Psalms 1-2
Preface to God’s Hymnal – Psalm 1 Have you ever read the preface to the hymnal used in your church? Very few people ever do. All we’re concerned about is singing the songs. The preface to God’s hymnal (the Book of Psalms) is Psalm 1. It begins with a word we use so often—blessed. God
The Gentile Ministry To The Jews (Part 2)
The Future: Protecting and Preparing Now let’s consider the future. How is God going to use the Gentiles in Israel’s future? Let me remind you that Israel does have a future. One of my great homiletical heroes is Dr. G Campbell Morgan. I love to read his sermons. In one of his letters, however, he
The Gentile Ministry To The Jews (Part 1)
(A message delivered to the International Board of Jewish Missions in April 1986) I rejoice that in the three churches I have pastured, I have had the joy of baptizing Jewish believers, Hebrew Christians. Having them in our congregations, we know that they are a very special kind of people, and we thank the Lord
A Lesson in Sympathy, Humility (Part 2)
Luke 14:1-14 It is one thing to have ambition, but quite another thing to be selfishly ambitions for position and power. The man with true ambition will prepare himself, be faithful in his work, and watch for God-given opportunities for growth and advancement. He knows there are no successful shortcuts to the top. The ambitious
A Lesson in Sympathy, Humility…(Part 1)
Luke 14:1-14 How many times have you seen this motto hanging on the wall in a Christian home? “Jesus Christ is the head of this home, the silent listener to every conversation, the unseen guest at every meal.” These are worthy sentiments, and the consciousness of these truths would make us easier to live with
M Is For Maverick (Part 2)
That Maverick Paul In his unconverted days, rabbi Saul of Tarsus did what any other devout Jew would have done: he promoted and protected the Jewish faith and persecuted the Jesus movement. Sensible Jews all knew that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified and that the disciples stole the body from the tomb and hid
M is For Maverick (Part 1)
Certain people in history say or do something special or different and as a result they become eponyms. An eponym is a person whose name is in the dictionary because that name has a special meaning based on something significant in a person’s life. For example, the word “doily” comes from the Doily family in
The Believer: The Glory Of Surrender Part 2
James emphasized to us the glory of suffering. James would say to us, “Be willing to suffer and don’t worry about the future. Never worry about what God has planned. It is all in His good and gracious hand. But just be willing to suffer for the Lord Jesus.” We should not suffer because we
The Believer The Glory of Surrender Part 1
We come now to our final study on the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 17. In this chapter, I want to make all of these truths we have learned practical in our lives. I want to summarize and apply the lessons we have learned. We must follow five instructions if
Elijah: The Glory of Separation (Part 2)
As you and I go through this life, we have to maintain separation. Why? To glorify God. Elijah emphasized the glory of separation. Elijah, the servant of God, had separated himself from the sins of the nations around him. He challenged the priest of Baal to a contest. He said, in effect, “Whichever god answers
Elijah: The Glory of Separation (Part 1)
In an earlier chapter we noted that from the Greek word for “transfigure” comes our English word “metamorphosis.” It means “a change on the outside that comes from the inside.” When that little larva forms its cocoon and waits, nature performs a marvelous miracle. God made it that way. The creature that emerges is a
Moses: The Glory of Service (Part 2)
Moses gives us a second encouragement. God’s glory will not only sustain you, but God’s glory will also change you. Do you want to know the best way to grow as a Christian? It’s this—serve God. For seven years it was my privilege to pastor the Moody Church in Chicago, and I read extensively about