Watts in the Word

Most of the names and titles of God that we have considered have been much more common in the Old Testament, but calling God our Father is a much more common New Testament phenomenon. Why did the Old Testament writers refrain from this language, and why is it so common in the New Testament? What … Continue reading God the Father

Perhaps the largest technological gulf between our era and the era of the New Testament writers is the internet. What wisdom does James have to offer for the social media era, and how should modern Christians behave online? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through James. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading When Words are Many

Next in our study of names and titles of God is “shepherd,” one of the most famous descriptions of God, and the way he interacts with his people. What does this title imply about God’s behavior and intentions toward us, and how should it affect our behavior today? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on names … Continue reading The Lord is My Shepherd

The second chapter of James is all about consistency; in how we judge and treat people, in how we think about ourselves and God, and the alignment of our thoughts, beliefs, words, and actions. Why is consistency so hard to cultivate, and why is it so important? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on James. This … Continue reading Consistent Christianity

The book of James has been called “the Proverbs of the New Testament” because James uses many of the same stylistic and thematic elements of it’s Old Testament counterpart. How does this ancient wisdom, written 2,000 years ago, have any bearing on the technological and cultural complexities of modern life? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching … Continue reading Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life

There is an argument to be made that the last in our series on Christian fundamentals in Ephesians 4 and Hebrews 6 could have been the one we started with, because it is so basic to the gospel. If the gospel is the “good news” of Jesus, then eternal judgment is the underlying fact that … Continue reading Eternal Judgment

In many ways, the concept of “one body” in Ephesians 4 is a culmination or logical conclusion to the existence of the other “elementary doctrines of Christ” we have thus far examined in this series. What does Paul mean by “one body” and how should we think about this concept today? Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading One Body

One of the more popular titles, especially among certain prophets in Israel, is Yahweh of Hosts (or more familiarly “the Lord of Hosts”). Where did this title come from, why did it become so popular among the prophets, and how should modern readers relate to it today? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on names and … Continue reading Yahweh of Hosts

Of all the things in the combined lists in Ephesians 4 and Hebrews 6, perhaps none is so controversial as “one baptism” in Ephesians 4 (ironic since it’s a list of unifying Christian principles). What are we to make of Paul’s statement, contrasted with the Hebrews writer referring to “instructions about washings”? Click Here to … Continue reading One Baptism

Next in our list of Christian fundamentals is one that only appears in Hebrews 6: repentance from dead works. What is repentance, where does it come from in the Christian heart, and what should it look like in our lives? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian fundamentals. This sermon was preached at the Dewey … Continue reading Repentance from Dead Works

It’s apparent from a cursory glance through the New Testament that the act of believing or having faith is an essential part of fellowship with Christ. But what does Paul mean when he says there is “one faith” in Ephesians 4? One faith versus what other faiths? What kinds of faith? How should this principle … Continue reading One Faith

When Moses asks God very directly what his name is in Exodus 3, God does give him a very specific answer. What does he tell Moses, what does it mean, and how should we think about this name of God today? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the names and titles of God. This sermon … Continue reading Names of God: Yahweh

Out of the combined lists in Ephesians 4 and Hebrews 6, the one that stands out the most as puzzling to modern readers is “the laying on of hands.” What makes this an “elementary doctrine of Christ” and how does this relate to the “one Spirit” as a basis of Christian unity? Click Here to … Continue reading One Spirit

Second in our series on Christian fundamentals is “One Lord” from Ephesians 4, combined with a partial examination of “the Resurrection from the Dead” in Hebrews 6. Jesus of Nazareth is our “one Lord,” but why? What give him the right to rule, and how should people today respond to his rule? Click Here to … Continue reading One Lord

This is the first in a series on some of the names and titles of God (of which there are many), hopefully to bring us into a deeper appreciation of our Creator’s majesty and to help us consider how we might be represent him on earth. We begin with the most basic word: “God.” Click … Continue reading The Names of God

This is the first in a series on the basics of Christianity, using a combined list drawn from the “Seven Ones” in Ephesians 4 and the “elementary doctrine of Christ” in Hebrews 6. We begin this series with a consideration of “One God and Father” from Ephesians and “Faith Toward God” from Hebrews. Click Here … Continue reading Fundamentals of the Faith

