“Guidance is a word, that for many Christian people evokes both fascination and fear. The fascination is felt because Christians do in fact want to be divinely guided and know that there are many places in the Bible where guidance is promised to faithful believers. The fear arises because they suspect that it is hard to get guidance right, and they anticipate disaster should they get it wrong. The...  Read More

Sermon Overview:We all look for signs of God’s will for our lives. In this sermon, CJ gives us a category for discerning God’s guidance in our lives–especially if it leads to painful circumstances. We looked at two surprises in this text. First, we looked at the surprising relationships of the fellow believers Paul encounters on his journey. The gospel creates bonds that are quickly formed and har...  Read More

“Texts have meaning, and texts have tone.” John Piper“If we read Acts 20:17-38 with a sterile detachment, we deprive ourselves of the life and resulting benefit of the passage.” Kent Hughes “In an age when many are searching for different ways to attract people to church and make an impact on their society for Christ, it is salutary to recall Paul’s formula, both for evangelism and the nurture of ...  Read More

Sermon Overview:Paul gives a poignant goodbye speech to the Ephesian elders. He seeks to prepare them for a future he will not see. First, Paul highlights his affectionate and sacrificial pastoral example. Paul also gives the Ephesian elders a solemn charge to care for God’s church. Finally, Paul expresses confidence that God and the “word of his grace” will build up the Ephesian believers.Discuss...  Read More

Sermon Overview:There are two contrasting portraits in this psalm. One portrait is of the wicked. The other is of the pure in heart. The wicked are proud, violent, wealthy, and they speak against God. The pure in heart are humble, they hope in God, and they treasure God. Asaph, the writer of the Psalm, is tempted to envy the wealth and success of the wicked. But he repents, turns his gaze on God, ...  Read More

Sermon Overview:Paul continues his missionary journey by traveling to Macedonia and Greece, accompanied by believers from different regions of the ancient world. Finally, Paul travels to Troas and there celebrates the Lord’s Day with local Christians. As Paul is teaching during their gathering, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep at an open window, falling three stories to his death. Standing ...  Read More