Previous Posts

  One of the toughest lessons to learn is to avoid being overly enthusiastic about all forms of enthusiasm. That’s especially true in regard to renewal movements that sweep up lots of people into new and often passionate devotion to God accompanied by authentic zeal. I learned a little late that passion doesn’t always mean authenticity, and zeal isn’t always accompanied by wisdom. A lot of people I know have spoken about the Bethel movement out of Redding, California. It’s a charismatic/pentecostal group but also highly controversial; some say it’s a cult. It’s obviously been a help to many people,... Read this post

Filled with the Spirit Acts 2:4; 4:31; 6:2-3; Ephesians 5:18-21 September 3, 2017 Those filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost were filled again some weeks later. ‘Filled with the Spirit’ is not a one-time event we look back on but a continuous way of living which we receive. What being filled with the Spirit isn’t: – Focus on signs: No! Signs point beyond themselves to Scripture and to salvation in Christ the Savior – Mind turned off? – Lose control of body, emotions, and speech? – No, that’s drunkenness, the exact opposite of being filled with the Spirit!... Read this post

Sealed with the Spirit: the Presence of the Future Ephesians 1:13-14 September 10, 2017 Sermon series on the Spirit. “I remind you that there are churches so completely out of the hands of God that if the Holy Spirit withdrew from them, they wouldn’t find it out for many months” ― A.W. Tozer, Tozer Pulpit Ephesians 1 as the anthem of praise to the Triune God: The Father Arranges The Son Accomplishes The Spirit Applies The presence of the Spirit in our lives is God’s living, breathing testimony to the redemption that is ours in Jesus. The Spirit with, in,... Read this post

Consider the truthfulness and orthodoxy of the following statements and actions: “I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” – Mark 1 “He ran up and bowed down before Jesus…” – Mark 5 “She kept on shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God who proclaim to you the way of salvation.'” – Acts 16 Acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God: excellent. Bowing down before Jesus as the Son of God: excellent. Discerning that Paul and Silas are sent by God with his message: excellent. And in each case, demonic. Every word and action above... Read this post

The Purpose of Pentecost Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-8,12 August 27, 2017 Eclipse: Wonder, Emotion, Perspective From the Guardian: Dennis Cassia, a 65-year-old retired firefighter and high school science teacher who now lives in Monroe, Connecticut, was one of them. Cassia caught his first eclipse in high school and has traveled to Africa and the Caribbean to see others throughout his life. “It was so spectacular that I kind of got the bug,” said Cassia. “You find out, during a total eclipse, just how in tune with nature you are,” he says. “Your body tells you something isn’t right. It looks like... Read this post

The Nashville Statement, a recent document addressing human sexuality and gender, has been published by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and is endorsed by several prominent and respected Evangelical Leaders, and for many of these servants of Christ and their work I give thanks to God. It is also true that the Articles of the Statement offer much that is good and it affirms and agrees with what is widely regarded to be an orthodox, Biblical position on the matters it seeks to address. I don’t think there’s anything in this Statement which is actually ‘new’ in regard... Read this post

The Holy Spirit & You John 14:16-18, 26; Acts 1:8 August 20, 2017 Review: * Spirit as Person and therefore someone with whom we enjoy relationship and by whom we are united in relationship to the Father and the Son * Spirit as Promise fulfilling the hope of the prophets and amplifying the Spirit-soaked ministry of Jesus, recorded in the Gospels I. The Counselor’s Identity The One who continues the Ministry of Jesus. The Spirit takes the once and for all of Jesus ministry and makes it the daily grace of all who trust Christ. The presence of Jesus in... Read this post

Amy Duncan, Chair of our Deaconesses, yesterday led our church in prayer as we brought before the throne of Grace matters heavy on our hearts and the sources of deep anxiety for people here and around the globe. I was deeply moved by her intercession and publish her prayer here so that, if you desire, you might offer it as well, praying with us for God’s mercy to flood into the painful and broken places of our world.   Please join me in prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We come to you unified in prayer, help us to be unified as... Read this post

The Promise of the Spirit Joel 2:28; John 7:37-39; Acts 2:32-33, 38-39 August 13, 2017 “Empty hands on empty heads.” Doesn’t have to be that way! Could be God’s saturating rivers of grace soaking our dry souls and slaking our parched hearts. John 7 – Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles… Water in the Wilderness, flowing from the Rock when Moses’ struck it. Read Ezek 47; they poured the water on the altar, seven golden pitchers, seven trips around the altar; wilderness provision… “Come to Me!” Nicene Creed: Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary…Spirit…who with the Father... Read this post

Christian Faith was started among brown people – who were all Jews – by a brown man for the sake of all people; it was then promulgated by more brown people along with some African people. This happened back then to bring freedom now to white people who need to repent of hating brown people while claiming to follow the brown man who started the Christian Faith, the same brown man who said hating people in your heart was the same as murdering them (which turned out to be true). Many of these white people appreciate the African theologians Athanasius... Read this post