Jesus uses two analogies in Matthew 5 to describe his followers and his expectations for them. What do these analogies have in common, and what kind of behaviors should they describe in the life of the modern Christian? Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 14, … Continue reading Salt and Light

In some ways God’s work to restore creation is at the heart of the whole Bible story from the opening chapters of Genesis to the closing of Revelation. The image of the church as a new creation in Christ is a vital part of the larger story of God’s renewing work. How do we fit … Continue reading A New Creation

When considering different images or analogies of the church, none is more common than that of a family. It is so common, in fact, that it may be inappropriate to think of it as an analogy at all; it seems to be simply the default way that the writers of the New Testament thought about … Continue reading The Family of God

The metaphor of spiritual warfare is at the heart of the Christian life and our struggle with sin, the Devil, and temptation. In what way is a Christian like a soldier, and what does the image of war and fighting mean for our daily walk with Jesus? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on images of … Continue reading The Lord’s Army

1 Kings 3 contains a heart-wrenching story of loss and love centered around two mothers. Using this story as a launching point, what does a real mother look like in the Bible? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on mothers day. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 10, 2026.)

The third chapter of Ruth contains what is perhaps the most confusing scene in the whole story. Why does Naomi instruct Ruth to behave the way she does, and what can we learn from Ruth and Boaz’s actions in the story? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ruth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey … Continue reading An Unusual Proposal

The image of the church as branches of a tree or a vine is one of the less common in Scripture, but it is instructive nonetheless. What does this analogy teach us about our relationship with Jesus and our job as his followers? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached … Continue reading The Branches

The image of the church as a flock of sheep is perhaps the least flattering one in all of Scripture. This comparison goes back a long way, to God’s relationship with the Israelites and their leaders. What can we learn from Israel’s use of this analogy, Jesus’s adoption of it, and the early Church’s continuation … Continue reading The Flock

The second chapter of Ruth introduces a new pivotal character to the narrative; the wealthy and honorable Boaz, described in the ESV as “a worthy man.” What made Boaz so worthy, and what should we learn from his attitudes and behavior? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ruth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey … Continue reading A Worthy Man

The image of the church as a “body” is one of the most common word-pictures in the New Testament. Why is it so prevalent, and what does it mean for how we think about and act in God’s kingdom? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading The Body of Christ

Ruth 1 is a devastating chapter, as the narrative jumps right into tragedy in Naomi’s life and her response to that tragedy. What do we learn about Naomi’s mental and spiritual state, and what can we take away from her conversations with her daughters-in-law? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Ruth. This sermon was preached … Continue reading Loss and Loyalty

We begin a series on “images of the church” in the New Testament, different word-pictures or analogies for God’s people, with temple language. What is significant about the word “temple,” and how does it apply to the church? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of … Continue reading The Temple of God

We begin our study of Ruth by considering the context in which the story takes place; the time of the judges. What were the important features of this period of Israelite history, how does the story of Ruth fit into it, and more broadly how does Ruth’s story fit into the larger context of God’s … Continue reading Justice and Redemption in Ruth

It is not an understatement to say that the resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in all of history. Based on Paul’s exposition of it in 1 Corinthians 15, why is it so important, and what should it mean to you and me? Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading The Importance of the Resurrection

If spiritual thinking begins with considering eternal concerns (judgment, the character of God, “spiritual” treasure), what does it look like in practical, everyday terms? How should spiritual thinking manifest in this present, temporal life? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Luke. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 29, 2026.)

