I did not know this hymn before I became a pastor. When it became my responsibility to pick hymns, I read the hymnal and found it. It became an instant favorite. It shares a tune with a “hall of fame” hymn, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (Ambassador Hymnal, #171), which is much more common,… Read More ›
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled… Read More ›
Have you ever noticed that there are two distinct sections of the Lord’s Prayer? Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done one earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who… Read More ›
Sometimes in passages there are little side lessons. They’re not the main point, so in sermons I usually don’t get the chance to mention them. Sometimes I even write them out, but in the end they don’t really fit, so they usually get cut. In the gospels, they often have to do with prayer. We… Read More ›
It’s tax season. More importantly, it’s also holy week. During Holy Week, as the Jewish leaders were trying to find an excuse to arrest Jesus, they set a trap for him. They asked him if it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not (Mark 12:13-17). If Jesus said, “Yes,” it would anger the… Read More ›
I have a neighbor who likes to talk. Occasionally I see him and greet him across the fence. Sometimes it’s just to see how he’s doing. Sometimes it’s because I’m concerned about a tree branch. First I ask him how he’s doing. Then he tells me his political views. Regardless of the level of government… Read More ›
While on vacation this summer, I helped my parents put new siding on their house. The worst part was the chase around the chimney. It was (of course) on the tall side of the house, and it intersected with the roofline. So I was standing on three levels of scaffolding, swaying in the wind, and… Read More ›
1) Get ready for church, just as you normally do. Take a shower, put on a nice shirt, etc. You can skip the “We’re going to be late” panic. 2) Go to our website early (about 10:00 instead of 10:30) so you can download the bulletin, print it if you like a paper copy, and… Read More ›
God commanded Israel, through the prophet Moses, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). Jesus taught the same thing as the second great commandment (Matt. 22:39). But how do I do this if I don’t love myself? If I don’t love myself, does that lower the standard of love I am required to… Read More ›
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation” (Ps. 146:3). “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Ps. 118:8). In 303 ad the Roman Emperor Diocletian unleashed an aggressive campaign of persecution against the Christian Church. And by “aggressive… Read More ›