Jonah 3:1–5 Every Sunday, before standing in the pulpit, I am aware of the responsibility of proclaiming God’s Word. A question often accompanies that awareness: Who am I that God would entrust me with this privilege? The answer is not that I deserve it. The answer is that God is …
Jonah 2:1–10 • Jonah: Running from the God Who Pursues “I wish I had that one back.” Most of us have said something like that. Perhaps we made a purchase we regretted, spoke words we could not retrieve, or chose a direction that brought painful consequences. Looking backward, the better …
Jonah 1:11–17 Recently, I was playing chess with my nine-year-old grandson, Paul. He beat me twice. I will admit that he has become a very good chess player. Of course, I am going to play him again. There is a difference between admitting defeat and surrendering. That distinction matters when …
Jonah 1:4–10 Basketball is a team game. When we play Hoops at Grace, the idea is pretty simple. Players move the ball, play defense, work together, and everybody participates. But every once in a while, someone decides the game is really about him. He does not pass. He takes every …
Running from God Jonah 1:1–3 Jonah: Running from the God Who Pursues — Week 1 Mention Jonah and most people immediately think about a fish. Maybe a whale. Maybe a giant fish swallowing a reluctant prophet. And if you have spent much time around fishermen, you know something about fish …
Psalm 1 Yogi Berra once famously said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Like many of Berra’s sayings, it makes you smile because it sounds profound until you stop and think about it. A fork in the road is precisely where we cannot simply keep …
1 John 5:13-21 There is no shortage of uncertainty in the world around us. Headlines change by the hour. Opinions are presented as facts and lies are presented as truth. People wonder what tomorrow will bring, whom they can trust, and even whether there is such a thing as truth …
1 John 5:6–12 If you have ever watched a courtroom drama, you know that a case often rises or falls on the testimony of its witnesses. Attorneys spend countless hours preparing witnesses, establishing their credibility, and presenting evidence that supports their case. One unreliable witness can weaken an argument, but …
1 John 5:1-5 Every generation has its records. As a baseball fan, I have always been fascinated by the single-season home run record. For years, Babe Ruth’s sixty home runs seemed untouchable. Then Roger Maris hit sixty-one. Years later, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds each rewrote what people …
1 John 4:13–21 There are certain moments in life that immediately capture our attention. Imagine checking your mail and finding an envelope stamped with the words, “Final Notice.” Before opening it, your mind begins to race. What bill did I forget? What consequences are coming? What happens next? Then you …