Sermons

Unexpected Kindness

1 Comment

We used to have a dove family that nested in a hanging flower basket outside our kitchen window. They became such a part of us that we named them Sarah and Albert. Every spring, Sarah and Albert would return, build a nest, and raise a couple young chicks. I’m not sure how long doves live. It’s possible we even had several generations of doves roosting in the same spot.

For weeks we would watch Sarah patiently roost and care for her eggs. Whether hot or cold, sunny or rainy, she would hunker down and protect her eggs. Then the day would come, and for the first time, we’d see two tiny heads peeking out below mama’s breast.

The baby doves were completely helpless apart from Sarah. And she spent nearly every waking moment caring for them. If we walked outside and startled her, she would swoop away, feign injury, and flop around to cause a diversion. She would do anything to steal attention away from her young, even willing to lay down her life for them. Sarah would continue feeding them until they were old enough and strong enough to fly off on their own. Then we would say goodbye for another season.

God chooses this amazing animal behavior to describe his own tender love and care for us. He says, “Are you afraid? Trust in me. Find refuge. Here, draw close, and I’ll cover you in my wings.”

Psalm 36:7–8 says, How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

In Psalm 57:1, the psalmist prays, Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Is that your prayer today? In Ruth chapter 2, we learn how God provided for Ruth and covered her under the wings of Boaz. I preached on this passage several months ago at Calvary Church.

In this study, we learned about…

  • Farming in ancient Israel
  • A plan to take care of the poor
  • People are watching how we act as Christians
  • God cares for us like a bird with its young
  • Boaz proves himself a generous and righteous man 

Here’s the audio:

Thanks for listening! For other sermons to help your spiritual walk, please visit my Sermon Hub page.

Sermons

God is Not Done

Leave a comment

When bad things happen to us, one of the most common mistakes is to think God is done. Don’t let that bad situation define you. There’s still more to the story.

Even in a situation as ugly and tragic as sexual abuse, God is still working things out for his glory and our good. In their book Rid of My Disgrace, Justin and Lindsey Holcomb talk about the long recovery process from sexual abuse. “If your future is based on Christ, you can have hope that your present sufferings are not the final cries in an empty universe. Instead, your cries are the prelude of joy at the final redemption. Through Christ, God has secured your eternal life and salvation. Because of that you can have hope; God is not done with you.”

That’s a beautiful statement. Your cries are the “prelude of joy.” I shared more about this in a sermon on Ruth 1 several months ago at Calvary Church. In this study, we learned…

  • You are not alone in your suffering
  • Early glimpses at Ruth’s faith
  • No other God is worthy of our trust
  • What to do with your ugly past

Here’s the audio:

Thanks for listening. Click here to find more sermons to help you grow in your walk with God.

Question: Can you think of a situation that started out really bad, but over time, in the rear view mirror, you could begin to see the fingerprints of God? Share your story below!

Sermons

God Provides

Leave a comment

God is the Great Provider.

Sometimes the Lord provides in ordinary ways. When you wake up in the morning and feel the sun radiating on your skin, God is providing you with heat, light, and energy. When a low pressure system moves in and you hear the rain begin to fall, God is replenishing our lakes and providing you with life-giving water. When God enables Dad or Mom to work and earn a paycheck, God is providing you with basic needs for the family.

Never overlook the normal ways God provides for you. This is also a good reason to pray before every meal. You are pausing to acknowledge all good things from God and thanking him for his provision.

God also provides in unexpected — even miraculous — ways. He provided a ram in the bushes for Abraham. He provided manna from heaven for the Israelites. He provided a path through the Red Sea for Israel as they fled Egypt. He provided a Savior for us by sending his one and only Son to die on the cross and rise again.

Jesus says not to worry, because God knows your needs, and he promises to provide. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

In Judges 21, God provides for the tribe of Benjamin in an extraordinary way. Be encouraged that God has a plan for you and promises to meet your needs too! Here’s the link to a sermon I preached a while back on this topic…

Sermons

Code Blue

Leave a comment

When “code blue” is announced on a hospital loudspeaker, it alerts doctors of a life-threatening emergency. What happens in the next few minutes could literally be the difference between life and death.

Judges 19 is Israel’s “code blue.” Here we find the nation on the brink of collapse. Idolatry, sexual deviancy, gang rape, and vigilante justice have overtaken the land. Some call this the darkest chapter of the Bible. If Judges 19-20 were turned into a movie, it would require an “R” rating. You may have heard about Gideon and Samson growing up, but it’s safe to assume this part of Judges was not in your Lifeway Sunday School curriculum.

The story is graphic without being gratuitous. It reports the facts with a journalistic accuracy, yet still shows restraint. The goal is to help us to present “just the facts” and then help us learn from those facts and avoid the costly errors of the Israelites. The author is showing what happens when a nation turns away from God, ignores his laws, and lacks righteous leaders.

I preached through Judges 19-20 several months ago at Calvary. In this sermon, we learned how…

  • We underestimate our sin and overestimate our goodness
  • Only Jesus can take care of our sin problem
  • Lawlessness as a symptom of a morally sick society
  • The importance of the rule of law in a just society

Here’s the audio…

Thanks for listening. Click here to find more sermons to help you grow in your walk with God.

Journal

Youth Summer Retreat

Leave a comment

Our student ministry originally planned to go to Alpine Christian camp this summer. We held a bagel fundraiser in May and the church gave generously. Then sadly almost every student backed out due to other commitments like summer school.

Our youth director Andrew and I scrambled to come up with a “Plan B” and settled on taking a smaller group to an Airbnb in Crestline for three days and two nights. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise and we had a great time the past few days building relationships, having lots of fun, and studying God’s Word together.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their prayers, generosity, and flexibility, plus to brag on the students for doing a great job this weekend listening during chapel times, pitching in during meal cleanup, and showing kindness and respect toward one another.

Regular camp is still special but I think this will be a good memory for the students and who knows, we might just have to do something like this again sometime in the future!

Thoughts on Life and Leadership