The Advent Season is upon us! You may have never heard of Advent, but it’s been celebrated by Christians through the ages. Some churches – and some families – use an Advent Wreath to observe this special time. Some families use an Advent Calendar that counts down to Christmas Day. The word Advent comes to…
Several years ago, Barbara Walters asked Katherine Hepburn, “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you like to be?” As you read today’s Bible reading, let me ask, “Which church do you think you are? Which church would you like to be?” John takes Jesus’ dictation for the letters to the seven…
Practicing what I preached on Sunday. I’m not going to say, “Happy Thanksgiving”. Instead, I’ll say, “Be thankful”. We have so many things to be thankful for: God and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus alone, God’s Word, the air we breathe, the food we eat, our friends and family, our church community, our…
In today’s Bible reading, Peter paints a very sad picture of the state of the false teachers. Worship leader and songwriter, Billy Foote’s latest song, “All the Wolves” paraphrases Peter’s words. Destructive heresies. Greed. Made up stories. Bold arrogant people. Slander. Spots. Blemishes. Delighting in their deceptions. Eyes full of adultery, never stopping to look…
In today’s Bible reading, Paul says that those who are unwilling to work shouldn’t eat. In other words, Believers aren’t to be freeloaders. Now, is that a cut-and-dried statement? Or is it a principle? I think Paul intended this to be a principle. It comes down to a person’s heart, his/her motivations. If a person…
As we continue along our path of uniting two church bodies into one, it’s appropriate to look at the prayers like the one that Paul prayed for the Thessalonian church in today’s Bible reading. Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause…
