INTRODUCTION The purpose of all creation is to worship the true and living God in a way that he has commanded. The New Testament makes it clear that God is seeking worshippers who will worship him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24) – but what does that mean? This paper seeks to analyze John 4:20-24 […]
Riches
Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 40
Here we find Joseph in prison, as we left him at the end of Genesis 39. Though unjustly imprisoned, it was not without providence. For Joseph, prison is not punishment, but preparation. God is preparing, sanctifying, testing, and teaching Joseph to trust in Him. Whatever “pit” we find ourselves in, let us remember that it […]
Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 39v6b-23
Introductory Comments The fight against sin and temptation is a fundamental element of the Christian life and it is a fundamental fight that we never stop fighting until we cross the finish line. Many faint at the first sound of shots, others fall out along the way, but even some are shot down near the […]
The Depth of Mercy in the Pits of Sin
Genesis 34 narrates the darkest hours of Jacob’s life. Not only in terms of things that happen to him, but also in terms of his own sin in response to those things. His only daughter, Dinah, is raped. Jacob responds with what seems like apathy – clearly the rotten fruit of favoritism (Dinah being Leah’s […]
Standing in the Pulpit
I am of the conviction that we should, as much as we can, have reasons for everything we do as a church. This includes having reasons why your sanctuary is set up the way it is, such as the position of the pulpit, the communion elements, and the like. Everything symbolizes your beliefs, or lack […]