INTRODUCTION:Most psalms of affliction begin with the problem and work through to the solution of faith—there is a story arc to the psalm. One of them is grim and gray from beginning to end (Ps. 88). But this psalm is all confidence, from the first words to the end of the psalm. The troubles are …
Keeping to the Point
“Preach sermons that are focused upon a central idea. Shave off any and all extraneous data. Keep the main idea the main point of your sermon” (Edwards, Deep Preaching, p. 61).
A Rock That Is Higher Than I
A SEVENTH DECADE OF PSALMS INTRODUCTION:This is a psalm of David in a time of affliction. Because he is likely king at this time (see v. 6), and because he longs to be restored to the tabernacle (v. 4), it would be safest to locate this psalm as being written during the time of Absalom’s …
Child Communion and the Keys II
INTRODUCTION: As you are bringing your children up in the covenant, your operating assumption ought to be that your God is their God, and that they are, adjusting for levels of maturity, faithful covenant members. Your attitude should not be that of assuming that “your sweet baby” must be converted despite a sullenness that ascends …
And Not All of Them Wonder That Much
“Too many preachers treat sermons as lectures or term papers. Too many preachers view God as a subject to be understood, analyzed, and discussed. They cut God open on an autopsy table and wonder why their sermons are dead” (Edwards, Deep Preaching, p. 53).
Child Communion & the Keys I
INTRODUCTION:As anyone who has worshiped with us can see, it is our practice to include our baptized children with us in our celebration of the Lord’s Supper. We do not want to be superstitious about it, as though the elements of bread and wine were magic, but it is a routine practice for us to …
But Shallow Ones Can Be
“Deep sermons cannot be preached by shallow people” (Edwards, Deep Preaching, p. 43).
Invaluable Presence
“The apostle Paul was convinced that preaching had a unique ability to accomplish spiritually what no other form of communication could do. That is why he wrote to the church of Rome, ‘I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome.’ Don’t miss the obvious here. Paul wrote this …
Conservative and Progressive
INTRODUCTION:This is Ascension Sunday, which means that we are going to be reminded of the absolute authority of the Lord Jesus Christ in every realm. Because we are currently in a political season, and we are in this season in a time that is politically swollen, we need to come to the Scriptures as the …
Son of Jonah
In the famous exchange between Jesus and Peter after the resurrection (John 21:15ff), a lot of attention is paid to the question about the word for love that Jesus uses. While that is a worthwhile question, I think we should also spend some time on the fact that Jesus calls Peter “the son of Jonah” …