“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (I John 3:16)
Everyone has some idea of what love is: songs and poems have been written about it, and movies have attempted to portray it. But how can a Christian person know what love really is? John gives us the answer to that here in I John 3:16: Continue reading
“By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” (I John 2:5b-6)
Many people in America today claim to be Christians, but this verse offers a searching challenge to everyone who does: Continue reading
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (I John 2:1)
Here in the first verse of chapter 2, John teaches Christians to have a balanced attitude regarding sin: Continue reading
“My lttle children, I am writing these things to you, so that you may not sin.” (I John 2:1)
The Apostle John was good about telling his readers his purpose for writing. In the Gospel of John he specifically stated that the purpose of his writing was that they might believe and have life in Jesus name (20:31). Here in his first epistle John says that the purpose of writing this letter is: “SO THAT (the purpose) you may not sin.” The whole purpose of this letter is to encourage God’s people to purify themselves from sin. The need for a letter like this has not changed in our day. Continue reading
“As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” (I John 2:24)
Our culture is always looking for something new: the newest phone, the newest computer, a newer car, etc. But unfortunately this mindset has subconsciously trained many of us to look for “something new” in religion too, which is not healthy. Continue reading
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5)
John could not be more clear in what he asserts here, and we Christians — and some who just claim to be — need to hear what he is saying. He “announces” that “God is light, and in Him there is NO DARKNESS AT ALL.” John makes it clear in the next verses that “light” refers to holiness, and “darkness” refers to sin. Understanding this, John proclaims that there is NO DARKNESS AT ALL in God. He pure, perfect, holy. There is no sin in Him. He is not the source of evil — which has implications for our theology. And he says that there is no darkness in Him — which has implications for our lives if we claim to follow Him. Continue reading
“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also …”. (I John 1:3).
We find in this verse something that is right at the heart of the nature of Christianity: what one experiences of God is to be shared with others. John and the other Apostles saw and heard the risen Christ personally — and what they saw and heard and handled with their own hands (His resurrrected body) they proclaimed to the world. This sharing with others what we have experienced is an inherent part of the Christian faith. Continue reading
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Jan. 1, 2017)
A couple of years ago I read a survey of Americans which asked what they would do, if they knew the world was coming to an end soon. Two of the top responses included going out and getting drunk, and going on a trip to Las Vegas. I was amazed — but perhaps I shouldn’t have been. That is the kind of attitude you should probably expect from a person who doesn’t know God: “eat, drink & be merry, for tomorrow we die.” But the Christian person, on the other hand, should have an entirely different attitude. Jesus is coming back. The end is near. We don’t know when, but it is closer than it has ever been before. Climactic events could well take place in 2017. What should we, as those who claim to be God’s people, do this year in light of that?
We don’t have to fabricate an answer; God’s word gives us directions for just this case: in I Peter 4:7-11. This passage begins with the phrase: “The end of all things is at hand” (or “is drawing near.”) And then he follows that with several admonitions about what we should we do when the end is drawing near: Continue reading
It’s time for our family gingerbread decorating contest for Christmas 2016. We’ll follow the procedure we have for the last couple of years: we’ll post pictures of each entry below, and you can vote on your favorite at the poll at the end. You can check on the votes if you’d like, or we’ll announce the winner tomorrow night! Here are this year’s entries: Continue reading
“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” (I Peter 4:7)
A thoughtless person, contemplating the end of the world, might consider that prayer was not of much use near the end: “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. What time is there now for answered prayers? Everything is about over.” But this would be a godless attitude. Prayer is not somehow of LESS importance as we move towards the end; it becomes even MORE vital: Continue reading
I'm a retired Southern Baptist pastor of almost 40 years. My wife Cheryl & I moved to Norman, OK in March of 2025. I share a weekly overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, as well as texts of my sermons and other articles.
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