Growing Deeper Into the Soil of God's Word to Bear Fruit For His Kingdom
Then the king's secretaries were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and to every... Continue Reading →
I invite you to open your Bibles with me to the book of Esther. Esther is in the Old Testament - at the end of all the history books. If you are in Ezra or Nehemiah you have not gone quite far enough, if you are in Job or Psalms, you have gone a little... Continue Reading →
It was 586 when the walls of Jerusalem crumbled. Ripped from the land God had given them, the people of God were carted off into exile. The Lord who had chosen them, who handed them over to be stripped from the land, promised to one day bring them home. But until then, the people of... Continue Reading →
I invite you to say these words after me: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Let’s say that again: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. [Take off glasses] Naturally, I cannot see very well. Without my glasses... Continue Reading →
I invite you to open your Bibles with me to Matthew chapter 6, verses 12-14. Matthew 6:12-14. Matthew is the first book in the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If you don’t have a bible with you this morning, feel free to grab one from the pew in front of you and... Continue Reading →
Think for a moment: What was the first prayer that you learned by heart? Some of us entered the Christian faith by being born into the covenant community and others of us entered later in life, but what was the first prayer you learned by heart? (The Lord’s Prayer) I’m guessing that for most of... Continue Reading →
“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9a) For many Christians, the Lord’s Prayer is the first prayer we learned by heart. We may pray it every week in worship or every day at meals. This prayer has worn deep paths in our souls. However, our familiarity with the prayer Jesus taught... Continue Reading →
I invite you to open your Bibles with me to Galatians, chapter 6. Galatians 6, beginning in verse 11. Galatians is in the New Testament - Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians. Galatians 6:11-18. This morning we are ending our study of the book of Galatians. We have been taken on an expansive and thrilling journey to... Continue Reading →
“The only reason they want to do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.” (Galatians 6:12b) The circumcision faction was afraid. This group of Christian believers were actively trying to force Gentile converts to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. They claimed it was essential for salvation and obedience... Continue Reading →
As God’s forgiven people, how now shall we live? Less than five minutes ago, I spoke those words. We had just heard God’s word call us to confess our sins. We had confessed together to the Lord and then I spoke on behalf of God, rooted in God’s Word, that if you trust in Christ... Continue Reading →
Etz Pri 