is a prayer of praise to the glory of our Awesome God.  Whether you sing it or say it, rest on it or walk in it, doxology is the very practical task of aligning your life with what matters most—and with the One ...

Friends, as we pray for our own church and ministry this month, let’s also make sure to call upon the Lord on behalf of our brothers and sisters in China. In recent months the Chinese government has been intensifying its crackdown on churches, detaining pastors and demolishing buildings.  There is an aggressive campaign to rein in and domesticate Christianity, and believers in Jesus who are not willing to revise their faith to exalt communist, secular state ideals are suffering greatly. Take time to read a leading Chinese pastor’s ...

Last Sunday I preached about “Prayer Uunleashed” based on the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.  I especially focused on how we’re taught to plead with the Lord that his name would be “hallowed”:  “Father, cause your name, your character, to shine brilliantly in this dark world; bring it about that your honor would be praised, loved, trusted and revered; cause all to see your greatness as the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” But I’m concerned—especially as I look in the mirror!—that we often settle for small, earthly prayers that ...

Last week, kids learned about Moses’ birth and his calling. God had a plan to rescue the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. He chose and called Moses for the task and allowed Moses’ brother, Aaron, to help him.   Moses and Aaron faced a huge obstacle in leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and his name was Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not recognize the Lord’s authority: “Who is the LORD that I should obey him by letting Israel go?” (Ex. 5:2) Pharaoh hardened his heart against the Lord, but all of this fit into God’s plan to reveal to ...

The beginning of a new year is a great time to take stock of where we stand in terms of prayer.  So, in keeping with C. S. Lewis's inverted approach in The Screwtape Letters (click here for a sampling of quotations from Screwtape), allow me to recommend fourteen ways to sabotage your prayer life: Pray only when you feel like it.  Disregard any fanatic ideas of praying “day and night” or “without ceasing.” Try to impress God with pious prayer performances so that you can win maximum spiritual credit. Pray publicly with an eye to ...

There’s still time!  It’s not too late to make a New Year’s start on read­ing the Bible.  Our two-year plan is available in the lobby and online, and Day One is January 6. If you take this road, you’ll read two chapters each weekday and one a day on weekends.  And you’ll move back and forth in the Bible—so that the long foundation of faith in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Christ are both kept in view as you go.  (For other reading plans, consider these options.) If you’re motivated to read the Bible, I don’t need to say more.  ...