Pastor at Dover Baptist Church in Goochland, VA.
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 →
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 →
The Setting for the Revelation (John 3:22–26) After explaining the mystery of new birth to Nicodemus, Jesus shifts from words to action: “After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptized” (John 3:22, ESV). John 4:2 later clarifies that it was not Jesus but... Continue Reading →
I. THE STRUCTURE: A THEOLOGICAL DIPTYCH John 2:14–22 presents two scenes that together unveil a deeper truth about Jesus’ identity and mission. In verses 14–17, Jesus storms the temple courts. He makes a whip, drives out livestock, scatters coins, and flips tables. “Take these things away,” He commands. “Do not make my Father’s house a... 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 →
Psalm 4: To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? SelahBut know that... Continue Reading →
Two Genealogies It’s easy to gloss over the long genealogies in the Bible, thinking they are just lists of names. However, these passages have a deeper meaning. These names are a reminder that God’s plan for salvation was set in motion long before Christ’s arrival (Luke 24:44-46). When we read of figures like Abraham, Boaz,... Continue Reading →
"Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning... Continue Reading →
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