Here's the link to Acts 20. The very first Sunday I preached in our first church there were some people in the front row who had been up late for youth group. A young boy named Darren fell asleep during the sermon. It wouldn't be the last time this happened to me. There was also …
Continue reading Reflections on the Book of Acts #20: Eutychus
Here's the link to Acts 14. They continued preaching the gospel. These are the words which stand out to me from this passage. They describe the first missionary journey of the apostle Paul and Barnabas (a name which means "son of encouragement"). Here's a map of this missionary journey. I find it helps when reading …
Continue reading Reflections on the Book of Acts #14: Paul and Barnabas
Here’s the link to Acts 11. As a result of the death of Stephen, believers are scattered. Many are Jews, but plenty of Gentiles are being added to the mix. Our passage uses the word persecution to describe the relationship between the burgeoning faith community and the surrounding culture. So much for still having the …
Continue reading Reflections on the Book of Acts #11: Persecution
I've been a pastor for nearly 20 years, which means I've been preaching for nearly 20 years. That's a lot of sermons! And you would think that after all of this preaching I would be an especially confident, homiletical professional, always able to prepare and deliver rhetorically impressive and spiritually moving sermons with ease! Alas, …
Continue reading What is it Like to Preach (or What’s Behind the Homiletical Curtain)?
I can't recall a time when I wasn't interested in truth or God or church or Jesus. So much so that I have long understood the arc of my life through the lens of what God is doing (or wants to be doing) in me. Even in those seasons when I drifted away, not only …
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