Luke 12-13 form a cohesive unit of Jesus’s teaching on having a spiritual mindset. This week, we will consider the motivation and basis of spiritual thinking, and then next week look at what Jesus has to say about how such thinking manifests (or should manifest) in our worldview, emotions, and actions. Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading Thinking Spiritually, Part 1

We conclude our consideration of the the church’s interaction with a hostile world the way the Bible itself does: with a vision of Babylon’s fall. What does the Babylon of Revelation represent, and what should the modern Christian learn from these ancient visions? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church in a hostile world. … Continue reading Babylon’s Fall

The middle section of Luke transitions away from being mostly stories of Jesus to being mostly the words and teaching of Jesus. In chapter 11, there is a sequence of Jesus’s teaching culminating in a condemnation of the Pharisees for having the wrong priorities in their righteousness. What can we learn from these words of … Continue reading Cleaning the Inside

There is a tension between the concepts of holiness (remaining separate and distinct from the world) and submission (living in peace and being subject to proper authority). How should the church navigate the tension? And why does so much of the New Testament seem to assume that Christians will definitely be persecuted in the world? … Continue reading Submission and Suffering

Twice in Luke 9-10 Jesus sends out his disciples on the so-called “limited commission” – a smaller version of what he would eventually command all Christians to do. What can we learn from these preparatory missions, and how do they foreshadow the mission of the church to come? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Luke. … Continue reading Foreshadowing the Mission

Twice in Luke 9 the question of Jesus’ identity is asked. Who is this man? Is he Elijah, or one of the prophets of old come back to life? The answer culminates in one of the most interesting gospel stories: the transfiguration. What should we learn from this section of Luke’s gospel? Click Here to … Continue reading Who Is Jesus?

Jesus taught in many parables over the course of his earthly ministry; it is one of the most striking aspects of his teaching. What is a parables, how should we read them, and why are they such an powerful part of his message? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through the Gospel of Luke. This sermon … Continue reading The Parables of Jesus

By the seventh chapter of Luke, Jesus had already done more than enough to prove himself worthy of believing in and following, so it is worth considering how people started responding to him. What influenced people to reject or accept him, and how does this compare to our situation today? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching … Continue reading Responding to Jesus

Jesus’s sermon in Luke 6 is very similar to another, more famous sermon of his, the sermon on the mount. What message was Jesus trying to convey to his audience, and how should this sermon affect our hearts today? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through the Gospel of Luke. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading The Sermon on the Plain

After the “return” from exile, Israel began looking for a new king, the Messiah who would fulfill the promises of the prophets of old. Jesus was that king. But when he came, basically everything he said and did was the exact opposite of what Israel expected from their savior. What did Jesus teach about his … Continue reading A New King in Babylon

The Rabbi system in first century Israel is an important piece of background information for contextualizing the story of Jesus. What was a Rabbi, and how did Jesus fit into this system? What does this mean for the modern reader? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Luke. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading Jesus the Rabbi

(Note: This audio sounds very different because it is livestreamed from home in a snow storm.) The first few stories of Jesus’s ministry in Luke’s Gospel serve to introduce the purpose of his earthly ministry and reinforce some of the ways that Jesus might have been tempted to alter or change his purpose from the … Continue reading The Purpose of His Ministry

When Israel failed to live as the Called-Out Kingdom God desired, he sent them back into the world, via the exiles. But God still expected holiness in their exile. What can we learn from God’s expectations for exiled Israel, and from Israel’s example of living in a nation that did not know or love Yahweh? … Continue reading Living in Babylon

Luke chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4 is the last bit of set-up before the ministry of Jesus begins in earnest. What can we learn from the teaching of John the Baptist, Luke’s version of Jesus’s genealogy, and the temptation of Jesus? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through the Gospel of Luke. This … Continue reading Preparing the Way

In contrast to Matthew and John, Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus and his early life emphasizes Jesus’s humble origins and submissive attitude, from the circumstances of his birth, to his parents’ obedience to the Law of Moses, to his own submission to Mary and Joseph. What should we learn from this emphasis of … Continue reading Humble Beginnings

This is the first lesson in a series on how the church can or should interact with the world around it, in politics, culture, social pressures, communities, etc. In this first sermon we consider the way God has always called his people out of the world to be something special or different, and lay the … Continue reading The Called-Out Kingdom

Over the course of this year, I will be preaching through the Gospel of Luke, mostly at a pace of one chapter per week. We will do the first half over the first three months of the year, take a break, and then finish out the year by covering the second half of Luke in … Continue reading The Coming Savior

In the book of Revelation, we learn how God’s story of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation will end. We only get glimpses of what comes after, but the story of God’s plan to restore fallen creation to himself finds its climax and resolution. What will the end of the story look like, and when will the … Continue reading The End of the Story