When we worked our way through John 15 and 16, many of you may have noticed that I broke those chapters up in a way that did not exactly match the paragraph structure of the Bibles that we provide at our church. I actually had a couple of paragraphs explaining why I had broken the passage up in the way that I did, but due to time (and my love for the children of our congre...

This past week I began a study of the book of Colossians with a neighbor. We're going through a guided study entitled "The Complete Christian" prepared by the folks at Matthias Media. They have a number of guided book studies and if you're looking for something to help you remain focused during your quiet time and work systematically through Scripture, then they have a num...

So this past Sunday when we were studying Christ's cross-work from John 18:28-19:42, I wanted to include a few quotes that reflected on the power of Christ's coronation and crucifixion. I wanted to keep the sermon to a reasonable length, so (sadly) I had to cut all of them. But because there some that I find to be so powerful and moving, I thought I'd provide a few for you...

Over the past several months I've been reading up on a few theological trends and thoughts. Some of these issues have risen during my preparation of sermons in John's Gospel, while others have come up in personal conversations and evangelistic endeavors. While these theological issues, thoughts, and trends have been varied and disparate, they all have a similar undercurren...

It may surprise you that I celebrate October 31st. Then again it probably doesn't. In my pastoral prayer, I gave thanks to God for what happened on October 31st in 1517. I gave thanks that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Chapel, and that the Lord used this event to help spark a recovery of the biblical gospel all across Europe and the World...

Food, football, and fake plates. That's what a number Thanksgiving's growing up looked like for me and my family. We would often travel to Ohio to visit extended family for the holiday, and rather than sitting around a table, we would sit around the TV. Then there were the Thanksgiving hockey tournaments. If we weren't with unbelieving family members in a smoke-filled hous...

As Christians, one of our great struggles is to live in the reality that what God has done far outstrips what we were and what we have done. When we live in light of what we were and what we have done, we underestimate the power of God. We remember our past, but we live in light of the present and coming reality. In Colossians 1:21-22, two short verses, Paul writes out the...

Brothers Sisters, The past two weeks, I've shared some reflections on my time at the Together for the Gospel conference (T4G). This week I'll finish up sharing those reflections as well as sharing some of my reflections on my time at a small pastor's fellowship following the conference. So far I've mentioned the talks given by Thabiti Anyabwile, Matt Chandler, Mark Dever...

Don Whitney has some of the best biblical and practical resources for growing in Christ. Among my favorites are his books: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and 10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health. Perhaps the most seasonally practical of his articles are 10 questions he has written to ask yourself annually, either at the beginning of a new year or o...

In 1539 Martin Luther wrote, "God's Word cannot be without God's people, and conversely, God's people cannot be without God's Word." It is a beautiful statement. It is a profound statement. And it is a convicting statement. It is beautiful because it is well put. It is profound because it affirms the biblical truth that God's Word creates God's people. Faith comes by heari...

Of late I've been reading Mark Dever's book The Church: The Gospel Made Visible. While I personally want to quibble with the good Dr.'s title a little bit (ask me about that another time), since I've gotten past the title page, I've been agreeing with him over and over again. Too often today, Christians are apologizing for the Church, as if she is the black sheep of Christ...

As I began last week's sermon preparation, I prayed. For some reason, last week I scribbled down the major headings of the prayer that I brought before the Lord that day, and I discovered them again today. I thought that I would share the rough outlines of that prayer because I believe that it is one that we can all offer to God when we are endeavoring to understand his Wo...

On Tuesdays, I am reading through Sinclair Ferguson's The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction with another brother in the church. This past week we talked about chapters 8 and 9, but I was particularly encouraged by chapter 8, "True Repentance." One of the things that struck me, as it has before, is how wonderful God's mercy is. In the course of identifying elements i...

This past Sunday evening I preached on the first two words of the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father." From the truth that God is our Father, I drew out five implications for our prayer lives as Christians and churches. I want to share with you the first implication because I need to preach it to myself over and over again. The first and most obvious implication is that since God ...

