Two days ago, the Friday after Thanksgiving, my wife and I lugged our Christmas decoration boxes down from our attic. It’s time to glam up our house for Christmas. My guess is that you have done or soon will do the same. Last week at Thanksgiving dinner one of my nephews told me that theyContinue reading “Christmas Lights and Bruises – Advent Hope, Preview”
Tag Archives: confession
Are you trying to hide something from God? – 2 Samuel 11—12, Part 5
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult and community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. I learned so much from her sermon on 2 Samuel 11-12! I’m excited for you to read these blog posts. In the dramatic story ofContinue reading “Are you trying to hide something from God? – 2 Samuel 11—12, Part 5”
How judging killed a discipleship effort in the local church – Holding others accountable, Part 2
Over the years in my church family, people have raised the concern about Jesus’ teaching, “Do not judge” on more than one occasion. “Who are we to judge one another,” people say. It sounds very spiritual. But I think they are interpreting Jesus incorrectly. The first occasion people raised the concern about judging was probably 20Continue reading “How judging killed a discipleship effort in the local church – Holding others accountable, Part 2”
Why humility, teachability and the Korean concept of Han are vital to confession – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 5
As we learned in the previous post, when we confess our sins, we are trusting in God. But there’s more. When we confess our sins, here is what we are to do next, as David writes in Psalm 32, verses 8-9, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; IContinue reading “Why humility, teachability and the Korean concept of Han are vital to confession – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 5”
Your mistakes do not define you – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 4
Confession is not easy. We can rebel at the thought of admitting even the smallest mistakes. So to help us learn how to confess, David concludes with some instruction in Psalm 32. Here is what we should do. First, in verse 6. “Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;Continue reading “Your mistakes do not define you – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 4”
What to do when our hearts feel stone cold – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 3
Israel’s great king, David, has sinned greatly, as we’ve seen in the previous two posts in this series here and here. But with some creatively devious evil thinking, he has covered his sin, and has just one more detail to care for. This is how the story continues in 2 Samuel 11, verses 26-27, “WhenContinue reading “What to do when our hearts feel stone cold – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 3”
The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2
David is in a terrible spot of his own making. He has slept with one of his soldier’s wives, and now she is pregnant. How will this king who is known as “the man after God’s own heart” react? In 2 Samuel 11, verses 6-9, David concocts a plan: “So David sent this word toContinue reading “The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2”
A poem to guide us when we’re dealing with the aftermath of our sin – Advent Psalm of Confession, Preview
In my elementary school years, I had a classmate who annoyed me. So one day I wrote a note, impersonating him as writing a mean note to a girl, and I threw it in the hallway, thinking someone would pick it up and get him in trouble. Someone did pick it up, and they informedContinue reading “A poem to guide us when we’re dealing with the aftermath of our sin – Advent Psalm of Confession, Preview”
The power of the words “I am sorry” – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 3
In our study of John’s preaching in Matthew 3, so far this week we’ve learned that he called people to repent. We also learned that repentance is often predicated by sorrow. But sorrow is not repentance. Instead, we learned the repentance is an action. What action? As we continue reading in Matthew 3, look atContinue reading “The power of the words “I am sorry” – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 3″
How to change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh (and help others do the same) – Ezekiel 11, Part 5
Editor’s Note: Thanks to David Hundert who is our guest blogger this week, continuing our series through Ezekiel. Think about your heart. Not your actual blood pumper…but your inner being. Would you say you have a heart of stone or a heart of flesh? Do you feel somewhat cold or dead inside? Is there hopeContinue reading “How to change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh (and help others do the same) – Ezekiel 11, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 