Crossroads articles… What Kind of Church Are We? 26 Apr 201926 Apr 2019 There are two basic types of churches in the United States. They are the “mainline” churches and the “evangelical” churches. These two categories have existed in fact, if not necessarily…
Sermon Supplements What Part of “Not One Jot or Tittle Will Pass Away” Was Unclear? 16 Mar 201918 Mar 2019 Torah being read at a Bar Mitzvah I am currently preaching a sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), with a focus on Jesus' teachings on the…
Crossroads articles After St. Louis: What Next? 5 Mar 2019 The past week has been intensely emotional and divisive for the United Methodist Church. What began on February 23 as a hopeful gathering of laity and clergy from around the…
Current Issues… Where Do I Stand? 2 Mar 20193 Mar 2019 As I began to write this, the United Methodist Church was debating its future and its position on homosexuality. It appeared that the traditional position would win the day, and…
Current Issues… The Case for an Affirming View of Homosexuality 23 Feb 201924 Feb 2019 In my pervious post I offered what I believe to be a compelling, biblical case for maintaining a traditional view of homosexuality, while at the same time maintaining a posture…
Current Issues… The Case for a Traditional View of Human Sexuality 29 Jan 2019 In my most recent church newsletter article, I discussed the upcoming Called General Conference in St. Louis, February 23-26. At this meeting the United Methodist Church will attempt to finally…
Crossroads articles… It Should Be Hard 29 Jan 201929 Jan 2019 (This article originally appear in Crossroads, the monthly newsletter of Mossville United Methodist Church) Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt,…
Sermon Supplements… So, about that stable… 10 Jan 2019 Although Christmas has passed, I'd like to return to a topic I preached on Christmas Eve. My message was titled "Away in a Manger," but I said it could just…
Sermon Supplements… Jesus in the Book of Isaiah 20 Dec 201820 Dec 2018 During Advent I typically preach on the topic of messianic hope in the Prophets, and in this regard no book is more important than Isaiah. So much of our Advent…
Sermon Series Introductions… Against the Flow: 1 Peter and Countercultural Christianity 21 Nov 2018 Somehow I have just about preached through an entire sermon series and not made any corresponding blog posts. Shame on me. However, part of the reason for my negligence is…
The Black Belt Pastor 