Luke 8:4-15 Guest speaker was Jim Fly who serves the Austin Graduate School of Theology (Austin Grad) as Vice President of Development.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds us that there are three primary elements to the gospel message: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Why are these three gospel events so important? They accomplish the reason why the Word became flesh. In Romans 1:16, Paul says the gospel is “the power of God... [read more]

“Let the eyes of the wicked see their own destruction; let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty” (Job 21:20). In scripture, the Cup is a metaphor for the wine of the fury of God’s wrath. In Isaiah 51, sinful Israel has been made to drink “from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath.”Because of their wickedness, they have... [read more]

Text:  Psalm 32:1-11

Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). “Seeing is believing.” “I’ll believe it when I see it.” We trust what we can see, don’t we? But as I grow older, I have discovered that my eyes see things that aren’t really... [read more]

Text:  I Samuel 17:41-49

Last Sunday night, we talked about Hosea, who is commanded by God to take an adulterous woman as his wife. The woman he chooses is Gomer. She works in “the world’s oldest profession”—prostitution. Hosea’s life is to be a living parable (perhaps an allegory) of the relationship between God and Israel. The adulterous Gomer symbolizes... [read more]

In my high school American History class (taught by the head football coach), I faintly remember studying about John Sutter and the California Gold Rush of 1849 and beyond. I remember thinking how lucky Sutter was to have all that gold right there under his feet. All he had to do is stake his claim... [read more]

There are many things for which I am not qualified to offer testimony or advice as an “expert.” Parenting is one of them. We have many in our congregation who have raised or are in the process of raising some amazing children. I think about the Ellysons, Keys, and Mickelsons—and I am sure there are... [read more]

Text is Hebrew 11:23-28