Watts in the Word

The latter part of David’s life is marked by civil war, conflict, strife, and a lot of pain, stemming from David’s poor choices and God’s discipline. But in the midst of all his sorrow, we also see God’s grace and mercy toward David. How do the kindness and severity of God weave together at the … Continue reading The Kindness and Severity of God

2 Samuel 11-16 are the low points of David’s life: sinning with Bathsheba followed by several devastating consequences and the fallout of family discord and civil war. But out of this terrible time comes one of the most powerful Psalms. What can we learn from Psalm 51 and how can we read it prophetically as … Continue reading A Clean Heart

The book of Psalms has a complicated relationship with foretelling. Some parts of it clearly tell the future in the vein of one of the prophets like Isaiah or Jeremiah, but a lot of the prophecy in the book is more subtle. The Psalms are full of “dual prophetic fulfillment” – prophecy that meant one … Continue reading Reading the Psalms Prophetically

2 Samuel 7 is one of the key chapters of the Bible, akin to Abraham’s call in Genesis 12 or the beginning of the gospels. The promise made to David is a recurring theme throughout the rest of the story of Israel. Why is this chapter so pivotal, and how does it connect to the … Continue reading The Kingdom Covenant

The book of Psalms spans a thousand years of Israelite history, and is the greatest collection of songs and prayers to Yahweh ever assembled. How was this collection assembled, why was it structured the way it was, and how can we begin to use this incredible resource in our own lives? Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading Overview of the Psalms

After Saul’s rebellion and rejection, God told Samuel he would choose a new king after his own heart. What did God mean by this, what made David such a person, and how can we emulate the heart of David? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on this history of early Israel. This sermon was preached at … Continue reading A Man After God’s Own Heart

Israel’s first king arrived at the tail end of a sequence of bad leadership in Israel. But while things started out well for Saul, they quickly devolved into similar patterns of failed rule. What can we learn from the first king’s successes and failures, and how much should we relate to his struggles? Click Here … Continue reading The First King

The period of the judges lasted for more than three centuries between Joshua’s death and the anointing of Saul as the first king. During this time, the pattern of human rebellion and God’s redemption was solidified in Israel, and stands as an example to Christians today. What can we learn about the cycle of rebellion … Continue reading Rebellion and Redemption

There is a mysterious recurring figure in the Old Testament: “The Angel of Yahweh” appears at several critical points in the narrative to guide, support, and direct the people of Israel. What is so special about the angel, and what distinguishes him from other angels in the Bible? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through the … Continue reading The Angel of Yahweh

The story of Joshua is full of war, conflict, and strife. As Israel was about to cross the Jordan and enter the promised land, Joshua was repeatedly told to “be strong and courageous.” What reasons did God give him to be so, and how does Joshua’s need for strength and courage mirror our own? Click … Continue reading Be Strong and Courageous

(Note: you can find links for the maps mentioned in this sermon below.) As we transition from the Pentateuch to the so-called books of history in the Old Testament, Israel is transitioning from their wilderness wanderings into the promised land. How did they enter, how did their early encounters with the inhabitants go, and how … Continue reading Entering Canaan

Jesus, immediately after claiming that he came not to abolish, but fulfill the law of Moses, proceeded to make what seems to be pretty major alterations to the law in Matthew 5-6. What did he mean by claiming to “fulfill” the law, and how should we understand his teaching about the things that were told … Continue reading You Have Heard that it was Said

Deuteronomy, in addition to being a summary and recap of the law given through Moses, serves as Moses’s farewell address to Israel. At the end of his life, Moses was predominantly concerned with how Israel would keep God’s covenant after he was gone. Deuteronomy contains his admonition and encouragement for Israel to keep the covenant. … Continue reading Keeping Covenant With God

While there certainly are a lot of numbers in the book of Numbers, a better title for the book might be the Jewish one: In the Desert. The narrative sections focus on Israel’s struggles to obey the Law they had just received through Moses, and their journeys in the desert as a result. But our … Continue reading The Struggle to Obey

This is the second part of our consideration of how the modern Christian should relate to the law of Moses. If there is so much difference between the laws of Moses and Christ, why was the law of Moses given at all? If Christ was always the plan, why didn’t God just jump straight to … Continue reading Why Then The Law?

