Pastor at Dover Baptist Church in Goochland, VA.
Introduction: When I first started preaching almost ten years ago, I had a bad habit of starting every message by telling the congregation, "this is one of my favorite passages in all of scripture." Now I always meant it when I said it, but I didn't realize just how often I said that phrase, until... Continue Reading →
One of the defining marks of our shared American culture is the idea of "rugged individualism", the idea that being self-reliant and independent from any need for outside help is virtuous and morally good. We love the self-made man, the lone ranger hero type, the person who takes charge and takes responsibility for their own... Continue Reading →
In a previous post I noted how the term "Pharisee" has taken on new negative connotations in the centuries that followed the completion of the New Testament. The same holds true of the term "Samaritan". Whereas "Pharisee" shifted from a positive connotation in the time of Jesus to a negative connotation in the 21st century,... Continue Reading →
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him,... Continue Reading →
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have... Continue Reading →
As many of you know, today is Valentine’s Day, a day in which many of us are going to be celebrating the people in our lives that we love and cherish. As English speakers we tend to use "love" as a catch-all word for a lot of different emotions. For example, I love my wife... Continue Reading →
Why Don't We Pray? Prayer may be the most powerful, and least utilized gift that God has given us. It is our direct line of communication with God, and we are told not only that God hears prayer, but also that He answers prayer. In the gospels we frequently see Jesus going away from the... Continue Reading →
OPENING: If you have been keeping up with our Bible Reading Plan you know that this week we wrapped up the short books of First and Second Thessalonians. Both of these letters were written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica around the same time, and both deal with the same subject, namely the second... Continue Reading →
Introduction: Last week Bro. Brian preached a wonderful message on the ending of the Gospel of John, but we know from the gospel of Matthew and the book of Acts that this was not the last time the disciples would see Jesus. In the moments before he ascended to heaven, Christ spoke to his followers... Continue Reading →
No death in all of human history even comes close to arousing as much interest or speculation as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It has been studied by scholars, historians, philosophers, and theologians for ages. And some 2,000 years later nearly 3 billion people around the world gather in places of worship like... Continue Reading →
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