We’re trusting God to do something big at Immanuel in June and July. It’s out of our comfort zone and is a definite step of faith. We’re planning a Vacation Bible School-like format and curriculum for children age three through middle school. It will take place outside – under a number of canopies – for eight Sundays during the [...]
Archive for the ‘church’ Category
Sometimes You Have to Go Long
Posted in church, Ministry, prayer on April 18, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Church Matters
Posted in Book Report, church, contemporary evangelicalism on February 14, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
“What do I need the church for? Can’t I read my Bible and grow and worship on my own?” Sadly, the attitude I call “Me, Jesus, and my Bible” is still present among Christians today. This attitude is a denial of the truth that healthy spiritual growth always takes place in the context of Christian [...]
Asking Better Questions
Posted in church, church attendance, contemporary evangelicalism on February 10, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
“How many people go to your church?” I get asked that question a lot, but I’m never quite sure how to answer it. I could give a strictly factual answer, but don’t want to encourage the “bigger-is-better, bigger-means-God-is-blessing” attitude that’s so prevalent today (especially since the church I pastor is not large by any stretch of [...]
Be a Good Hearer of the Word
Posted in Bible, church, Ministry, preaching, Sermons on October 29, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Thomas Watson offers these helps to us as we hear the Bible preached: When you come to God’s house to hear His Word, do not forget also to prepare your soul with prayer. Come with a holy appetite for the Word (1 Pet. 2:2). A good appetite promotes good digestion. Come with a tender, teachable [...]
O Church Arise
Posted in church, worship, worship music on October 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
We sang this wonderful hymn last Sunday in church. It went well with my sermon on Ephesians 6:14-17 – “The Christian in Complete Armor.” Enjoy!
Barking Dogs and Taking Dominion
Posted in Christian life, church, my life, preaching, providence on July 6, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
It was warm – close to hot – in the sanctuary on Sunday morning during the worship service. We opened two doors opposite each other in the sanctuary in order to get some air movement, hoping to cool the space a bit. About half way through my sermon, a couple of dogs about fifty yards [...]
Sermon in a Sentence
Posted in Bible, Christian life, church, preaching, Sermons on July 3, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This morning I had the privilege of preaching on Ephesians 4:17-24. Here is a summary of my sermon in one sentence: As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and as part of His church, we are not to live like non-Christians, which involves putting off the old way of life, having our minds renewed, and [...]
Sermon in a Sentence
Posted in Bible, church, preaching, Sermons on June 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This morning I had the privilege of preaching on Ephesians 4:11-16. A summary of my sermon – in one sentence – follows: God has given gifted men to the church for the purposes of ministry, maturity, stability, and growth.
Sermon in a Sentence
Posted in Bible, church, preaching, Sermons on June 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This morning, I had the privilege of preaching on Ephesians 4:4-6. Here is a summary of my sermon in one sentence: The church has unity because it is one body, has one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father.
Sermon in a Sentence
Posted in Bible, church, preaching, Sermons on June 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I had the privilege this morning of preaching on Ephesians 4:1-3. Here is a summary of my sermon in the space of one sentence: Paul makes a plea that we would promote and protect the unity of the church that has already been given to us by the Holy Spirit.
