Pastor at Dover Baptist Church in Goochland, VA.
From the Tax Booth Imagine a busy seaside road in the region of Galilee. Beside the road sits a small table equipped with a ledger, a set of scales, a Roman seal, and a box for coins. Levi, the son of Alphaeus, is collecting tolls and taxes for the Roman Empire at his booth. Although... Continue Reading →
Introduction In Luke 4, Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, not just as the carpenter’s son, but as the Spirit-filled messenger of God’s Kingdom. He stood in the synagogue where he had worshipped as a boy. He read from Isaiah 61. Then he said something surprising: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your... Continue Reading →
Introduction to Psalm 8 If you have ever been camping far from city lights you may have experienced the beauty of the star-filled night sky. In moments like these, you feel your smallness, the short breath of your life. And if you're paying attention, you feel something more: wonder. King David must have felt that... Continue Reading →
Introduction: As you stepped outside this morning, perhaps you noticed how the air still held the hush of night. The sky, streaked with hints of orange and gold, began to brighten the edges of the earth. The grass glistened with dew, the trees stood still in reverent silence, and the birds, hesitant at first, now... Continue Reading →
Luke 2:21-38 records the circumcision and naming of Jesus, as well as when the young Jesus was presented in the Temple. It also beautifully illustrates the theme of obedience to God’s law through faith. This passage reminds us that faith is not just about belief but about living in obedience to God. Like those in... Continue Reading →
Introduction: While the Gospel writers provide only a few details about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, they emphasize two key points. First, they make it clear that his birth really happened. They include family lineages, ancestral towns, historical references to Roman emperors and local rulers, and the testimony of eyewitnesses to confirm its... Continue Reading →
Sermon Audio: LINK Introduction: In January we began preaching through the Sermon on the Mount. We began by focusing on Jesus' first message. The call to repent. To turn from the old ways of living and to follow in His footsteps. We noted that repentance is the doorway we must all pass through to enter... Continue Reading →
Sermon Audio: LINK Introduction: For the past few weeks, we’ve been walking through the Sermon on the Mount, spending time reflecting on the Beatitudes. We’ve explored what it means to be poor in spirit, to mourn over sin, and to hunger and thirst for righteousness; each building upon the other to shape us for a... Continue Reading →
Audio: LINK Introduction: Tonight, I’d like to pose a question that might sound odd, considering why we’re all here. Imagine, just for a moment, that you had never heard the Christmas story, that you knew nothing of Jesus Christ or the good news He brings. All you knew is that tonight, the very Son of... Continue Reading →
Sermon Audio: LINK Opening: Last week, we began our journey through the book of Ruth, where we saw Naomi’s devastating loss and her return to Bethlehem. Faced with famine in Israel, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, decided to lead his family to Moab, a land outside the covenant of God and filled with pagan worship. This was... Continue Reading →
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