Throughout my life I have grown to love two seemingly contradictory things. On the one hand I love palm trees basking in the sun, and on the other hand I love thunderstorms and the dark skies they make. One of the glories of living in Florida is the opportunity to see both of these things … Continue reading Morning = John 13:31-38, The New Commandment

Tonight we come to the end of the first cycle of speeches in Job as Job responds to Zophar’s counsel in 12-14. These three chapters are split up into two large sections, and one short comment at the end. First in 12:1-13:19 Job rebukes his friends for how they’ve counseled him so far. Second in … Continue reading Evening = Job 12-14, The Slaying of Job

There are specific Sundays marked out on the yearly Church calendar where you know certain truths will be focused on. For example on Palm Sunday you’ll most likely hear a sermon on the Triumphal entry. On Good Friday you’ll most likely hear a sermon on the cross of Christ. On Easter you’ll hear of the … Continue reading Morning = Acts 2:1-13, The Outpouring of Pentecost

When we come to chapter 11 we meet the third and final friend come to bring comfort to Job. Zophar is his name, and as you’ll see he doesn’t have much to say by way of comfort, rather he comes with a rebuke. Before we get into what this last friend says I want to … Continue reading Evening = Job 11, You Deserve Worse

“In my dream I was carried away to a great and high mountain where I saw that great city…the Holy City of God, the New Jerusalem. Around the city, as around the earthly Jerusalem, there ran a wall great and high. There were twelve gates, north, south, east, and west; and every gate was a…… Continue reading Morning = John 13:18-30, The Darkness of Betrayal

Having concluded part one of John’s gospel where we find the public ministry of Jesus, we come now to part 2 of John’s gospel where John shows his readers the private ministry of Jesus to His disciples and His passion. 13:1 begins part two saying, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew…… Continue reading Morning = John 13:1-17, The Love of Christ

I have forgotten where I read this but I once read a book that had the following opening illustration. “I have a friend who has a dog named Bailey. Bailey was a two year old basset hound who had a gentle playful temper, eager to love anyone near him. But though this is true, Bailey … Continue reading Evening = Job 10, Dire Questions

As we come to John 12:44-50 this morning we not only come to the end of John 12 we come to the end of the first half of John’s gospel. In chapters 1-12 John gives us a carefully organized picture of the public ministry of Jesus. The beloved disciple has showed us who Jesus is, … Continue reading Morning = John 12:44-50, A Summary of Our Faith

Having traveled through the first 8 chapters of Job I think it’s safe to say that so far we have learned a few things. We’ve learned the book of Job speaks honestly about our suffering, it speaks honestly about the limits of our ability to understand our suffering, and it speaks honestly about the overwhelming … Continue reading Evening = Job 9, The Longing for a Mediator

“Nothing of importance happened today.” Those were words written in the diary of King George III of Great Britain. The day was July 4, 1776.[1]This quote probably shows more than he intended to, for if he hadn’t thought these events as important he likely wouldn’t have mentioned them at all. But by doing so he…… Continue reading Morning = John 12:36b-43, A Sad Pattern