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I preached a sermon 25 years ago on Hosea 4:1-3. I only remember this sermon because it was eight days after Erin and I got married. The pastor had to leave town, having learned that his dad was dying. I picked a text that I had read recently in my daily Bible reading. My reading plan brought me back to this passage again this week. It catches my attention because it is a sharp warning against drifting from God. In a courtroom-like interaction, God presents his lawsuit against the “children of Israel.” This is a couple hundred years after the reigns of David and Solomon, often considered the golden age of faithful Yahweh worship in Old Testament Israel. Without godly leadership, the people drifted away from God. In these three verses, God spells out what the people lack, how they are disobedient, and why they are miserable. We can apply these three areas as diagnostic tests to our relationship with God. Let’s do a little spiritual health checkup. How is your relationship with God going? First, the Heart Check. We are commanded to love God with our whole heart. And Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matt. 6:24). Our hearts, what we treasure and love, are the central processing unit of all our lives. “For out of the abundance of the heath the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). Our lives follow our hearts. So, if our heart is not treasuring God, our lives will not follow God. ... Keep Reading

Genesis 2:24 provides God’s blueprint for marriage. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 19:5 when he answers the Pharisees’ question about divorce. Paul quotes this verse in Ephesians 5:31 as he describes God’s design for marriage. In a nutshell, God’s blueprint for marriage is one man and one woman uniting together in faithful covenant to one another until death separates them. As we read Genesis, we find very quickly that people diverge from God’s design. In the seventh generation from Adam and Eve, Lamech takes two wives (4:19), thus breaking that faithful union between one man and one woman. We can only imagine (and probably rightly) that part of the wickedness of man that led to the flood included marital unfaithfulness (6:5). Then even Abram, the father of all who have faith, took Hagar “as a wife” at the encouragement of Sarai (16:3), which resulted in marital strife for Abram and Sarai. Jacob ends up with two wives through the trickery of his father-in-law (Gen 29). Judah has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, whom he assumed was a prostitute (Gen. 38). This is just the tip of the iceberg. Because of sin, humans diverge from God’s design in all areas of life. ... Keep Reading

We read our first love story in the Bible in Genesis 24. It is not that love has been absent in the first 23 chapters of the Bible; God’s covenantal love is the undercurrent of all that he does. In chapter 24, however, we read of the first mention of one human explicitly loving another. In 24:67, it says that Isaac loved Rebekah. We never heard such love expressed between Adam and Eve, Noah and his wife, and not even between Abraham and Sarah. I am not saying these other couples didn’t love each other. The Bible just doesn’t record such detail. But it does in Genesis 24 for Isaac and Rebekah. Why? Explicit in the love story of Genesis 24 is the undercurrent of God’s love for his people. Isaac’s love for Rebekah is supported by and enlivened by God’s covenantal love. In Genesis 24 we learn of the link between God’s love and human love. This story is a vivid illustration of 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.” This love story is a tale of two loves: God’s love and human love. Genesis 24 opens with Abraham sending one of his servants on an errand: find a wife for Isaac from among his kindred back east. When the servant arrives in the land, he prays, “Please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham” (v.12). The servant appeals to the “steadfast love” of God for success in finding a wife for Isaac. This term for love is the Hebrew word chesed, used almost exclusively for God in the Old Testament. Bible translations have struggled to translate this word into English, as we don’t have a great equivalent. In the various English translations it is rendered as love, mercy, kindness, lovingkindness, steadfast love, and unfailing love. The Jesus Storybook Bible describes this important Hebrew word with the phrase “God’s never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love.” All these are trying to capture the idea of an active love that pursues one’s good, as opposed to merely an emotional feeling, and a love that is committed through all circumstances. Chesed is God’s covenant commitment to his people actively expressed through kindness. ... Keep Reading

We have been confronted with news of the devastating tragedy of the flooding in Texas along the Guadalupe River. Over 100 people lost their lives in the flash flooding, including dozens of children. Even more people are still missing. With growing global connectivity and the 24/7 news cycle, we have front row seats to tragedies from all over the place almost instantly. We might become enraged about death. We might become numb to death. We might feel guilt or indifference about the death of others. Some death weighs heavy on our hearts. The fact of the matter is that no one can escape death. It is all around us and will someday come to each of us. So how should we think about and respond to death? As followers of Christ, we must, and our hope must, be grounded in Scriptural truth. The time to dig those roots in is during times of relative peace so that when tragedy strikes, we are not searching for something on which to hold. Here are some essential biblical truths about death. Death is our enemy. The Bible does not sugarcoat or downplay death. The apostle Paul says, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:26). And the writer of Hebrews says that the devil “has the power of death” and uses the “fear of death” to subject people to “lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14-15). It is no Christian virtue to like or love death. Death is evil. It reigns in all humanity due to sinful rebellion against God. Death is the consequence, the wages, of sin. We do not celebrate death. ... Keep Reading

Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, held its annual General Assembly last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Over 2,200 commissioners were in attendance. Teaching elders (i.e. pastors) and ruling elder representatives from each church can attend this annual meeting that addresses matters that pertain to the whole denomination. One of the distinctives of the Presbyterian form of government is connectionalism. We value the connections we have with fellow ministers and churches for collaborative ministry efforts and accountability. Pastor John, Bret Willoughby, and I were able to attend GA this year. A lot takes place during the two and half days of business; let me draw attention to a few highlights. The Theme for the Week was Lift Up Your Eyes. GA is hosted by local Presbyteries who spend years preparing for the worship services (one each night), the need for hundreds of volunteers, and coordinating children’s activities. The host Presbytery also selects the theme that shapes the focus of the worship services. Tennessee Valley Presbytery selected “Lift Up Your Eyes.” The three sermons called us to lift up our eyes to the glory and majesty of God and to let the worship of God be the primary goal and passion of what we do. ... Keep Reading

An image flashed in my mind when Dale mentioned Election three weeks ago. I was transported to sitting in my living room and Leo, my house guest asked, “What if I am not one of the Elect? What will happen to me?” The question brought sadness to my soul. My people-pleasing-self did not want to hurt his feelings. My theological-self knew... Keep Reading

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” He answers, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and First Commandment…” There is an aspect to this answer, probably attributable to our hearing it so frequently, that seems entirely understandable, even simple in its clarity. At least, I think a lot of the time, we THINK we understand this commandment, but as you might imagine, it’s actually a profound commandment. One of the first things to notice is that, to love anyone, especially the LORD, takes a myriad of forms. Helpfully, the scripture Jesus answers with lists the ‘tools’ of love: our heart, our soul and mind. But that’s the rub, isn’t it? Our hearts are ‘desperately wicked.’ And our soul…well, how do we even start to talk about loving with our soul? And our minds…we THINK we understand how our minds work. But aren’t we all fallen creatures, whose minds are darkened by sin?... Keep Reading

A church that serves together grows together. Nothing stimulates church health and vitality like serving others together. On the night that he was betrayed, before the last supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. After this shocking action, he says, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Jesus sets the standard for his disciples. We should do just as he has done for us. And he served us by laying down his life for us. Jesus also gives the incentive. He says, “Blessed are you if you do them.” We are blessed if we follow in his footsteps in sacrificially serving others. Let me highlight some of those blessings. 1. Serving others trains our hearts in humility. Paul says in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Paul explains that humility means that we consider others as more important than ourselves. This humility manifests itself when we look out for the interests of others, when we serve others. It works the other way around as well. When we serve others, our hearts begin to value the other person as significant. ... Keep Reading

Gospel Conversations in Ongoing Relationships This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. As Mark Farnham wraps up this practical book on apologetics, he concludes by applying the principles to long-term relationships with unbelievers. In the abstract, the apologetic method Farnham has outlined in this book directly applies to spontaneous conversations that we might strike up with unbelievers we just meet. In reality, however, most of us are thinking of unbelievers with whom we have an ongoing relationship: a family member, a neighbor, a friend, or coworker. What does an apologetic conversation look like with someone we know? Farnham gives some practical guidance for these kinds of conversations. First, Farnham reminds us that “salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit” (p. 168). He touched on this in chapter 3 of his book, The Power of Apologetics. While it is the work of the Spirit to move in the hearts of unbelievers to lead them to repentance and faith, God delights to use us in the process. The relationships we have with unbelievers are gospel opportunities. Let’s be praying for these unbelievers that God has placed in our lives. Farnham says, “We should pray! Long-term, fervent, directed prayer for unbelievers is the best way for us to channel our angst into productive activity…I’ve noticed that when I allow weeks to go by without praying for my friends, I begin to lose my sense of urgency over speaking with them about Christ” (p. 172). ... Keep Reading

Logical Mistakes to Avoid This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. A common objection raised against the Christian faith is that it is not logical. Logic, however, is a gift of God who created this world and everything in it. The truth will be, must be, logical. “While it is true that Christians can be illogical and irrational, the Christian faith is neither of these things. The Christian faith is the only belief system that reflects the nature of the world and of truth as it is” (p. 151). Therefore, we ought to be logical as we defend and commend the Christian faith, while challenging our conversation partners logic, or lack thereof, behind their false beliefs. Farnham uses this chapter to equip us with some logic tools. “Logic is the art and science of reasoning well” (p. 152). Logical fallacies are, therefore, “flaws in reasoning that at first hearing seem to be true but on examination are found to be false” (p. 152). Farnham explains several logical fallacies with examples of how Christians and unbelievers might use each. The aim in this lesson is twofold: help Christians avoid using these logical fallacies and help Christians discern logical fallacies behind false beliefs. Let me briefly highlight several of the logical fallacies Farnham touches on. ... Keep Reading