​We must memorialize the fallen. However, as with all things, we Christians must ask how we put our Lord first in this. We should only put Him first in a way that is biblical, and I will show you here in Scripture how we are to put Him first on this Memorial Day.

Perhaps the most profound words a person may ever speak will be when facing his impending time to die. In thinking about why he was ever born and what his life was about, what might he say for the sake of those that survive him? When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, He looked into the face of the man that would kill Him, not with the actions of his own hands, but with the authority of his words. Leading up to that fateful point when Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, in their exchange, Jesus had something eternally profound to say about the reason He was born into this world to live in this world for the short time that He did. Jesus answers the question we should be leading the world to ask anew every Christmas: Why was Jesus born? What Jesus says in this one verse should re-calibrate our perspective on the reason for this season.

​Each holiday should be a type of revival with lasting effect. Regarding that, this is a simple message about a simple practice that is essential to our daily walk with God and our daily happiness.

​Do we truly see and sense the wonder of the risen Lord—how He transcends our natural realm—our base existence? As we focus on what He says about Himself, may the Holy Spirit magnify Him in our sight.

​Jesus’ claim is clear and concrete: He Himself is our hope in facing death. This comfort and assurance that He offered to Martha and Mary 2,000 years ago is ours to celebrate today.

​The people on the other side of this issue will tell us that they believe in the sanctity of marriage, but they expand it to include same-sex unions. In fact, they will tell us that they are actually fighting for the sanctity of marriage for all. We must be sure of and stand strong on the biblical sanctity of marriage.

​What if Christ has not been raised? What if He is still dead somewhere in an unmarked grave? That is what the scoffers tell us must be the case. What is at stake for us if they are right? I will show you from Paul how we are to hit that head on, putting it all on the line with nothing left to salvage if we are wrong.

​God magnifies the first advent of His Son for us to come, be amazed by Him. Come, let us be in awe of Him. Yes, come, let us adore Him. For that, moved by the Holy Spirit, Matthew wants his readers to know how the birth of Jesus Christ came about as He came to be among us—as He came to be one of us.

The things we focus on in the holiday seasons should refresh for us what we cherish and practice all year long. In that sense, each holiday season should be a revival with lasting effect. Regarding that, I preach this simple message about a simple practice that is essential to our daily walk with God and our daily happiness.

-IN COMMEMORATION OF REFORMATION DAY-

​On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, in response to the abusive sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic Church. Beyond the immediate problem of indulgences was the ultimate problem of spiritual darkness, from the pope to the pulpit, to the pew, to the public square. While a Roman Catholic monk, Luther himself had been brought out of the darkness by the light of the gospel, and today I am preaching the sacred text of Scripture that saved his life.

Looking at what the Apostle Paul had to say to two fussing women, this is a message on how to deal with conflict to maintain the spiritual and missional integrity of the church body.

If you are waiting for God to do something, surrender to Him and wait for Him to do the right thing at precisely the right time. Take instruction and encouragement from the Scriptures to persevere in that hope.

On this Labor Day, we look forward to an extra day off from our every-day labor - a day for some extra rest and relaxation. The holiday should include a third "R" in the R & R of the break from our labor: reflection with our rest and relaxation - reflection on the value of our labor. We Christians should find value in our work beyond both the personal and public quality of life we can afford and invest in. We should find value in our work in the calling of our Lord.

The future of this nation is not hopeless because the wicked cannot kill Jesus nor erase His gospel. Under His continuing authority, if the gospel is still the power of God for salvation of even one neighbor, then it is still the power of God for salvation of an entire nation.

How are we to bring faith to bear on fighting for the sanctity of the life of the unborn--fighting for the unborn's right to live--standing against abortion as an industry, abortion as an agenda, and abortion as an option? I intend to show you how in this message on the faith we see in Moses' parents. In faith, they hid Moses to save him. In faith, they hid Moses for what they saw in him. And in faith, they hid Moses in being stalwart for him.

The majority of Americans believe there is no moral difference between getting married and moving in together. More troubling than that, over half of professing Christians are convinced that God does not care about cohabitation. For the Christian, what is right and wrong on this issue comes down to this one question: Does God care? And this one verse in His Word shows that He does.

God has resolved what the new year holds for us, down to every last detail of what will happen to every last numbered hair (Matthew 10:30). He has revealed some broad principles of what He has resolved. These principles of God's resolutions stand as pillars of reality year after year. From these two verses in Proverbs, we are going to look at what the new year holds for two groups of people, you and I being among one or the other. For these two groups, these two verses state truths that will stand through all that befalls them. What the new year holds for them is what the new year holds for us as we are included among them.