Single Parents (Cutting Room Floor)

Last week I was studying 2 Timothy 1:1-5, preparing a sermon on intergenerational faith, parents passing their faith on to their children, and the church handing the faith off to the next generation. Paul writes, "I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in … Continue reading Single Parents (Cutting Room Floor)

Be Forgettable (Cutting Room Floor)

Last week, I was studying the story of Naaman and Elisha from 2 Kings chapter five. It's a great story of healing and of God's mission beyond the borders of Israel. His renown spreads as Naaman, a pagan from Syria, becomes a worshipper of YHWH. You get a glimpse of God's mission and his intention … Continue reading Be Forgettable (Cutting Room Floor)

Cutting Room Floor: Christ will build his church

Last Sunday, I had the chance to preach from the story of Gideon (Judges 6-8). I focused not so much on Gideon, but on God as the main actor in the story. God overflows in grace towards a persistently rebellious Israel. God raises up a deliverer. God rescues his people, and does so in such … Continue reading Cutting Room Floor: Christ will build his church

Cutting Room Floor: That’s just the way things are done.

On Sunday, I preached on James 3:13-18, contrasting true, godly wisdom with wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. I had a section that came from my personal devotional reading that I cut for time. False wisdom, or worldly wisdom, often has a veneer of genuineness to it because it gets results. But it doesn't … Continue reading Cutting Room Floor: That’s just the way things are done.

Spiritual Dump Truck

On Sunday, I preached from the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). There's lots of details and lots of theology there, so I had to cut out a discussion of an odd Hebrew word. In Leviticus 16, a word appears 4x, and it is the only time the word appears anywhere in Scripture. The word azazel … Continue reading Spiritual Dump Truck