Pastor at Dover Baptist Church in Goochland, VA.
Introduction: In Genesis one we read that after creating the heavens and the earth, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). The heavens were good. The earth was good. The animals on the earth, and in the sky, and in the sea were good. The first humans, Adam and Eve,... Continue Reading →
Introduction "Forgiveness" is a word that I am sure we are all familiar with. It is one of the central elements of the Christian faith, and there is a great deal of power in this word. But here is something you might not have known; the Hebrew Bible actually has three words which we translate... Continue Reading →
This sermon is a continuation of a sermon series on the ten commandments. The rest of the messages were preached by Brian Ivey from July 17th - August 21st, 2022 at Highland Baptist Church in Vicksburg, MS. Introduction Last week Bro. Brian continued his sermon series on the Ten Commandments by expounding on the sixth,... Continue Reading →
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 →
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;my soul refuses to be comforted.When I remember God, I moan;when I meditate, my spirit faints. SelahYou hold my eyelids open;I am so troubled that I cannot speak.Psalm 77:2-4, ESV What causes you to lose sleep? For... Continue Reading →
Generally speaking, in the United States most people fall into the political camps of "conservative" or "progressive". Sometimes the progressive camp is referred to as "liberal" even though historically the conservatives are often more in line with the classical definition of liberalism than progressives, which is why I don't like the term "liberal" and rarely... Continue Reading →
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