A friend was recently confessing to me some struggles, and he was surprised when I mentioned that the Devil might be involved. We easily forget that he prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). This is one of the "weird" things that we as Christians believe that is, it is weird in the eyes of the world. What is the Devil's main aim in att...

In his book Holiness by Grace, Dr. Bryan Chapell wrote, "The tears of confession and the joy of pardon are required to produce the gratitude that empowers the Christian life" (p.35). I've only just started reading Dr. Chapell's book, but I expect it to be a good one by what I've read so far. Many years ago a dear friend taught me the principle that Dr. Chapell propounds, ...

I've been sitting in lectures on the Christian life over the last couple of days, and we've basically been circling around one theme that ought to have a profound impact on every area of our lives as Christians. That one theme can really be summed up or presented in a couple of Scripture passages: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (R...

Sunday, I participated in a prayer service with other pastors from the SBCV. Our goal was to gather together to praise God, confess sin, give thanks, and make our requests known to God in and through prayer. It was a wonderful evening, but perhaps the thing that warms my heart the most from last Sunday evening was the response of a young girl when she once again held her l...

Are you quick to judge others with severity? Just admit it. You know you are. I am. So let's hear and heed this gentle word from Charles Spurgeon together: "Eyes that have wept over our own sin will always be most ready to weep over the sins of others. If you have judged yourselves with candor, you will not judge others with severity. You will be more ready to pity than t...

I treasure our church's Statement of Faith. I carry a copy of it around in my Bible. You can call me weird for doing that, but you probably should have called me weird a long time ago for a number of other things. Anyway, our church's Statement of Faith is based in large part upon the 1853 New Hampshire Confession of Faith. It is a wonderful confession that aptly summarize...

Earlier today a wonderful brother in Christ pointed me to Philippians 3:12. There Paul writes, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." I was exhorted to rejoice in the truth that Christ Jesus has made me his own. That is a wonderful encouragement that all Christians should re...

At the Tuesday night men's Bible study, one of the brothers (not me) led us in a few songs from his guitar. We closed with "It is Well." After we had finished singing, I mentioned to the brothers that third verse of that hymn has to be one of the best stanzas in all of hymnody. I'm sure if I gave you few words you'll be able to recite the rest, but just in case, here's the...

Last night I had the privilege of ministering with another brother in the congregation. A few weeks back he was walking about in his neighborhood, when he suddenly found himself talking with his neighbor about some serious matters. He was faithful to express his concern for them, and faithful to express his willingness to listen and be of whatever help he could. In short, ...

If you're like me, then sometimes prayer (real, sincere, and earnest prayer) doesn't come easily. Sometimes I'm helped by others to pray. In the past I've used the compilation of prayers entitled Valley of Vision to help inspire me to pray. Recently, I've discovered John Baillie's A Diary of Private Prayers that has and I think will continue to prove useful in helping me t...

As I was driving to church on Sunday morning, I began to wonder if I was trusting God as I ought to have been. We've been studying through 1 Thessalonians and considering persecution and suffering a lot. I can see how I would be driven to trust God in hard circumstances, but over the last few days I've been thinking about whether or not I've been pridefully trusting in mys...

This post may bore some of you. Sorry if it does, but I don't think it should! In some ways, this is an answer to a question that a member raised with me the other day, but I thought that it would be beneficial to share more broadly. Here's the heart of the matter I want to address why do we have a different ending to the Old Testament than Jesus had, and does it matter? ...

In my sermon, I mentioned that holiness is ultimately about God. Holiness isn't about what we do or don't do. It is about reflecting God's good, gracious, and holy character. I could have (and maybe should have) also mentioned that holiness is not about something outside of us, but rather about what is happening inside of us. It is certainly true that holiness can be seen ...

Over the past few weeks, I've been working on a writing project that addresses how to biblically view, deal with, and approach a particular set of sins. I've been reading various books and articles on the subject, but mostly I've been trying to read the Scriptures. This morning I spent some time reflecting on passages like Luke 18:11-13 and 1 Corinthians 10:13. The Luke 18...

