Oct. 7, 2016 (Reader’s Bible, Internet Usage, & Sabotaging Sermons)

Below are a few items from the past week worth reading. ESV Reader's Bible, Six-Volume Set I love the concept of a Bible designed entirely for reading. The Westminster Bookstore also has a sale on this set throughout October. An Apology to Christian Millennials I am sorry that we made the church to be all about you …

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Should Christians Use Self-Defense?

Preaching through the Sermon on the Mount is providing great material for blog posts because Jesus raises far too many topics and issues to cover from the pulpit in the 16 weeks I have planned for the series. Last week, I attempted to expound upon remarriage since questions of remarriage are raised from Jesus' discussion of divorce. …

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What’s Your Plan for 2017?

It's officially October, which means that 2016 is circling the drain. Time to start thinking about 2017. Why plan for the next year in October? Let's be honest. The Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year season is not very conducive for realistically planning the coming year. The holidays are a blur of busyness, and January ends up catching us …

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Oaths, Retaliation, & Loving Our Enemies | Matthew 5:33-48

SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matthew 5:37) But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone …

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Sept. 30, 2016

Below are a few articles that I found beneficial this past week. 5 Ways To Not Suck at Sharing About Jesus We mean well and want to share about Jesus with our friends, but an invitation without relational investment is a sales pitch. 7 Reasons Why Faithful Church Attendance Matters “I love Jesus but not …

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Is Remarriage After Divorce Sin?

Divorce sucks. And many know it firsthand. Unfortunately, the sting of divorce is rampant. If you haven't felt it personally, chances are you've felt it through friends or family. Since it is, by nature, the destruction of a covenant of the utmost intimacy, divorce is never a light or easy topic. This Sunday, I preached, in part, over …

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Anger, Lust, & Divorce | Matthew 5:21-32

SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to …

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Sept. 23, 2016

Repentance: Running to the Greatest of All Treasures This fits pretty well with the theme of my most recent post. The proper response to the gospel is to repent (Acts 2:38). The question is, have you repented? If you haven’t repented in such a way that you’ve turned to Jesus by faith, your so-called repentance …

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a thought on repentance, obedience, & the Law

I've wrestled with this question a lot. Though I was saved at an early age, I didn't fully understand the gospel (especially the eternal security of believers) until I was in college. As a kid, I truly wanted to live a Christ-like life, I knew I was a sinner, and I believed that Christ died …

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Christ and the Law | Matthew 5:17-20

SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until …

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