Archives for January 2023

"We have lost the art of Christian persuasion and we must recover it. Evangelism is alive and well in the rapidly growing churches of the Global South, where the challenge is to recover an ardor for discipleship and a discernment of the modern world to match the zeal for evangelism. But in the advanced modern world, which is both pluralistic and post-Christian, our urgent ...

"Although there have been several accounts of persecution so farin Luke's narrative, the pastoral application in these versesfunctions to challenge readers more directly about this issue thanever before." David Peterson "The cross is a sword because its message is not the messagethat insurrectionists want to hear. Who wants to hear that he issinful at the core of his bein...

Sermon Overview: The gospel continues to spread to the nations in Acts 14, but not without opposition. Paul and Barnabas arrived in Iconium and began to teach about 'the word of [God's] grace' in the local synagogue. Many Jews and Greeks believed what they heard and began to experience transformation! Many others rejected this teaching and not only denied what they heard,...

Sermon Overview: In Antioch, Paul is invited to speak in the synagogue and proclaims the unstoppablegospel. In his message, Paul looks back on God's redemptive power through Exodus and looks forward as the unstoppable gospel he introduces goes to the ends of the earth. Many believed and were pursued by God, while others fell to jealousy and persecuted Paul. He knew that t...

Sermon Overview: While the church in Antioch was worshiping and fasting, Paul and Barnabas were called by the Holy Spirit, and sent out to proclaim the gospel. Paul and Barnabas went to Cyprus and faithfully preached the word of God throughout the whole island. Even though they encountered opposition, Paul and Barnabas brought the word of God to the leader of Cyprus who w...

On Sunday CJ reminded us that there is nothing more important for us in 2023 than to long for God's Word--reading our Bibles to awake and deepen our affections for Him. Below you'll find a list of CJ's recommended resources to help us do just that. Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture by John Piper When I Don't Desire God:...

Sermon Overview: Christians are meant to long for the pure spiritual milk of God's Word. The same Word that saved us now sanctifies us. In the Word, we taste God's goodness, which will keep us coming back for more. To taste more of God's goodness, we should have a time, plan, and place to read the Word. We should also seek to read slowly, be alert to the overall storyline...

"New Years finds me employed. I compare it to a hill on the road, from the top of which I endeavor to look back on the way that the Lord has led me thus far through the wilderness. I look around to contemplate the difference his goodness has made between my situation, and that of thousands of my fellow creatures. I then look forward and perceive that I am drawing apace to ...