James 3 (along with Matthew 5:9 and 12:33-37) show us the greatness of the tongue. It is a spark that can set a forest on fire. Some people enjoy setting fires (pyromaniacs). Some people are not consistent -- bearing olives and figs at the same time, blessing God and setting fires with the same mouth. And yet others will see a harvest of righteousness from their words that will give them assurance of faith. If we could just get the tongue under control, we could exercise self-control over the whole body. But what is impossible for us is possible for God.

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Labels: assurance, faith, James, Matthew, self-control, speaking

James 2 (also read Matthew 5:7 and 5:17-20) is fairly difficult to apply in a Presbyterian church. After all, most Presbyterians assume that the seats in the back pew are the seats of honor. In any case, this message encourages sharing the gospel with the poor in word and deed as signs of genuine faith. The two major themes are partiality and works.

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Labels: faith, good works, honor, James, Matthew, partiality

James 1 (like selections from Matthew 7) tells us that believers should ask God for wisdom, believers should hear and do the word of God, and that not all who claim faith have it. James, in particular, tells us that we can deceive ourselves concerning God's character and promises (especially under trial when we might accuse God of tempting us), by hearing and not doing the word, and with worthless religion rather than religion that is pure and undefiled before God (i.e. visiting orphans and widows). May these warnings encourage your growth in the grace of God.

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Labels: faith, James, Matthew, temptation, trial, warning

Matthew 28:1-15 shows us the tomb was empty and that the women saw Jesus. While everyone agrees that the tomb was empty on the first day of the week, the disagreement is over the reason it was empty. The sermon confronts you with the authority of the risen and reigning Lord Jesus. Sinners will interpret these things through sin-stained glasses, believers will respond to the statement "He is Risen" with "Risen indeed." May God give you grace to interpret these things as He does.


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Click here or the title to listen to the 11am sermon.

Labels: apologetics, christ, resurrection, tomb, word of God

Exodus 12:24-27, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, and Matthew 28:18-20 are the inspiration for these short comments on the nature of teaching by q and a (catechism). The q&a I suggest for the Lord's Supper is: Q. What do you mean by this service? A. It is the Lord's Supper. We proclaim the Lord's death until He comes as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Him. This answer does not address what all God does in and through this sacrament (which is not the question posed), just that we are proclaiming our faith in this Jesus by participating in this meal.


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Labels: catechism, Lord's Supper

Matthew 27:32-54 shows us the third temptation again but now on the lips of the seed of Satan: "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." It was a temptation of "save yourself." We too are often tempted to try to save ourselves rather than to depend on the salvation Christ accomplished. The Judas method was to try to fix it himself by offering his own blood for atonement. The Pilate method was to wash his hands of it and pass the blame onto others. Neither way works. Your blood, sweat and tears cannot save you. You cannot save yourself or ignore your sins and thereby make everything ok. Depend on God for grace and salvation.

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Labels: atonement, christ, cross, death, Judas, Pilate, salvation, temptation

Matthew 26:57-75 is a powerful passage to equip the saints to share the good news (aka evangelism). After addressing how we should not put Jesus on trial with the unbeliever as a judge of the evidence, we see that we (like Peter) are the ones on trial. Of course, our trial is not even close to the amount of pressure Jesus was under. May we not deny Him but share about our relationship with Him to any and everyone.

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Labels: evangelism, judge, Matthew, peter, trial