Psalm Lesson: Psalm 23 for May 3, 2009

Friends, Here is my first installment of this week’s Lectionary notes. These notes are on Psalm 23. For part of the time while I was writing these notes I was listening to David Crowder*Band’s A Collision or 3+4=7. There are ten (10) pages of notes that include relevant cross-references and quotes and personal observations about…

The God of Our Expectations

The God of Our Expectations 1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God,…

The Resurrection Changes Everything: Sermon Skycast

Friends, This is the audio from the sermon I preached this morning, The Resurrection Changes Everything. It was based on the Gospel lesson from this week’s Lectionary reading in Luke 24:36-49. I hope you are blessed by this message. In the text for today, the Resurrected Jesus appears among his disciples–from there, things really heat…

Resurrection Changes Everything, Luke 24:36-49

Friends, Here is the link to the sermon I have written based on this week’s Gospel Lesson from Luke 24:36-49. I have attached a link to the notes too. Be blessed. Resurrection Changes Everything, Luke 24:26-49 Gospel Lesson notes: Luke 24:36-49 Here’s an excerpt: Resurrection changed everything. The resurrection of Jesus set the world on…

Oswald Chambers on Spiritual Success

Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you . . . — Luke 10:20 Oswald Chambers on discipleship: Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned…

Study Notes: Gospel Lesson, Luke 24:36-49

Friends, A new feature I will try to practice for a while. I have decided that I will follow the Lectionary readings for a while in 2009 for my preaching schedule. As I study and prepare each week, I will post my notes here at the blog for anyone to partake of. It will vary…

Resurrection is Today

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life John 20:19-23 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his…

Gossip and Murder

From “Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus” (p. 170): Later rabbis also preached about sin by comparing small sins to greater ones.  Listen to what they say about gossip: “To which is gossip more similar, robbery or murder?” “Murder, because robbers can always give back what they’ve stolen, but gossips can never repair the…

The Glue of Christian Unity

Friends, I have been posting a lot lately about the essential oneness of the church and why it is so important for us to be one in the Spirit of peace. I have also been preaching such sermons to my congregation on Sundays during Lent. Last week, as I prepared for my last sermon in…

The Grace of Being Broke

In the course of some reading this afternoon in preparation for a blog post on Matthew 13, I read the following paragraphs from Capon’s wonderful book The Parables of the Kingdom. These paragraphs speak to the untidy nature of the parables and strange nature of the God whose Kingdom is spoken of by Jesus. God,…

5 Sermons on Resurrection

Friends, Since it is the holiday season of Resurrection, I thought perhaps some of you might be interested in or might benefit from some Resurrection sermons. I  preached these sermons about 3 years ago shortly after I preached a series called The Crucifixion Driven Life. These sermons were inspired by a book that I read…

Bible School Lesson: Luke 9:1-11

Friends, Here’s a Bible School lesson to use from Luke 9. Here, Jesus is sending out his 12. I use this as a paradigm for our own going out in the name of Jesus. I have provided a very brief synopsis of each ‘T’ (this will make sense when you download the lesson). I mean…

Bible School Lesson: Learning to Talk or Giving up Sarcasm

Friends, Here’s a Bible School lesson for you to use. There is both an outline of Scripture verses with a couple of thoughts each and an outline page for your people to take notes. The lesson focuses on my own personal goal to give up sarcasm and learn to talk in a way befitting someone…

Scripture & The Enemy

Heard last night: “The enemy can quote Scripture, and it isn’t doing him much good.” Amen.

Criticism & Intercession

Heard today: “Intercession is when you bring people and their problems before the Lord. “Criticism is when you expose people and their problems to others.” Amen. Amen.