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Some Advent Resources

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There are many (free) advent resources that are helpful.  Here are some resources I enjoy…

Good News of Great Joy (an Advent devotional by John Piper)

The Village Church’s Advent Guide for 2015

On the musical front (not necessarily free):

Behold the Lamb of God

Prepare Him Room

As well as anything by Folk Angel

My Favorite Christmas Cookie? Chocolate Crinkle

My Favorite Christmas Blend?  While Starbucks is great, I like Roasterie’s Holiday Blend best

What else?  Ever read A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote?

How about Luke 2:1-20? or Matthew 1:18-25?

Have a great celebration of Advent this month!

Being A Godly Husband During Advent

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Traditionally, we (men) view the Christmas season as a time for our wives to shine.  So, we leave the tree trimming, baking, holiday decor and family environs to our wives to accomplish.  After all, fluffy trees and baking may not be strong suits for us.  But, what if we viewed this through a different lens?  There are countless opportunities during the holidays to model what loving, sacrificial leadership looks like in our homes.  It can be a special time to die to our selfish desires and serve those we claim to love supremely.

So, here’s a list of 10 things that I’d challenge you with to stretch you that may very well have a profound impact on your family…

1) Ask your wife what you can do to help her in the kitchen.
2) Initiate a family game night with your family.
3) If your family is setting up the tree, make this an exciting time by drawing out stories and memories that come with ornaments.
4) Explain to your children what a joy it is for you to celebrate the holiday season with them.
5) Prioritize moments where your family will be able to worship with other believers during Advent.
6) Plan a surprise date night for your wife and take time to drive around town and look at Christmas lights, just the two of you.
7) Surprise your children by picking them up from school to do a fun holiday activity together.
8) Take steps for your family to serve others in some way.
9) Plan a family movie night and don’t hold anything back.
10) Draw your wife and kids close and read them the Christmas story from Matthew 1 and Luke 2.

What other ways can you think of that might serve your wife and kids?  Wives, what impact would this have on your home?

I hope this Advent season brings the joy of Christ radiating through godly husbands.

Weekend Recap – Ice, Ice, Baby…

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This weekend, our family was able to return early from holiday with extended family and beat the worst part of the ice storm.  On Sunday, our church had to cancel services due to the parking lot being a sheet of ice.  And, also on Sunday, some in our church were hurt, literally, by falling branches weighed down by the ice (here’s some coverage of their story in our local newspaper).

So, in a sense, I still feel like I’m digging out of the weekend.  I hope you had a productive one.  Unfortunately, I don’t have a sermon to link to.  I’ll pick up where I’ve been in 1 John next Sunday, Lord willing.

Black Friday Gospel Thought

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Your sin was dark, but God changed that!

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
(Isaiah 1:18)

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Hope you have a great day celebrating thanksgiving…

Above all, take time today to thank God for sending His Son, that we might be freed from ourselves to live for Him.  

Weekend Preview – Son Sent As Savior of the World

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I love the connection that Danny Akin makes, glorying in how the Father sent His Son as the world’s Savior.  In 1 John, we see many things the Father has accomplished by His Son.

In the Son the Father…

  • revealed the word of life (1 John 1:1)
  • brought eternal life (1 John 1:2)
  • cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7)
  • gave us an advocate (1 John 2:1)
  • propitiates our sin (1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10)
  • gives us an example to follow (1 John 2:6)
  • sent the Messiah (1 John 2:22-23)
  • makes possible the new birth (1 John 2:29)
  • sent the righteous and sinless One (1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:4)
  • takes away our sin (1 John 3:5)
  • destroys the work of the Devil (1 John 3:8)
  • sacrificed His Son (1 John 3:16)
  • gives us life (1 John 4:9)
As you think about Thanksgiving this week and anticipate our time in the word this coming Lord’s Day (1 John 4:13-16), why not praise the Father for what He’s accomplished by His Son.  

Weekend Recap – God Is Love

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My 11/22/15AM Sermon, God Is Love from 1 John 4:7-12, is now online.  I love how big this truth of God’s love works through the lives of those who are believers.  Here’s one quote I used from Paul Tripp:

“If you ceased to love, you’d be an unpleasant human being but you would cease to be human.  The same cannot be true of God, though.  If He ceased to love, He’d cease to be God, because He IS love.”


Because God is Love, we are compelled to act in very specific and pointed ways.  This sermon tried to tease out some of these and I hope it proves helpful for you.