Over the last 2–3 years, I’ve referenced the Shema prayer in Deuteronomy 6:4–5 and its New Testament counterpart in Mark 12:29–30 quite a bit—because I see them as definitions of worship. Deuteronomy 6:4–5 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your…
Scripture references: 2 Samuel 8:1a, 8:15, 15:18-21, Ruth 1:8-10, 14-18, 4:18-22 and Isaiah 55:8-9. Introduction: Loyalty can come from unexpected places. Professions of faith can come from unexpected people. As we approach another Baptism Sunday, I am often challenged with the question that Pastor Chuck asks at the end of each Baptism service: “Who will be in these waters next…
Every time I have to get under my car to change the oil or inspect something that needs fixing, there’s always a part of me that worries the car will come crashing down on me. Even though it never has, I still can’t fully trust that my car will stay up like it’s supposed to. Another way to put it…
Scripture references: 1 Samuel 17:45-47, Psalm 71:10-16, 18 Introduction: ‘Kiddush Hashem’ The Hebrew term above is a significant concept in Jewish thought which finds its roots throughout Scripture. The term means: ‘Sanctification of the Name’. Being made in the image of God, we are called to represent God’s Name as Holy…set apart from all else. To proclaim His great Name.…
In John 21, we read about Jesus’ third appearance to His disciples. These verses primarily focus on the interaction between Jesus and Peter. However, the lesson wasn’t simply for Peter—it was for all the disciples, and for us. On Sunday, we are going to talk about how the restorative grace of Christ leads to what Warren Wiersbe calls “Dynamic Faith”…
Scripture references: Psalm 22:1, 7, 8, 16, 18, 30-31. Matthew 27:33, 35, 39, 46. Matthew 26:39, John 19:30, Colossians 2:11-15 Introduction: I came across a video this week that caught my attention. In this video, a street preacher was having a discussion with a man passing by. The man challenged the preacher on Jesus, arguing that Jesus made mistakes. He…
Back in my youth ministry days, a great icebreaker—and a fun way to kill time during some downtime—was to toss out a riddle, a brain teaser, or occasionally spark a debate with a ridiculous question. Some of my favorites were “Is water wet?” and “Is a hotdog a sandwich?” These are silly, lighthearted questions that masquerade as riddles because they…
Scripture references: 2 Kings 25:27-30, Jeremiah 52:31-34, 2 Kings 21:2-15, Genesis 41:14, Genesis 41:41-42, Hebrews 4:14-15. Introduction: One indicator of a well written worship song is when the lyrics bring you to a specific passage of Scripture…allowing us to meditate on the Word of God. I had a moment like this when I was listening to one of our Communion…
I’m sure you’ve heard the adage, “Work smarter, not harder.” For some reason, I have been very slow to learn that lesson. More often than not, when I’m working on a project, I don’t take the time to think about ways to save energy or make the work easier—I just try to power through as quickly as possible. Inevitably, what…
Have you ever noticed how we tend to pray more—or perhaps pray at all (when prayer is not a part of our daily lives)—when we find ourselves in desperate situations? There have been times when I’ve offered to pray for a loved one of someone I know does not yet have a relationship with God. I’ve never been turned down…