The Endurance of God's Promises

Introduction

As we read the verses this morning, I admit that my mind wandered a bit. And though I'm not proud of what I thought about, I admit that ...

Your Best Life Is Not Now

Introduction

This room is full of hopes: fans hoping for a championship season, all of us hoping for another beautiful summer. Hopes can be more personal, ...

God Uses Suffering for Our Good

Introduction

I remember standing next to the late Joan Rivers. It was May 2006, and I had been in Sydney, Australia, preaching in some Anglican churches ...

Christians Aren't Always Happy

Introduction

You may have come here this morning seeking happiness. In one sense, how could you not? Seeking happiness is as natural for us as our desire ...

The Power of Spiritual Deception

Introduction

Jim Jones was the founder of the People's Temple. More than 900 of Jim Jones' followers died in a cult murder/suicide in 1978 in Jonestown, ...

How God Brings Light into a Dark Situation

Introduction

Today we will be looking at 1 Samuel 2:12-36, although we'll focus on verses 12-26. About a year ago now, the Arab Spring was just starting, ...

Broken and Repentant

Introduction

Last week I talked about the road to compromise and the road to integrity. We are either on one or the other. David eventually walked the ...

Ignoring Clear Directions

Introduction

I'm known among my family and friends for having a terrible sense of direction. It doesn't matter whether I am driving or walking. It doesn't ...

Renouncing Bitterness

The family of King David is in horrible disarray. Among other problems, David's third son Absalom launches a rebellion against his dad. David is forced ...

A Heartbeat from Disaster

Introduction

In this particular passage of Scripture, the nation of Israel, to the north, has fallen so far from God's desire and purpose that he has ...

Learning from Tiger Woods

From the editor

In late November 2009, a series of events led to a bevy of stories about infidelities on the part of golf's greatest player, Tiger ...

The Writing on the Wall

From the editor

William Willimon tackles the difficult subject of God's temporal judgment in a direct yet conversational way. He begins by mentioning Rabbi ...

Annihilate the Amalekites

From the editor:

One of the chief hang-ups people have with God is the wrath he pours out in the Old Testament. How can a loving God call for the slaying ...

It's About the People

Introduction

Recently our church softball thoroughly trounced our opponents. The game ended with what's called the mercy rule: when one team is ahead ...

Why Would a Good God Send People to Hell?

Introduction

I thought long and hard about a clever, lighthearted way to introduce this morning's message. I thought about praying for a really hot day ...

The Danger of a Strong Faith and a Weak Theology

Introduction

Jessica Ann Liberger was a 5-week-old baby girl who made it into the nation's press. Jessica came down with pneumonia, and her father, John ...

Expect God's Visitation

Introduction

In Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge lies down on Christmas Eve hoping to enjoy a good night's rest. In the course ...

A Crop Is A Crop

Introduction

We've been considering what it means to be jars of clay—ordinary, fragile people living in a difficult and dangerous world. The message ...

Above All Earthly Powers

Introduction

Martin Luther's famous Reformation hymn, "A Mighty Fortress," is about the triumph of God over all the attacks of Satan, including his attack ...

You Can't Fool the Lord

Introduction

One of the ministers at this church the television show 24 because of the things that Jack Bauer never has to do: eat, charge his cell phone, ...

The Story of Our Broken World

Introduction

When I was about ten years old, my dad, a medical doctor, received a special gift from one of his patients: a beautiful globe with shiny sequins. ...

Why Is There So Much Suffering and Evil in the World?

Introduction

Here are two photos, both showing scenes from two earthquakes of similar magnitude that happened within just days of each other just last ...

Wise up

Introduction:

Today we're beginning a new series called "Get Smart." This ten part series is about living a success life, about getting it together and ...

When God Makes Everything New

Series Title: Heaven: Nothing Could Be Better

Series Subtitle: Understanding the details and desirability of the age to come

Series Texts: Revelation 21:1–21; ...

The Bridal City

Series Title: Heaven: Nothing Could Be Better

Series Subtitle: Understanding the details and desirability of the age to come

Series Texts: Revelation 21:1–21; ...

Where the Sun Will Never Go Down

Series Title: Heaven: Nothing Could Be Better

Series Subtitle: Understanding the details and desirability of the age to come

Series Texts: Revelation 21:1–21; ...

Shall We Gather at the River?

Series Title: Heaven: Nothing Could Be Better

Series Subtitle: Understanding the details and desirability of heaven

Series Texts: Revelation 21:1–21; ...

Coming Soon!

Series Title: Heaven: Nothing Could Be Better

Series Subtitle: Understanding the details and desirability of heaven

Series Texts: Revelation 21:1–21; ...

Choices

Introduction

Life has been described by many as a series of choices. That's partly true. Obviously there are times when our lives are impacted by things ...

Sin 101: Why Sin Matters

I'd like to read you a quote from an interview with someone named Brian Warner:

Initially I was drawn into the darker side of life. But it's really just ...

Hung Up in Bitterness

The family of King David is in horrible disarray. Among other problems, David's third son Absalom launches a rebellion against his dad. David is forced ...