Early in my preaching life, and after a preacher’s luncheon at Pepperdine University, I was shopping at the bookstore. I was trying to build a pretty meager library with commentaries on my radar…

As I write this, it is the last day of Advent, and I look back with one last reflection. Almost all the Biblical thoughts on Christmas are based on the nativity stories from Matthew and Luke…

The story of the Magi bringing gifts to the infant Jesus has sparked traditions that go beyond history and give us historical questions that have no certain answers. Who were these folks?…

Perhaps you’ve heard the beautiful Christmas song, “In the Bleak Midwinter.” It imagines Jesus born where water is frozen like stone, with “snow on snow, snow on snow.” It ends with the desire to give the Babe our hearts…

In Paul’s fiery defense of salvation by grace through faith, apart from works of the law, to disciples in Galatia, he asserts that by grace we are heirs…

The Thanksgiving holiday is over. There is certainly no need for a turkey banquet every day—thankfully so! And yet, marking out a day especially for giving thanks is good and important…

This passage from Hebrews, along with a selective reading of Galatians and Romans, has been used to advance the idea that the New Testament has completely replaced the Old Testament…

A dear sister, many years ago, told me that her father’s passionate advice was to never let anyone put her under the Old Law. What was behind this advice?…

Almost every elder (with a couple of real exceptions) I’ve worked with has been a sincere, honest, and faithful man, with a profound sense of responsibility toward God and the church he has led/served…

Were I to say that I’m God’s gift to the church, I might be accused of being full of myself. That might be right (I hope not), or I might just be reflecting Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:11. This passage is one of the most important about the selection, nature, and purpose of leaders in the church…

The Gentile rulers, to whom Jesus referred, would be Roman. Jesus and His disciples certainly saw and felt the harshness of Roman rule. Understandably, Jews dreamed of a Messianic rule that turned the tables on the Romans and would give them a taste of their own medicine…

Last week, drawing from Acts 9:31, I spoke of the encouragement and comfort the Holy Spirit provided the church, after the Lord turned Saul’s life completely right-side up…

Some of the richest sections of the Book of Acts are found in Luke’s brief summary statements…

If Paul did not have Ecclesiastes in mind when he wrote 1 Corinthians 15, and I believe he did, his words nevertheless are in stark contrast to those of the Teacher (Qoheleth) of Ecclesiastes…

“Torah” is one of the richest words in all Scripture.  Yet, for many Christians, it has sadly been reduced to our understanding of Law.  Law, we may believe, conflicts with grace…

The late, great humorist, George Carlin, played a weatherman named Al Sleet, The Hippy, Dippy Weatherman.  His most famous forecast for the night was, “Dark. Continued dark overnight. With widely scattered light by morning.”

At twenty-five, this was an interesting Psalm.  At seventy-five, it has my full attention.  Our mortality was once an undeniable truth we could hold at arm’s length, but in time, our arms shorten, and it’s right in front of our faces…