Tag Archives: Exhortation

Spiritual Nuggets 6/02/2023

Wit, Wordplay, and Euphemism The Bible is a passionate book. It’s about a God who is impassioned for His people and who ultimately sends His Son to die for them so that they can be saved from themselves. And it … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Forgiveness of Sins – 2

Scripture Reference: Luke 24:44-53 The Curse of the World The gospel message, according to our Savior, concerns His death for our sins on the cross and His resurrection from the grave for our justification. The gospel message addressed to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Pastor's Desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 6/01/2023

Searching For The Wrong Kingdom Because of the signs He performed, Jesus drew large crowds. And because of His signs, those who followed Him decided that He should be king. It seems natural and fitting, in a way, that Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Forgiveness of Sins – 1

Scripture Reference: Luke 24:44-53 The simplicity of this message is as follows: Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, … Continue reading →

Posted in Pastor's Desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 5/31/2023

When Things Don’t Go as Planned I live in the world of projects. There are a few things I know for certain about them, aside from all requiring a budget and a schedule to have any hope of success. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cross and The Crown – 3

Scripture References: Isaiah 53.10-12 How We Know He Lives First, we know His presence by His healing grace and His saving power. The only healing is divine healing. A surgeon may sharpen his scalpel and cut, but only God can … Continue reading →

Posted in Pastor's Desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 5/30/2023

The System Religion is a tough subject. Jesus staunchly opposed religion for religion’s sake, yet He was a Law-abiding Jew. He recognized the value of worship, community, and discipleship, but not the value of religious constraints: religion can bind someone … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cross and The Crown – 2

Scripture References: Isaiah 53.10-12 The Suffering Lamb – Continued Tread softly around the cross, for Jesus is dead. Repeat the refrain in hushed and softened tone. The Lord of life is dead. The lips that spoke forth Lazarus from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Pastor's Desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 5/29/2023

Liar or Lord? When Jesus made a defense of His healing on the Sabbath, He was upping the ante instead of defusing the situation: “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17). For the Jews, such … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cross and The Crown – 1

Scripture References: Isaiah 53.10-12 In this chapter we find bound together the humiliation and exaltation of our Lord. Typical of the prophets as they spoke of His coming, Isaiah wrote: He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened … Continue reading →

Posted in Pastor's Desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Faith From The Beginning 5/27/2023

Predestination and Calling EACH of these men represent one aspect of God’s choosing us, His calling us to Himself. Abraham is the great example of divine, sovereign election and predestination. He was not a Jew when God first called out … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith From The Beginning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Essential Insights on Faith 5/27/2023

I am ready to preach the gospel – Romans 1:15 Billy Graham In God’s economy, a person must go down into the valley of grief before he or she can scale the HEIGHTS of spiritual glory . . . One … Continue reading →

Posted in Essential Insights on Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love or Death – 6

Scripture References: 1 John 3:11-24 Christian Love (1 John 3:18–24) – Continued Abiding (verses 23–24). When a scribe asked Jesus to name the greatest commandment, He replied, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God.’ . . . This is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Expository Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 5/26/2023

God’s Will: It’s Confusing It’s sometimes difficult to understand why God does what He does, or why He asks us to do certain things. God goes so far as to list precise materials and calculations in Exodus 26 for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love or Death – 5

Scripture References: 1 John 3:11-24 Christian Love (1 John 3:18–24) – Continued John names three wonderful blessings that will come to a believer who practices Christian love. Assurance (verses 19–20). A believer’s relationship with others affects his relationship with God. … Continue reading →

Posted in Expository Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 5/25/2023

Longing For the Ideal Pastors avoid or over-interpret it. We’re often confused by it. But the Song of Solomon is in our Bible. Although we might stumble over the imagery (comparing a woman to a mare would hardly go down … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love or Death – 4

Scripture References: 1 John 3:11-24 Indifference (1 John 3:16–17) – Continued From last lesson: It is easy for us to talk about “loving the brethren” and to neglect to help a single other believer. Christian love is personal and active. … Continue reading →

Posted in Expository Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 5/24/2023

Speaking Up Because we convince ourselves that people won’t accept our testimony about God’s work in our lives, we’re not usually ready to share it. We might prejudge their reactions or simply lack confidence. Soon, staying silent becomes a way … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love or Death – 3

Scripture References: 1 John 3:11-24 Hatred (1 John 3:13–15) – Continued The verses in this section, like those that deal with habitual sin in a believer (1 John 1:5–2:6), concern a settled habit of life: a believer is in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Expository Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Nuggets 5/23/2023

It’s Standing Between You and God There is nothing more frustrating than being ordered around. Few people take to a drill sergeant. Although we like to cite the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) because they’re the norm, the rebellious part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Nuggets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment