Our Psalm last week – Psalm 88 – was a song that gave voice to private grief. Our Psalm this morning – Psalm 80 – is a song that gives voice to corporate grief.
Our text this morning is, without a doubt, the saddest Psalm in the Psalter. Unlike the rest of the Psalms of Lament, Psalm 88 does not end on a note of hopefulness. Is a believer allowed to pray that way? Are we allowed to sing songs that don’t end with a note of triumph? Psalm […]
While none of us is Timothy, and most of us are not pastors or elders, we are ALL called to ministry in our various spheres of life. We are a KINGDOM of PRIESTS! The lessons in this letter will make us better mentors and better evangelist. This word is FOR YOU. 1 Timothy 4:6-10
The Ephesian elders had been charged by the Apostle Paul to protect the people of God but they failed in their assignment. In this passage, Paul is addressing the issues that the elders should have addressed. He’s knocking down lies and pointing the church toward the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Last week we studied the qualifications for the elders of the church – the men who are called to teach and to exercise authority. Today, Paul has set before us the qualifications for the deacons – those whose ministry it is to serve. 1 Timothy 3:8-13
We need to learn a lesson from the crisis in the church in Ephesus so as not to repeat it: An unhealthy eldership will RUIN a church. And WE ALL will be held accountable if that ever occurs. 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Our passage this morning is part of an extended teaching on how men and women should conduct themselves in the church. In verse 8 the Apostle Paul gave instructions for the men: They were to stop fighting and to start praying. In verses 9-10 he began his instructions for the women: They were to stop […]
Over the last few weeks, we’ve considered the women in Jesus’ genealogy, and we’ve asked the question: “Why did Matthew include these curious footnotes?” Well, we don’t need to ask that question this morning, do we? Mary is included in this genealogy because she was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, who […]
Today we will be looking at the fourth woman in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus – the fourth curious footnote. This addition is perhaps more curious than all the rest. This fourth woman is not even named! That’s odd because Matthew knew her name! He is referring here to Bathsheba, yet he intentionally introduces her in […]
It is always a gift when the New Testament authors interpret the Old Testament for us and we’re taught that the story of Rahab ought to be read as a story of faith. If we are going to see what we are meant to see, then we will need to read this story as the […]