Where Are You?
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8–9) In my sermon […]
Searching
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say…?’” (Genesis 3:1) We live in a strange age, don’t we? You have in your pocket a smart phone that is one million times more powerful that the Apollo 11 […]
The Forgotten Man of Christmas
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” (Matthew 1:24) We’ve spent the last three weeks talking about God conceiving and delivering the miraculous in us, and Mary has been our example. But what about Joseph’s miracle? God worked in a […]
Delivering the Miraculous
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6–7) The tidings of comfort and joy we’re discussing is the […]
Conceiving the Miraculous
“The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35) The tidings of comfort and joy we’re discussing is the idea of the Grand Miracle, Jesus’ incarnation. […]
Thanksgiving
“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15–16) The story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus reminds me of the church sometimes. The fact that God healed ten men, and […]
Independent but Destitute
“Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. […]
No Other Gods
“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exo. 20:3) John Calvin once said, “The human heart is a factory of idols. Every one of us is, from his mother’s womb, an expert in inventing idols.” We can turn even good things, like a child or a spouse or a job, into something that has […]
The Waiting Game
“Hope delayed makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) When something we’ve hoped for has been delayed for many years or seems a long way off, we can despair and be tempted to give up hope. When that which we’ve longed for comes to fruition, it is like […]
The Great Reverser
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:14) Don’t you believe in resurrection? Not just at Easter, but everyday resurrection? Resurrection in your marriage, in your relationships with your kids, at work, in your finances, in […]
Please Hold
“But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness.” (Gen. 40:14) After Joseph interpreted the cupbearer’s dream and gave him the good news, he had only one request. Remember me. Help me. In my version, Joseph asks the cupbearer for kindness. That word is a very important biblical word…the Hebrew is […]
From Bad to Worse
“Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there. She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.” (Genesis 39:11–12) Potiphar’s wife commands Joseph to sleep with her the way […]
