For the month of July, we are taking a pause from our study of the book of Judges and spending time in Ruth.  After 15 weeks of disturbing stories with disturbing characters, we get to spend four weeks in a short love story. But this is not your typical love story about a knight in shining armor finding a princess to save.  It is that, but much more.  In truth, the story pictures not only [...]

This should be called "Tuesday" morning preacher.  I preached on the call of Gideon last week--Judges 6.11-32.  Instead of pontificating about everything I wish I had said, I think I'll just reiterate the things that I felt were most important.  Each sermon I preach there are a few things that stick out to me more than others...these are basically quotes from the sermon: With Jesus and Jesus with us.  Following Jesus is never about us. [...]

Three of the most terrifying verses in the Bible for anyone who claims to be Christians is Matthew 7.21-23:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works [...]

The first 10 verses of Judges chapter 6 are probably ones that most readers will spend little time considering.  The average reader of Judges (and their aren’t too many) would rather skip ahead to verse 11 for the “action” of Gideon and his “300” begins to unfold.  A careful reading of Judges 6 makes these first verses feel  somewhat parenthetical, almost like a speed bump in thought before entering the main thoroughfare.  There are no accidental anecdotes in [...]

I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.Psalm 40.1-3 I preached on the Song of Deborah (Judges 5) [...]

Ugh. Rarely do I ever write a sermon that I don't completely rewrite in my mind AFTER I have preached it. This not only evidences the richness of God's immeasurably deep word, it also probably evidences my own desire to try and control more than I actually can.  God is in control and speaks what he wants, when he wants, through and to whom he wants, despite me. Nevertheless, God has graced me a blog [...]

I can't stop thinking about Ehud.  It seems that, with every text I preach, I discover that there are probably seven other ways it could have been preached.  Alas, the richness of God's Word--it can never be fully comprehended or sufficiently proclaimed.Regarding Ehud, there is another meaningful truth that can easily get lost in the delightfully disturbing narrative.  Though Ehud pretended to be many things, though his ruse was full of creative acting, the one role [...]

Before you continue reading, you’ll want to listen or read the sermon on Judges 3.12-30.  After preaching this sermon many asked, or were thinking, ‘Did he just say what I think he said?”  The answer is probably "yes". Unfortunately, we live in a sensationalistic world where even preachers proclaim God’s Word in such a way that they believe they have the power.  They add clever jokes, funny illustrations, or emphasize the most sensationalistic details of text [...]

Never satisfied.  I wonder if I will always feel that way about my sermons.  I remember reading that Charles Spurgeon, regularly wept after sermons out of fear of having dishonored the Lord unintentionally.  If the "Prince of Preachers" struggled with sermon contentment, then I can expect this "pauper of preachers" to live in the same tension.  Preaching is hard and pastors are their worst critics.  Unlike many occupations, results are not always immediate--fruit takes time [...]

The second sermon in our series on Judges, titled {UN}faithfulness, centers on the progressive, but deliberate, disobedience of God's people.  The video can be found here.  The passage contains a lot of verses, 41 to be exact.  It is not often we read that many verses in a service, but whenever I do, there is deep level of satisfaction as the my finite words are drowned out by the eternal words of Scripture.  It reminds me of [...]

Last Sunday was our final sermon in the four-part "Paul & series".  The series focused on what we consider to be our "family traits"—the essential qualities that we hope characterize the people of Damascus Road Church.  I say hope because we're sinners and will, until we die, consistently fall short of God's glory.  In other words, we will never perfectly exemplify these traits as we ought; in this life they are disciplined pursuits we aim [...]