It’s important that modern Christians do not neglect a study of the Law of Moses, for in it we learn much about the character and nature of the God we serve. What can we learn about God from a study of Leviticus, and how should such a study affect us today? Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading God’s Character in the Law

Inevitably as a person reads through the Law of Moses in Exodus-Deuteronomy, the many, many differences between that law and what would later come through Jesus and his apostles become glaring. How can we explain and understand the differences between God’s expectations for the Israelites, and his expectations of his people today? And why do … Continue reading The Law of Moses vs The Law of Christ

While there are literally hundreds of laws in the Law of Moses, the first ten are called out as especially significant. What makes them so special, and how have they continually resonated with God’s people over the course of millennia? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the Law of Moses. This sermon was preached at … Continue reading The Ten Commandments

In our journey through the story of the Bible we have come to Exodus. The first half of the book is God’s grand revealing of his name, character, and power – not just to the Israelites, but to the world. In this revealing, God establishes patterns that will reoccur throughout the rest of the Bible … Continue reading That You May Know

The second in our two-part lesson on the problem of pain approaches the problem in a more traditional, critical way: given the nature of God, his power, love, and knowledge, how can evil and suffering still exist? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the problem of evil. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading The Problem of Pain, Part 2

This is the first of a two-part lesson on the problem of suffering and pain in the world. This first part comes from Job: what can we learn about suffering and the problem of pain in our lives from Job and his discussion with his friends? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Job. This sermon … Continue reading The Problem of Pain, Part 1

The story of Joseph is at the heart of a lot of Yahweh’s providential work in Genesis and Exodus. How did God work to bring Joseph into a position of influence, and what did God accomplish by doing so. Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Genesis. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of … Continue reading God Meant it For Good

As we begin our journey through the Bible, it might be helpful to consider some broad ideas about the Bible: it’s composition, structure, themes, and genres. How can we become more “acquainted with the sacred writings” (2 Timothy 3:15)? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through the story of the Bible. This sermon was preached at … Continue reading Overview of the Bible

The grouping of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob appears around 20 times throughout the Bible, often called “the fathers.” As we read through their stories in Genesis, what made them the kind of people God could use to put his great plan of redemption into motion? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through the story of the … Continue reading The Patriarchs

This year we are reading through the Bible in a year, and the sermons each week will go along with the reading. We begin with the first 11 chapters of Genesis, the “introduction” or “prologue” to the story of the Bible before the narrative thread begins with Abram’s call in Genesis 12. How do these … Continue reading Order and Chaos

We conclude our series on the work and identity of Jesus with one of the most used, and perhaps most misunderstood, titles of Jesus – the Christ. What does “Christ” mean, and why is it so important? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the work and identity of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading Jesus the Christ

We have talked a lot about who Jesus was, but we also need to consider who Jesus is. That is to say, what is Jesus doing right now, as you read this? What is his current identity and work? And how should we be thinking about Jesus, our Savior in the present tense? Click Here … Continue reading Jesus the Intercessor

Paul calls the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus “of first importance” in the gospel message. Why is the resurrection so important? What does it do and mean for us? What would the life and teaching of Jesus be without it? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the work and life of Jesus. This sermon … Continue reading Jesus the Risen

Note: There was a lot of trouble with the recording equipment during this sermon – sorry.Ezekiel 37 is one of the most vivid word-pictures of God’s redemptive and transformative work in the whole Bible. What does Ezekiel’s vision tell us about God’s power and work, and how does this vision apply to the modern reader? … Continue reading The Valley of Dry Bones

No study of the life, work, and identity of Jesus can be complete without considering the central work of his life – his sacrifice. Why did he sacrifice himself, what made him the ideal and necessary sacrifice for our sins, and what did his sacrifice do for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the … Continue reading Jesus the Sacrifice

Ezekiel 18 is one of the most concentrated sections of teaching on personal responsibility and accountability in the whole Bible. How does it fit into the context of the Israelite covenant with God, and how does it connect with the vital truths of the gospel? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ezekiel. This sermon was … Continue reading The Soul Who Sins Shall Die

Given Jesus’s awesome power and authority on display all throughout his ministry, in miracles and his teaching, it would be easy to come away with the wrong idea about his purpose on earth, as his disciples did. Why did Jesus claim to be a servant? What made him such a servant, despite his power and … Continue reading Jesus the Servant

The word “bridegroom” is only used to describe Jesus a couple times in the Gospels, but the analogy of marriage describing our relationship to God is used throughout the Bible. In what way is Jesus like a bridegroom, and what does this mean for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the work and identity … Continue reading Jesus the Bridegroom

Healing was by far the most common miraculous work of Jesus. Why did he heal, what did it mean to the people of his day, and what does his healing power mean for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the work and identity of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of … Continue reading Jesus the Healer

