Feb 2, 2017 | Wednesday
The church in Corinth was one of Paul’s thorns in the flesh. Obviously it should not have been, but it was what it was. The church was prosperous in the things of the world, but it also rife with spiritual poverty. It appears to have been relatively large, but that...
Jan 26, 2017 | Wednesday
I was talking to Bro. Martinson yesterday, and missionary David Brainard came up. Bro. Chris was just finishing re-reading Brainard’s biography – which is taken from notes in his journal. The man died quite young from the effects of tuberculosis. But it might be...
Jan 19, 2017 | Wednesday
How large were the churches in the New Testament? What were their attendance & membership numbers? The church in Philippi had started with a Jewish lady’s prayer meeting, but then God began to bless. Through persecution the church became well-known in town. By the...
Jan 12, 2017 | Wednesday
Solomon has spent six chapters describing life in some of its darkest shades. “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among man.” Actually there are lots of evils under the sun, which the news throws into our faces night after...
Jan 5, 2017 | Wednesday
If we, as Baptists, had a symbol, what do you think it ought to be? I suppose one of the symbols of Catholicism might be the crucifix. Taking the image of Christ off the crucifix, would we want the cross to be our symbol? It is so highly abused today, that frankly,...
Dec 29, 2016 | Wednesday
This verse came to my mind yesterday, as I was out blowing and shoveling the snow. To be honest, I misquoted it – I said to myself, “Hast thou considered the beauty of the snow?” That thought morphed into what might become a devotional message for tonight....
Dec 22, 2016 | Wednesday
An old businessman was asked about the key to his success: He said, “I discovered at early age that most of the difference between average people and people at the top can be explained in three words. The top people did what was expected of them – and then...
Dec 15, 2016 | Wednesday
There is a great deal about which I marvel when I look at the Lord Jesus. There are things for which I have no explanation, because of their complexity. He is God. On the other hand, there are things about which I am confused because of their simplicity. For example,...
Dec 8, 2016 | Wednesday
Paul loved the church in Philippi. He seemed to be closer to this group people than to most other churches. We can see his affection beginning in the first chapter and extending throughout. “I thank by God upon every remembrance of you.” “I have you...
Dec 1, 2016 | Wednesday
Fads come, and fads go. I remember one from my high school and college days; and perhaps you remember it too. I haven’t heard it mentioned in some time, so maybe it has passed away just as many fads do. But then again, maybe I’m just too old, and not running around in...
Nov 24, 2016 | Wednesday
The calendar tells us that this is “Thanksgiving Week.” But we know that beyond the day-off from work there is very little genuine thanksgiving. And you know that Friday is extremely important in the world of commerce. Also the ink of Black Friday has been...
Nov 17, 2016 | Wednesday
This Psalm divides roughly into two pieces. The first half is an hymn and is directed towards the Lord. The second half is more like a sermon and is directed towards people like us. You’ll notice that the title tells us that it came out of David’s deliverance from the...
Nov 10, 2016 | Wednesday
When Moses came down from the top of Sinai carrying the law, his face glowed with the radiance of God. It was as if his skin was made of coated glass and there burning phosphorus was just underneath. He had to put a veil over his face before the people of Israel would...
Nov 3, 2016 | Wednesday
If you came to me after the service, telling me that you had a desperate need for $100.00, there is a very good chance that I would give it to you. In the bank at this moment, I have an extra $100.00, and I could give it to you tomorrow. But then let’s say that next...
Oct 27, 2016 | Wednesday
In the Olympics there are some contests which look a bit awkward or strange. For example, there is the hammer toss, but the thing thrown doesn’t look anything like my hammers. It is not a claw hammer, or a sledge hammer. Someone might want to throw a ball-peen...
