Typically, church fights are good for nothing. Certainly, they wouldn’t be described as good. But, in Acts 15, the church comes together to make some important decisions and determinations. On 1/24/21, I preached a sermon entitled A Good Church Fight from Acts 15, which is online now. I hope the sermon not only encourages you, but helps you make progress as you seek to live and fellowship with others.
Weekend Recap – The Sending Church
My 1/17/21 sermon at Crestview got us back into the book of Acts. The sermon, The Church Sends (Acts 13-14), dug into the church the propelled Saul and Barnabas on the 1st Missionary Journey.
This church in Antioch was a pretty amazing group of believers, devoted to worship and prayer, listening to the Holy Spirit, and sending workers out. It’s really a vision to which I hope every church would aspire. I hope the sermon encourages you.
Weekend Recap – Sanctified in the Truth
My 1/10/21 sermon at Crestview, Sanctified in the Truth (John 17:17-19), is now online. Each year, on the heels of our church’s Week of Prayer to open the year, we try to do a sermon that highlights why God’s Word is an important part of our Christian walk. This year, I used Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John 17 to help direct us to prayer and honed in on vv.17-19 to see what Jesus thought of God’s Word. So, I hope this sermon motivates you to consider how you can be in God’s Word in 2021. Enjoy.
Weekend Recap – Week of Prayer 2021
My 1/3/21 sermon at Crestview, Confident Prayer (John 17), is now online. Part of the regular rhythm at Crestview is beginning the year with a Week of Prayer. This year, our Week of Prayer has the theme of unity and the devotional draws out prayer from the ending of John 17.
My sermon helped to kick this off. It dug into Jesus’s prayer in the Upper Room with the disciples in John 17. It’s a way of loving them to the end and helping them see how they can have peace as well as helping them see how they can overcome the tribulation the world will dish out. Jesus has overcome the world and this prayer shows this. I hope this sermon encourages you.
Weekend Recap – High King of Heaven
To wrap up 2020, I came back to the book of Acts and preached a sermon on Acts 12, which relates to King Jesus, King Herod, and an amazing rescue of Peter. My sermon entitled High King of Heaven is online. I really hope it encourages you as we come to the end of this year. Specifically, I hope you put your confidence in Jesus.
Weekend Recap – White Christmas
My 12/20/2020 sermon at Crestview continued our Colors of Christmas series, entitled White Christmas from Matthew 1:18-25. The big idea I was pushing for in White Christmas got to how Jesus came to save us from our sins (see Matthew 1:21). This sermon was a touch abbreviated, too, due to our Children’s program. Nevertheless, I hope it encourages you. In the sermon, I mentioned a verse and after the service, an online viewer texted me this graphic. Be encouraged, friends. Christmas reminds believers who Jesus is and what He came to do.
Weekend Recap – Blue Christmas
My 12/13/20 sermon at Crestview Bible Church was Blue Christmas – He Helps Our Weaknesses (Hebrews 2:14-18). There’s something about the God of the Bible who doesn’t just stand aloof and call us to rely on ourselves. He actually comes down, became man, so that He could help us in our weaknesses. This sermon is my attempt to glory in these truths. I hope it encourages you.
Weekend Recap – Gold Christmas
My 12/6/20 sermon, Gold Christmas: Our King Is Born (Isaiah 9:6), is now online. At Crestview, we’re using the colors of the Christmas season to direct our attention to Jesus. And, this week the sermon focused on the regal nature of Jesus’ arrival. He was born as King (and will return some day as King of kings and Lord of lords). I hope the sermon and this series is encouraging you.
The Colors of Christmas 2020
I love Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday. I love being able to pastor through the season of Advent. Each year, we take a break from the regular, digging into the Bible verse by verse work we do each week to think about what Jesus’ coming to earth means.
This year, we are using the colors of Christmas to inspire our imaginations.
We’ve already began with Red Christmas, showing that Jesus was born to die. Gold Christmas will point to our King being born. Blue Christmas will show how Jesus enters our despair. Finally, white Christmas will focus on Jesus taking away sins. It’s a simple way to worship Christ our newborn King.
Join us.
What A Thanksgiving Week!
It’s been quite the 10 day stretch for me. On Saturday, November 21, I can look back now and see that I wasn’t feeling 100%, but went to bed fully anticipating waking up, and serving at Crestview, wrapping up a series of sermons on Acts 1-12, prepping our body for celebration of Advent.
I was awakened by pain in my right lower back and flank. This led to me being naseous, weak, and having to tap out early Sunday morning. Fortunately, there are many people who covered my absence that morning of November 22. I ended up in the ER getting a CT scan and some other tests, which confirmed that I had a kidney stone lodged in my ureter.
I was sent home with pain pills and meds that would help me pass the stone. This led to lots of questions and I ended up following up with my primary doctor on Tuesday, November 24. After some more tests, it was confirmed that my stone hadn’t budged and I would need surgery. I was able to get into a urologist and into surgery late Tuesday afternoon, waking up in recovery around 6 PM.
I felt good Wednesday but realized that due to anesthesia and I would need pain meds. I had a stent between my kidney and bladder, which led to lots of discomforts during normal functions of life. On Friday, I ended up tapping out again for Sunday (this time giving everyone a little more time to cover for me). On Monday, November 30 (yes, yesterday), the stent was removed and, after some initial discomfort, I was able to rest.
It’s now roughly 10 days out. I still can’t believe all that happened. It’s like a blur. Lots of time in the hospital, medical tests, and recovery. Lots of time home unable to do much. Meg was the usual strong support. And, as I mentioned, many covered my church work. I’m back in the office today, but can already tell I don’t have my legs back.
I don’t want to stiffen my jaw to paint a picture that isn’t true, like that I ascended this mountain of pain and suffering and conquered it. I did fight feelings of pity, despair, wondering, “Why me?” still not understanding, and even feeling depressed. The pain hurt. And, with all of that, I have my faith. Advent reminds me to wait expectantly for a God who will surely come through. He has. The darkness has lifted. While I’m still not 100%, I can see family, friends, and God helping me through this season. Which, coming full circle to Thanksgiving, is certainly a reason for gratitude through all of this.
Now, I get to step out and live.
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