Where are you this morning? Some of us are coming off an incredible week of Vacation Bible School, both exhausted and exhilarated for what God has done. Others come drained. It’s been a long week, a long month, a long year. We are looking for a little hope, like cool water on the tip of…
The Lord God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God prepared a…
In the Bible, names are significant. When a child is given a name, they are called to live into the name they are given. When the LORD promises many children to Abram, he renames him Abraham, meaning ‘Father of many nations.’ Abraham is called to live into his new name. After Jacob wrestles with the…
A version of this essay was originally delivered as part of The Arts and Humanities Colloquium at Hope College (Holland, MI). As the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century began and gained momentum, many of the reformers sensed a need within the new movement: Education. While the theologians understood the new doctrines, the masses did…
It has been almost a month since I have been able to share the Word of the LORD with you. However, this was not exactly the passage with which I anticipated stepping back into the pulpit. As we will soon hear, Genesis 19 feels more like Game of Thrones than like Frozen. There is violence,…
This morning we begin the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In doing so, we are entering a story that sits quite uncomfortably with many in the late-modern West. The destruction of the cities has been weaponized in the wars of sexuality in the church. Fire and brimstone raining down from heaven and…
In our time together, I want us to internalize a bible verse as we walk through a bible story. My hope is that when the match of our verse strikes the surface of the story, it ignites, giving light so we can see and heat to warm our hearts. The verse is Hebrews 13:2 and…
Please pray with me: Father, may your Word be our rule, Your Holy Spirit our teacher, and the glory of Jesus Christ our single concern. Amen. If you are able, I invite you to stand to hear God’s Word. Listen closely and listen well, for these are the very words of God: When Abram was ninety-nine years…
As we have journeyed through the story of Abram, we have seen some amazing promises from God. But the story of Abram and Sarai is largely the story of the long wait for these promises to be fulfilled. In this way it foreshadows the long wait of Israel for the messiah and the long wait…
Please pray with me: Sovereign LORD, I pray that out of your glorious riches you will strengthen us with power through the Spirit in our inner being so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. I also pray that all of us gathered here, being rooted and established in love, may have power…
