Preparing for the Lord's Day This week, I will continue our summer sermon series on discipleship by looking at the "Endurance of Discipleship." This is yet another challenging area of discipleship. Why? Because following Christ is a lifelong commitment and process. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Discipleship stretches and moves us and there are times when it steps on our...

Preparing for the Lord's Day This week, I will continue our summer sermon series on discipleship by looking at the "welcome of discipleship." The passage I've chosen (Matthew 25:31-40) is a challenging one. It's challenging not because it's difficult for us to understand. Rather, it's challenging because it reminds us that discipleship will cost us. The currency of discip...

Preparing for the Lord's Day As a college student, a few of my classmates memorized a number of verses to help us mature in Christ. We shared a love for our Savior and wanted to follow Him. One of those verses is anchored in our sermon text for this Sunday in worship. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinth...

Preparing for the Lord's Day On July 4th, while our nation celebrates the political revolution of the Declaration of Independence and the victory of the Revolutionary War, we will begin our study on the Spiritual Revolution of the Great Commission and Discipleship. After Jesus won the victory against sin and suffering by dying and rising for us, He sent the church on a li...

Preparing for the Lord's Day Trash talking has always been a part of a competition. During the 1986 NBA All-Star week Larry Bird, prior to the three-point shooting contest, declared, "I'm just looking around to see who's gonna finish second." He went on to win. Prior to Super Bowl III, Jets Quarterback Joe Namath, declared, "We're going to win Sunday. I guarantee it." He ...

Preparing for the Lord's Day Many of us agricultural metaphors are intelligible yet not relatable. What I mean is that we can understand the concepts that are being expressed but we have very little first-hand experience with the actual phenomena. In our passage for this week Paul uses a common biblical metaphor or reaping what you sow. The modern reader can comprehend wh...

Preparing for the Lord's Day When we think of spiritual people, we often think of people who have isolated themselves from the broader community. A monk who takes a vow of silence or a nun who is cloistered away from society. Spirituality, in popular belief, takes place when we are alone. When Thoreau went into the woods for a spiritual experience. People would fast, pray...

Preparing for the Lord's Day In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus makes a simple yet profound observation. He says that you will be able to recognize true believers from false prophets by their fruit. How people act is a much better barometer of their spiritual condition than what they say. He explains, "Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? So, every h...

Preparing for the Lord's Day Have you ever seen a house cat sneak out of the house for the first time? A cat that has lived its life entirely within the safe confines of a house is not equipped or prepared for the reality of life in the "real world." They are used to the sounds, smells, and sights of a controlled human environment. So, when they slip outdoors for the firs...

Preparing for the Lord's Day It seems that the Apostle Paul was a bit of a sports fan. Throughout his letters he often uses imagery from the world of athletics. He mentions the ancient games of boxing, wrestling, and running. In our passage for this Sunday Paul says, "You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?" (Galatians 5:7 ESV) Again, Paul employ...