Dear Brothers and Sisters, Over the last few days I've been reflecting on the past year and God's many, many kindnesses to us as a congregation. He has immensely blessed us. I've also been reflecting on how we might purpose to serve our great God in the year ahead, should the Lord Jesus tarry. To that end I've written out 16 resolutions for our congregation for 2016. Thes...

Dear Brothers and Sisters,Why have you repented of your sins and placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Why do you continue to repent and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Among many other reasons, one reason is certainly because of God's kindness. After all, God's kindness is aimed at leading us to repentance (Romans 2:4). I hope that you would not be surpri...

Brothers and Sisters, A couple of weeks back I mentioned that I wanted to draw our attention to some great hymns that, for whatever reason, are rarely sung in the church today. Last time I sought to draw your attention toward a hymn of comfort entitled "Come, Ye Disconsolate," this time I want to draw your attention to a hymn of love entitled, "The Love of Christ Who Died...

Brothers and Sisters, Normally my time with the Lord consists of a few elements. First, I read the passage that I'm going to be preaching on Sunday and I make a few hand-written notes along the way. Secondly, I pray (for myself, my family, my church, and my unbelieving friends). Finally, I try to read something by a faithful Christian author. That's my normal practice, an...

Brothers and Sisters, If you think about it, the gospel of Jesus Christ is really disturbing. It is really disturbing in a very good way. Consider these words from Sinclair Ferguson, "There is an element in the Gospel narratives that stresses that the coming of Jesus is a disturbing event of the deepest proportions. It had to be thus, for He did not come merely to add so...

Brothers and Sisters, As a pastor I hate to admit it, but from time to time I too feel spiritually dry. I'm sure you understand what I mean because many of you have told me that you go through the same experience at times. Sometimes we struggle with a feeling that our zeal for the Lord is not quite what it should be. Our dryness or thirstiness manifests itself in differen...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A couple of weeks back, in preparation for men's breakfast, I read the first chapter of Kevin DeYoung's book Crazy Busy. In the first chapter, the author confessed that he struggles with busyness. I wasn't too surprised by that, nor was I surprised by the list of things that made him busy. I'm looking forward to the book and the discus...

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that in the New Year we would begin a new series in the gospel of Matthew, and that Lord willing, we would finish by Easter (with the resurrection of Christ). Well, a few things have changed with regard to our Spring calendar which make it necessary for me to make an adjustment to the preaching schedule. The bottom line is this we'll actually ...

Brothers Sisters, One of my sons and I were recently reading a book together that made a powerful and honestly terrifying point about the danger of clinging to sin in even a small way. It is a true story from nature that forebodingly shadows how the path of all sin is the road to sure destruction. I repeat it here for the benefit of your soul. "Picture this: A fly light...

On Sunday, should the Lord Jesus tarry, we will finally reach the chapter in which we read the words I consider the most frightful words in the book of Amos. So far in the book we have heard God's promises to devastate his people. He has promised to crush their homes, destroy their fortresses, wipe out their high places, and bankrupt their economy. All of that, in my mind,...