Pastor at Dover Baptist Church in Goochland, VA.
Introduction: The Song That Started a War Imagine the scene with me. The war is over. The soldiers are coming home. There’s music in the streets, tambourines shaking, people laughing, kids running beside the procession. And leading the way is David, the shepherd boy who stepped up when no one else would. Goliath is dead.... Continue Reading →
Introduction: Last week, we followed Jesus to the Sea of Galilee, where He called Peter, Andrew, James, and John. At His simple command, “Follow Me,” they dropped everything. Today, the story continues. Jesus takes His new disciples into Capernaum. Just like in Nazareth, the first thing He does is head straight to the synagogue and... Continue Reading →
When God Starts in the Margins Let me begin with a question: If you were going to launch a movement to transform and redeem the world, where would you start? It is natural to think in terms of power, visibility, and influence. Our minds go to capitals, capitals of religion (Jerusalem), of politics (Rome), of... Continue Reading →
Sermon Audio: LINK I. SAMUEL'S PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY (1 Samuel 12:1-5) Before Saul wore the crown, Israel stood apart. Surrounded by nations that bowed to thrones of gold and marble, Israel bowed to the Living God. While others trusted in chariots and kings, Israel trusted in the voice of the Lord. God Himself was their King,... Continue Reading →
I. THE TRANSITION MOMENT (John 4:1–6; Mark 1:14; Matthew 4:12; Luke 3:19–20) Last week, we witnessed the beginning of the end of John the Baptist’s public ministry. Today, we return to the account after his arrest. The prophet who called people to repentance by the Jordan is now locked behind prison walls. And in this... Continue Reading →
Sermon Audio: LINK I. The Danger of Presuming on God's Presence (1 Samuel 4) In 1 Samuel 4, Israel makes a fatal mistake. They presume on God's presence without submitting to His authority. Facing the Philistines, a fierce warrior people from the island of Caphtor (modern-day Crete), Israel believes the battle can be won by... Continue Reading →
Introduction: Before Jesus preached a sermon, before He healed the sick, called the disciples, or walked on water, He went into the wilderness. He didn’t wander there by accident. Mark tells us in Mark 1:12, “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” Now pause right there. That’s not how we usually imagine the... Continue Reading →
I. The Time of the Beginning (Mark 1:1; Luke 3:1-2) Mark doesn’t ease us into his Gospel. He opens with the forceful declaration: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1, ESV). There’s no mention of mangers or Magi, no angelic announcements to Mary or Joseph. Mark skips the... Continue Reading →
I. Jesus’ Growth in Nazareth (Luke 2:39–40) There is a kind of mystery in the years that pass between Jesus' infancy and His public ministry. The Gospels give us snapshots of His birth, then again when He’s twelve, and then the curtain lifts in full in His thirties. We might be tempted to call those... Continue Reading →
The Arrival of the Magi and the Revelation of the True King (Matthew 2:1-12) This account begins “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king” (Matthew 2:1). As we saw two weeks ago when we examined the Christmas story, the Prophet Micah foretold that this is where Messiah... Continue Reading →
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