Psalm 10 - The Lord is King

We live in tumultuous times. Wars, violence, protests, cop killings, terrorism, police brutality . . . these things flood our news waves on a daily basis. Where is God? Is he concerned? What is he doing? And why do the wicked prosper? Psalm 10 asks and answers these questions and also takes a look at the rebellious nature of the wicked (our rebellious nature) and how God often judges it. I preached this sermon from Psalm 10 on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at the Winnsboro Reformed Church of Winnsboro, Texas. Just click the link below and it will take you to an audio file of the sermon in MP3 format. From there you can choose to either stream it online or download it to listen later. Solo Deo Gloria.

Click here: Psalm 10 - The Lord is King

1 Kings

The names of the Old Testament books don't always give a good clue as to what they're about. For example, the two books of Samuel are mostly about David. Similarly, the Kings are as much about prophets as they are about kings. In fact, after Solomon is gone, the two characters who dominate these books are Elijah and Elisha. Yet they are called the books of the Kings.

In this video conversation, Pastor John R. Pflug Jr. and I talk about the first book of the Kings. What is 1 Kings about? Who are the dominant characters? What is God doing? Where is Jesus? The first video is a little short of fifteen minutes long and the second about eight more.

Psalm 9 - A Psalm of Justice

An exposition of the 9th Psalm. What is the purpose for which God made the world? What is your purpose? Why does the Church exist and what should be its theme? To hear the audio of my sermon from Psalm 9 just click the link below:

Psalm 9 - A Psalm of Justice

2 Samuel

David is one of the great figures of the Bible. He, along with Abraham, Moses, and Elijah, towers over the middle of our Bible. He is the dominant figure of the second half of the Old Testament. Most importantly he prefigures Jesus Christ.

2 Samuel follows David from the beginning of his reign as king until the end. What was that kingdom like? If David was a man after God's own heart, what does that mean? Did he never do wrong? Did he ever fail? What about his relationship with God? Did God make him promises?

In this video Pastor John Pflug and I open up the book of 2 Samuel and discuss its contents, what it means for the Christian, and how it points to Jesus Christ. If you are new to the book or if you have read it several times there is still something for you here to learn and be blessed by. The first video lasts about 15 minutes and the second part about 9 more.

Psalm 5 (Part 1) - A Pattern For Prayer

Give ear to my words, O LORD;

consider my groaning.

Give attention to the sound of my cry,

my King and my God,

for to you do I pray.

O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;

in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Although I have previously covered this psalm (on numerous occasions) in one sermon, I decided this time to slow down and focus on those first three verses and make it a sermon unto itself. There is, in David's petition, a pattern for prayer and it is my hope that you will see it clearly as I unfold it in the sermon. The sermon was preached at the First Presbyterian Church of Winnsboro, Texas on January 24, 2016. You can listen by clicking the link below.

Click here: A Pattern For Prayer - Psalm 5:1-3

Psalm 7 - In Praise of God's Justice

That God is just is a refrain heard all throughout the Scriptures, and no wonder. Every sinner who sins and yet walks God's earth and breathes God's air is an accusation against that justice. Every wrong that is done adds a question mark to whether the God of this universe is righteous or not. "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" asks Abraham, and so do we.

And so does David in Psalm 7.

In this sermon we look at the concept of God's justice and we take seriously what we learn here about God and that justice. Then we consider the place where justice and mercy meet--at the cross. How does all this affect how we look at God? How we worship him? How we live our lives? Does God love sinners? Is he angry with them? How do we reconcile that? Take a listen to the link below and if God speaks to you through his word, then give him the praise.

Click here: Psalm 7 - In Praise of God's Justice

May God richly bless you with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.

A Christmas Hope - Isaiah 11:1-9

When people think of Christmas Scripture from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, they usually think of this one:

“Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Or this one:

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

They don't usually think of Isaiah 11.

Yet, the Righteous Branch spoken of in Isaiah 11 is a tremendous promise, and the passage is a prophecy foretelling the glorious future of God's people that will come to pass in the day of Messiah. It finds its fulfillment in Jesus and gives God's people a hope now, just as it did back then. Like them, we live in a world of heartache, pain, suffering, calamity, natural disaster, disease, famine, war, and violence. Like them, we are promised a golden age when all these things will end and the Righteous Branch shall reign and the world shall be made new. Listen and worship and understand the joy and hope of Christmas. To hear the sermon click the link below:

A Christmas Hope - Isaiah 11:1-9

May the Lord bless you and keep you.