What’s that Emanating from the Kitchen? – Philippians 1:3-8

You’ve been out all day. You left the house about 8:30 and now, at 5:45, you finally get back home. You’ve been working hard all that time, running here and there, and actually accomplishing quite a bit. You are feeling good about the day, but you are returning tired...

Four Salutational Pairs – Philippians 1:1-2

Tonight, we begin a study of Paul’s letter to the church which he planted in Philippi, Macedonia. Some of these messages will come on Sunday mornings, if they are evangelical or Christological, but as this is one of Paul’s more personal letters, most of material will...

Saying “Amen” to Praise – II Peter 3:18

A few months ago, I finished this about the Baptist pastor Abraham Booth, who died about 220 years ago. By the grace of God, rising from poverty and ignorance, he taught himself to read, eventually becoming one of the preeminent pastors and preachers in England. In...

Peter, Paul and You – II Peter 3:14-18

When some of you talk about your misspent youth, once in a while your old, ungodly music is mentioned. Even though I am not much older than some of you, I often have no idea who you are talking about. I don’t know the lyrics you are mentioning. I can’t picture the...

Universal Destruction: Us or Him? – II Peter 3:11-14

If I was a United States Senator in charge of the right committee and with a huge budget, I’d authorize a study of society’s deliberate USE of FEAR to direct and manage the people of this country. There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of expensive studies to...

A Companion of Them that Fear the Lord – Psalm 119:57-64

Before I get into a report of our visit with the Landmark Missionary B.C., let’s have a short Bible exposition. Verse 57 – “Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.” In Psalm 16:5 David said, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance...

The Clock is Ticking – II Peter 3:10-12

I remember when I was quite young, visiting my grandmother, who was living with her brother, Uncle Creighton. They lived in a beautiful old house in the Kitsilano district of Vancouver, BC, not far from the beach. I would imagine that today that house would be worth...

The Fourth Dimension – II Peter 3:8

Ephesians 3:17-19 has always blessed my heart. Paul prayed for his Ephesians friends, as I believe the Holy Spirit would have led him to pray for us: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend...

The Coffers of the Scoffers – II Peter 3:5-7

Sometime in nineteenth century Germany, a children’s song was written which involved a silly conversation between “Heinrich und Liese.” Apparently the Pennsylvania Dutch brought it to this country, and it was eventually translated into English. Some of you...

Reiteration – This Second Epistle – II Peter 3:1-2

The famous violinist, with his Stradivarius, stepped onto the stage to a huge applause from the audience. But the acclamation at that point was not in expectation of hearing a great violin masterpiece. When he reached center stage he turned and motioned for a slight,...

Revival Pirates – II Peter 2:17-22

Let’s pretend that Peter was writing to a church that was experiencing, or beginning to experience, revival. Souls were being been saved – adults – some of whom professed earlier to have been believers. The waters of the Sea of Galilee, or some other lake or river,...

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – II Peter 2:9-16

Robert Louis Stevenson, author of “Treasure Island” and “Kidnapped” was a conflicted professing Christian. He was raised by a staunch Presbyterian father, but his nanny was much more evangelical. Stevenson, as a child heard the gospel. During university Stevenson...

God Knows, God Can and God Does – II Peter 2:9

A little boy grew up wanting to play professional baseball. As a child he lived baseball; he dreamed baseball, he watched baseball; he studied baseball. He played catch with his dad and his uncle. He played five hundred with the neighboring kids. He played baseball at...

Pseudo-Prophets – II Peter 2:1-3

When this epistle was first read, Peter’s friends they didn’t hear: “Now, let’s move to chapter two.” They simply heard – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:...

The Eternal Word’s Temporary Nature – II Peter 1:19

Peter was one of the most God-blessed of all the children of Adam. No, he wasn’t wealthy, but money is not necessarily a blessing from the Lord. And he wasn’t a powerful political figure. He didn’t become famous in secular history. He didn’t die peacefully in the arms...