Brothers Sisters, Last week I wrote expressing my thanks for pouring into me as your pastor in allowing me to attend the T4G conference and a small pastor's network meeting. In that note, I began to share with you some of my reflections on that time. I mentioned a few thoughts from talks delivered by Thabiti Anyabwile, Matt Chandler, and Mark Dever. Let me pick up where ...

This past Monday morning I was extremely edified and encouraged by Charles Spurgeon's morning devotion from his book Mornings and Evenings. I thought that it could be useful to your soul as well. Here is what Spurgeon had to say in reflecting upon Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to ...

I have long prayed for our congregation to be faithful in evangelism. I think that the Lord has given us much grace in this regard. Several members of our congregation are in active conversations with co-workers, family members, friends, and neighbors. I praise God for that. Earlier in the week, I realized that while I was regularly praying for us to be faithful in evangel...

During our initial study of the book of Judges, we spent a little bit of time reflecting on the subject of repentance. The people of Israel in the opening of Judges 2 appear to be broken, but as Sir Richard Baker once said, "Other things may be worse for breaking, yet a heart is never at the best until it is broken." A true brokenness, which may even include weeping, may v...

Just as I do every week, I endeavor to read each day a passage that we'll be studying as a way to prepare my heart for hearing from God when we gather. The passage is a bit longer this week, so I've been digesting it in smaller parts. This morning I read a section of Lamentations which included the two verses that Lamentations is famous for, Lamentations 3:22-23. Consider ...

The Washington DC area is constantly in a battle over revenue and what those funds will be spent on. Let's let Thomas Goodwin change the subject to a more edifying discussion of revenues for a moment: "What shall be the revenues of glory purchased by His death? Think what a large possession the blood of Christ will procure. Think, I say, what a glorious heaven it must b...

This coming Lord's Day, consider how the Lord is able to judge the wicked for their wickedness and rescue the godly from their trials, it strikes me that the Lord's sovereign power in this regard ought to make us humble. What shall we who are worthy of judgment do before our all sovereign and just God? Nothing but implore him for mercy. When we do this, we can be sure and ...

Sometimes I struggle to really pray. Does that ever happen to you? One puritan use to say, "Pray until you pray," but I think we all struggle at times to get going in our prayer. We mumble and fumble and stumble around in our prayers, praying for this and that, changing our minds about what we're praying about. Lists can help direct us. Directories can help direct us! But ...

I've been doing a fair bit of work preparing for our members' meeting this coming Sunday and it has been a real delight. Lord willing, we'll be seeing in our largest membership class in the history of our congregation since its constitution. I've been re-reading the membership interviews that the elders and I have done over the last month and it has been encouraging to thi...

I know that we've come through Thanksgiving and are now clearly looking forward to Christmas, and it is right that we do so, but in reality we should never stop giving thanks. As I was working on a sermon a short while ago I came across an incredibly edifying passage in a commentary, which challenged me to be more thankful for garbage as well as other "mundane" and "ordina...

From time to time in ministry and in my own life, I try to remind myself that though Satan, sin, and death have already been defeated by virtue of Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heavenly glory, that there is still a cosmic battle going on. If the Apostle John's Revelation proclaims nothing else, it proclaims that. The pronouncement of Satan's great ...

The great puritan minster Thomas Adams once wrote that "Hypocrites are like pictures on a canvas, they show fairest at the farthest." We're all tempted to hold others at an arm's length so that our flaws cannot be so clearly seen. We're tempted to hide behind vague language and allusions to struggles, all the while giving the impression that we've got it all under control....

Brothers Sisters, I wanted to write and thank you for pouring into me as your pastor. You do that in several ways, but this past week you poured into me in a practical way by providing me with time and resources to attend the Together for the Gospel (T4G) conference, and a small pastor's network meeting following T4G. I thought that it might be useful to share a few thi...