Ezekiel 37:1-14 From Chopped Church to Church Revival Ezekiel 37:1-14 From Chopped Church to Church Revival is a sermon about the process that a church goes to get to revival. Illustration: Chop up a doll. Tear it into pieces. Let me take this doll and a pair of scissors and chop it up. Please adults, don’t do this at home. This is only for illustrative purposes. This doll represents the church as the body. Sometimes though, the church body gets... Read more
1 Peter 2:11-17 Good Works The new Captain America movie is out. It is called Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This comic book character was created in 1941. Captain America is the alter ego of Steve Rogers, a frail young man who was enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum, in order to aid the United States government’s imminent efforts in World War 2. Captain America wears a costume that bears an American flag and... Read more
Lenten Reflection #18: Jesus Advocates “My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1, HCSB) Jesus didn’t just pay for the penalty of our sins. He also pleads our case as our Advocate for the pardon we receive from sin. Satan is called the Accuser, which is like the prosecuting attorney. Jesus is our... Read more
Lenten Reflection #17: Jesus Destroys “Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil —” (Hebrews 2:14, HCSB) “The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works.” (1 John 3:8, HCSB) Two... Read more
“since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God’s power.” (2 Corinthians 13:3–4, HCSB) Jesus weakens His servants so that we reveal may His strength to others. Jesus uses weak people. Jesus uses weak people because He went through... Read more
Lenten Reflection #15: Jesus Strengthens “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, HCSB) Jesus is in the business of strengthening. His power – the power we need to accomplish everything we need in life – is strengthened when we are weak. In other words,... Read more
Lenten Reflection #14: Jesus Jokes “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:11–12, HCSB) Was this verse a form of a prank? Was it a form of humor that Jesus used when He spoke? I don’t know if Jesus would have played an April Fool’s Day joke on his disciples. However, I suspect... Read more
The Art of Helping Others by Douglas C. Mann Douglas Mann has written a book which appeals to the artist in every one of us. The subtitle of the book (“How Artists Can Serve God and Love the World”) defines the purpose of the book. Helping others is not science but an art form, according to Mann. He calls Christians to redefine success to a life of service based on the life of Jesus. While Jesus calls us to... Read more
“and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.” (Mark 1:34, HCSB) “After making a whip out of cords, He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables.” (John 2:15, HCSB) If Jesus drove a car, it might be a Honda... Read more
Lenten Reflection #12: Jesus Thinks “Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”” (Matthew 22:17, HCSB) When Jesus thinks, the answer is always profound. In this Scripture, the Pharisees came to ask Jesus a question to trap Him. They were asking about paying taxes to the government and whether it violated their loyalty to God. It was a trick question. The Pharisee expected an either/or answer. If Jesus says yes... Read more
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