poolsandpastures
Thoughts on the Gospel, Life, and Ministry
Category: Uncategorized
The Hour Has Come — John 12:1-36
Today’s video covers John 12-1-36 and tells us that the path to glory runs straight through the cross. To sacrifice oneself is to find the glory of God. John 12:1–36 Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany [1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came… Continue Reading “The Hour Has Come — John 12:1-36”
Praying More Robustly
I am making plans for our congreation’s upcoming Wednesday night fellowship dinners and bible lessons. Our children and youth will continue working through the various catechisms of the Church, and our adults will study prayer. To help me organize our lessons on prayer, I’ve enlisted… Continue Reading “Praying More Robustly”
Keep God’s Word Close to You
On a recent Sunday morning, our congregation studied Daniel’s prayer of confession on behalf of the ancient Judeans after Darius the Mede had conquered the Babylonians. It’s a beautiful prayer that really helps us understand the main components that any prayer of confession should contain.… Continue Reading “Keep God’s Word Close to You”
The Prayer God Will Always Answer
During our adult Sunday School class this past Sunday, our congregation studied Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:1-13. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray by his example and his words. Luke referred to Jesus’s normal practice of praying alone more than… Continue Reading “The Prayer God Will Always Answer”
A Prayerful Response to an All Too Familiar Reality
This post was originally sent to the members of Chester ARP Church as a pastoral letter written in response to the tragic school shooting in Nashville, TN on March 27, 2023. Like most of you, I watched the news in horror Monday evening as… Continue Reading “A Prayerful Response to an All Too Familiar Reality”
A Life of Decreasing
Friends, In our study of John’s gospel on Sunday mornings we’ll jump over some interesting stories in order to hit the highlights. We simply don’t have the time to go verse by verse. One of those stories we’ll skip is found in verses 22-36… Continue Reading “A Life of Decreasing”
Embracing the New Year
So, I ask you, “Who do you want to be moving forward? What do you need to change in order to become the man, woman, or family that God has called you to be for his glory?” Prayerfully determine that and then make the necessary changes in your life while relying on the grace of God and his strength to change you from the inside out.
Be An Encourager by Faith
Friends, One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Barnabas. In Acts, Luke tells us that he was an early convert to Christianity who came from a rich Jewish heritage. He was also one of the most generous members of the early Church. However, his encouraging spirit is the… Continue Reading “Be An Encourager by Faith”
The Reformed Tradition
I wrote the following essay for a video lesson series that our congregation used to study the Church’s history this past summer. The seventh video was on the Reformed Tradition. It particularly answered the question: What does it mean to be Reformed? If you… Continue Reading “The Reformed Tradition”
Congratulations! Now, Go Forth.
Last week I had the privilege of addressing the graduates of our local Adult Education Department. The whole class had wonderfully inspiring stories of perseverance, dignity, and strength. Below is my address to them. Maybe you’ll appreciate my words. Introduction Congratulations to the 2022… Continue Reading “Congratulations! Now, Go Forth.”
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