The Blog
Sola Scriptura
Sola Scriptura means “Scripture alone,” and this belief is a foundational element of protestant reformation. Sola Scriptura is the fundamental belief that the Bible is the ultimate and highest authority. Of course, this is not claiming that the Bible is the only...
Who is Center?
Our world is centered around something (or someone). In our minds, all of life, all of history, and all of the known universe revolves and centers itself on something. What is it? What is the center? What is the center of life, and around what (or who) does all of...
The Will of God?
What is the will of God in my life? How do I know how to find it? When I hear these questions, I instantly visualize several of my old pastors. They would draw a circle and place a dot in the center. Then while pointing to the small dot in the...
Advent Countdown – The 25 Names of Jesus
Several years ago my wife and I were thinking about our Christmas traditions. We wanted to focus our family more on the true meaning of Christmas, and we decided to create a new "Christmas Countdown" tradition for our family. Our idea was to spend the first 25 days...
God is Pleased
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. - Romans 8:8 (ESV) Regardless of how well we behave, how closely we follow the rules, and how selflessly we attempt to live our lives, in the flesh it is impossible to please God. And unfortunately, this began...
It is Okay to Grieve
I can remember how exciting it was to plant Stone Oak Bible Church. The simple vision was inspiring. We imagined a church dependent on God's power, not on any gimmick or show. We loved the simplicity of the people of God gathering together around the word of God in an...
The Gospel is Power
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. - Romans 1:16 (ESV) D. L. Moody once compared the Gospel to a lion with the chief task of the preacher to simply open the...
Christmas Eve Service
Halloween as Mission
What should we do with Halloween? There are few more controversial holidays in the Church as Halloween. It seems that many people have some very strong opinions on both sides of the issue. What was it like for you as a child? Was Halloween a celebrated activity? Did...
Does the Bodily Resurrection of Christ Matter?
Does it matter if Jesus actually rose? Can I be a Christian and not believe that Jesus actually rose from the dead? Does it matter if I do not believe that Christ’s resurrection was bodily? What difference does it make if Jesus’ body rose or not? If Jesus did not...
The Beginning of Lent
Today, Wednesday, March 6th, marks the beginning of the season known as Lent. Many of you might have been like me and forgot about this day until you walked into work and saw co-workers with the cross made with ashes upon their foreheads. This tradition is...
Taking God at His Word
I recently finished the book called “Taking God at His Word” by Kevin DeYoung (Published by Crossway, 2014), and in my opinion, this is a book that is well worth your time. This book is about the Bible. It calls us to understand what we believe about the...
Pecan Praline Ice Cream or the St. Louis Cardinals?
Above all else, the gospel is a truth claim. As simple and obvious as this statement may seem, the Christians faith is a based upon objective historic events. For example, consider the claim: Jesus was born to a virgin girl named Mary, and lived in Nazareth during the...
Rework Your Resolutions
It is almost here! A brand new year is almost here, and this is going to be the year that you have always hoped for. The new diet will last, and you will still be using your gym membership well into February. This is the year that you will read more than ever,...
The Self-Sufficient Church
In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus gives his evaluation to seven early churches. His words are encouraging and challenging, and His words are true. As we read these words as modern readers, we are able to see that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes...
Read; My Word of the Year
I have had a practice for the past five years that I have greatly enjoyed. Rather than setting New Year’s resolutions, each new year I have chosen a “word of the year.” This word has served to provide me a focus point throughout the year. In years past, I...
Soli Deo Gloria
Common to all mankind is the basic search for meaning and purpose. We want to discover the meaning behind it all. We long to know why we exist and what we exist to accomplish. Beneath it all, we all desire to know what is at the center of it all. There are...
Solus Christus
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6 (ESV) This is a powerful and well known verse in our Bibles. It is a statement made by Jesus to his disciples, and it is statement that...