Ezekiel, like most of the prophetic books, is full of Yahweh’s judgment and condemnation of Israel. What exactly were they doing that profaned his holy name so much? And how might we be in danger of the same kinds of actions and attitudes? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching in Ezekiel. This sermon was preached at … Continue reading Profaning Yahweh

One of the central themes in the book of Ezekiel is the need to have a reverent regard for God’s particular specialness, expressed in the twin ideas of glory and holiness. How do these ideas intertwine in Ezekiel to help us understand why the book was even written at all? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching … Continue reading They Will Know that I Am Yahweh

The word “teacher” had a special meaning in first-century Israel, beyond our normal everyday use of the word. It was the third most common title for Jesus in the gospels, indicating its significance to the people around him. In what way was Jesus “the Teacher” and why is it so important for us? Click Here … Continue reading Jesus the Teacher

John opens his gospel with a peculiar title for Jesus: “the Word.” John repeats this title toward the end of the New Testament, in Revelation. What does this title of Jesus mean, and how does it relate to his work and authority? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the work and identity of Jesus. This … Continue reading Jesus the Word

“The Son” is a complicated title of Jesus, a shortening of two separate titles, each of which is used in a variety of ways throughout the Bible. How does “Jesus the Son” apply to our own lives? What can we learn from this part of Jesus’s identity? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the identity … Continue reading Jesus the Son

Ezekiel contains many memorable analogies, symbols, and word-pictures, but perhaps none of them is so applicable to the modern Christian as the watchman analogy in Ezekiel 3 and 33. What was this analogy used for in Ezekiel, and how does it apply to us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ezekiel. This sermon was preached … Continue reading The Watchman in Exile

Having just finished a series on “Developing an Identity in Christ”, we transition to thinking about Christ – who was he? Who is he? Like anyone else, the identity of Jesus is composed of many different facets. We will begin with the most basic part of the identity of Jesus – his Jewishness. Click Here … Continue reading Jesus the Jew

We begin our study of Ezekiel (as we usually begin book studies) by examining the historical and political context of Ezekiel’s life and visions. What was going on at the time Ezekiel prophesied, and who was his original audience? How does this matter for the modern reader? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ezekiel. This … Continue reading Introduction to Ezekiel

As we develop our identity in Christ, there is room for us to maintain our unique personality and to develop individual identities as followers of the master. How can we maintain the core of discipleship to Christ while retaining the things that make us who we are? And how does God want to use us … Continue reading Who Am I Personally?

We make a lot of decisions about how we present ourselves to the world that we might describe as aesthetics, or style, or a vibe. Does God care how we present ourselves to the world? What role do our aesthetic choices play in cultivating a holy identity in Christ? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on … Continue reading Who Am I Aesthetically?

The last five chapters of the book of Judges doesn’t really seem to fit with the rest of the book. There are no judges, and the stories exist seemingly devoid of context. But these chapters serve as a conclusion that reinforces and solidifies the main themes of the book as a whole. What can we … Continue reading An Israel Without YHWH

The story of Samson is both heroic and tragic. Samson’s supernatural strength creates several memorable moments, but his lack of any other kind of strength led him into sorrow, anger, and despair. What can we learn from this tragic judge? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Judges. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading A Study of Strength

In many ways humans are defined by their relationships to others. It can be easy to allow our individual identities to be subsumed by these connections. How does God expect our relationships to influence our identities, and how can we develop an identity in Christ while also righteously connecting with others? Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading Who Am I Relationally?

The story of Judges is one of a steady decline in Israel away from God and further into unrighteousness. The judges themselves were not exempt from this digression. The sequence of Gideon-Jephthah-Samson highlights how even the leaders in Israel fell further and further from God. What can we learn from Jephthah’s failure? Click Here to … Continue reading A Failed Judge

Politics dominates modern discourse, but what exactly are politics. What makes something political? And, most importantly, what does God expect of the Christian in regards to politics? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 1, 2024.)

Most adults spend most of their waking hours at work, so it’s not surprising that working or professional identity becomes a central part of our sense of self. But what is the point of work in the Bible? What does God have to say about the role of work in our identity? Click Here to … Continue reading Who Am I Professionally?

It’s not saying anything special to note that sexuality is at the heart of a lot of modern life, from advertising to politics to entertainment and culture. What does God have to say about human sexuality and gender, and how can we fit our sense of self into God’s design for humanity? Click Here to … Continue reading Who Am I Sexually?