Resources

Five insights into making God’s sovereignty the foundation of persistent joy. You can usually bet that when the season changes, the weather changes accordingly. Certain weather is appropriate and fitting for certain seasons. In Ecclesias...

The use of the term ‘grace’ is second nature in Christian language and thought. The frequency and ease with which we talk about ‘grace’ speaks to two observations: That ‘grace’ is fundamental to the theology which Scri...

Main Idea: Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God as you follow Christ in suffering. How can you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God?1 Peter 5:6–7 Why must you...

Many of you know that Brian and Michelle Sayers had an older daughter who developed cerebral palsy due to complication during and after a home birth. This story of trial, suffering, and God’s grace was written by Michelle just three weeks be...

Rejoice in the confirmation (12–14) Recognize the real danger (15–18) Remain faith-full (19) ...

What is God’s relationship to our tears and sorrow in our own suffering and affliction? Psalm 56:8 says, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” God knows our suffering and tears. He sees...

Introduction None of us enjoy going through trials and suffering. Some of our trials are the result of our sins and internal struggle against our flesh. Much of our suffering is the result of living in a b...

Big idea: Three descriptions of a Christian with the right mindset about suffering Joy is focusedMatthew 5:10–12 Grief is focusedJohn...

Big Idea: Take courage, at the second coming of Christ redemption possessed will be redemption fully realized. Context Where does this fit on the timeline of the end times/ How does th...

Tragedy Turned into Bitterness Tragedy followed this poor woman. And she blamed it all on God. She and her husband and two sons left their hometown and went to a foreign country to escape famine. Instead of a temporary exile, they remain...

The Entrance of Death Genesis 2:7 Romans 5:12 Mark 16:2–7 The Entrance of the Resurrection Romans 5:10–11 The Completion ...

Big Idea: Christ has been, is, and will always be preeminent. Love it and flourish, or fight it and wither. How Christ has been preeminent How Christ will be preeminent   ...

Big Idea: Submit every part of your life to Christ as Son of God and Son of Man The Dilemma Raised The Doctrine Delivered The Old Testament clearly recognizes the suprem...

Big idea: While living in two kingdoms, be sure to give God his due. The Refusal to Give God His Due Partnership with political and moral enemies Seeking to destroy Jesus Refusal t...

Introduction Two considerations Misplaced Expectations Worthy of Praise and Unworthy of Rejection Big Idea: Follow and Worship the Humble and Hated King ...

There are things I have been praying about for well over 20 years. Praying faithfully, fervently, and regularly. So far, I have seen nothing to indicate God has heard or is acting response to these requests. I see no hint of any activity that woul...

We had planned for our California vacation for months, back to one of our favorite spots, a small coastal town in the central part of the state. A charming small motel, just across the street from the ocean, big red Adirondack chairs facing the su...

Luke addresses three kinds of thinking Big Idea: Luke tells us the account of an unlikely convert that beckons us to receive Christ and find others who are unlikely to receive him. An U...

Big Idea: Jesus calls us to be confident and faithful in prayer until He returns Don’t be discouraged in prayer Ephesians 6:18-20 Be confident in the Judge of Heaven and Earth Genesis 18:25...

Ephesians is a wonderful letter from the Apostle Paul to the believers in Ephesus. It describes God’s loving plan to make a people for Himself in Christ and then describes how people should relate to one another in the church. Our prayer is that...

Sermon Notes: Main Idea: A useful life for God’s Kingdom is marked by a diminishing anxiety over material needs and a growing trust of the Father.1. Life is about more than you think 2. Anxiety over material needs is unreaso...

“God wouldn’t bring me here just to die . . . would he?” I typed these words as a newlywed huddled in a concrete house, buffeted by a typhoon on a remote Pacific island. Only a couple months earlier I had left my bride for a place I’d neve...

Sermon notes: Big Idea: God saves His King and by extension His people 1. The King is Abandoned by His God v.1-2 The Kings Certainty in God’s Saving power is Contrasted with His Circum...

Sermon Notes: Paul Tripp’s healthy fears Fear of the LordImminent ThreatAppropriate Concern Three ways God’s Sovereign presence can replace your sinful fears. ...

“This is the will of God for me, and I will worship Him in it.” Sheila uttered these words through painful tears as she lost her husband Malcolm at the age of 33 after a three-month bout with cancer. That was 47 years ago. Her confidence in Go...

After a slough of rainy, snowy, Spokane-wintery Sundays, there was one in early February that looked like spring. It was Superbowl Sunday, but the sunshine was so alluring that our family headed out for a hike before settling down to watch the gam...

I am super excited about the topic for our upcoming Transform Conference! Dr. Stuart Scott is going to help us all develop a better understanding of what God’s will is, and how we are to seek to live it out faithfully. Here is my attempt to give...

While drinking coffee at Siam Mall with Alcides (missionary pastor in the Adeje church) on our recent visit to Tenerife, he asked me to share any life advice with the two youth who accompanied him. I responded, “persevere!” I saw the ...

Quitting is relatively easy! You just quit! You just walk away! Persevering is significantly more difficult! You must continue! You must keep going! The author of the Bible book called Hebrews knew of this probability of drifting away. He ...

When someone asks you to tell your personal life story it is always difficult to know where to start and what information to include. There is a mountain of innumerable detail that makes my story unique from yours and your story unique from mine. ...

What do you do when you are in a trial? Do you pray to God, but answers don’t come? Does God seem distant and you feel alone? Do verses like; “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah...

In John 18:28–40, John displays three realities about Jesus in His murderous trial so that you might follow Jesus as King. Sermon Notes In John 18:28–40, John displays three realities about Jesus in His murderous trial s...

Main Idea: The glory of Christ revealed in His display of sovereign control in the midst of His betrayal and arrest 1. The Protective Power of Christ – John 18:1-9 2. The Eternal Purpose of Christ – John 1...

Three sovereign works by the Father that you need to finish the mission as a disciple of Christ.Sermon NotesProposition: three sovereign works by the Father that you need to finish the mission as a disciple of Christ. Sover...

Nine unforgettable implications of divine election that magnify Christ, murder pride and motivate you for the Great Commission.John 6 and the Trinitarian gift exchangeJohn 10 and the sheep of the ShepherdThe ...

I don’t know about you, but I often wonder how current world events and even my actions and decisions will affect the generations and world of the future. Some refer to this as the butterfly effect, a seemingly meaningless event (like the flap o...