2 Corinthians 4:6-7 10/6/2026

“For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves...”

This passage speaks to an extreme and necessary dichotomy that we as Christians cannot afford to overlook. Misunderstanding either side of this contradiction will weaken your walk and expose you to attacks by the enemy. 

The passage begins by describing God’s power which called light out of darkness.  We carry that power within us. Jesus, once told the Sadducees,  “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” The Greek word for power used there is “dunamis”.  It’s used over 100 times in the New Testament and is the root word for our words dynamite … Like the Sadducees, we often underestimate the power that indwells our soul. We carry the force that created the universe within us. Nothing can separate us from that power, and nothing can stand against it… When we are unsuccessful it is often because we don’t know the power of God, so we try to accomplish things with our own feeble strength.

The second part of the passage is just as crucial. That indescribable power is contained in clay jars. This reminds us that we are earthen, fragile containers that stand in remarkable contrast to what is within us. It’s like carrying a nuclear warhead in a paper sack… the contrast exists so we will be aware that our awesome power and ability have nothing to do with WHO we are, and everything to do with WHOSE we are. 

Our salvation, our righteousness and our power have nothing to do with our strength. Our contribution is simply acknowledging that we have nothing to give.  Understanding this paradox allows us to walk in bold unshakable confidence, based solely on the power that fills us… when we grasp this arrangement it is only logical to joyfully say ….”I must decrease, and He must increase.” 

“Remember, it is not your weakness that will get in the way of God’s working through you, but your delusions of strength. His strength is made perfect in our weakness!” - Paul Tripp

John 3:27-30 9/29/2026

“John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’  He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So, this joy of mine has been made full.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”

This passage gives context to a well-known verse. John the Baptist was “the man”… He had been a top “influencer” for a long time.  The Jewish historian Josephus wrote about John drawing massive crowds out to the wilderness.  Herod Antipas feared John’s influence, and religious leaders sent delegations to him, thinking perhaps he was the Messiah. 

Then Jesus comes on the scene, and everything changes. John is targeted by one of the enemy’s favorite weapons (envy) as his followers start following Christ.  But John gives us a template on how to  respond to this temptation... Keep your eye on the prize … John knows his mission has been assigned by God, and his desire is to be effective within God’s plan.  Knowing the Messiah had arrived… John says something profound that we sometimes miss.  He doesn’t just tolerate Jesus increasing, and him decreasing… this transition fills John with happiness. Like the best man at a wedding, he is overjoyed for the groom.

Is that how you respond when the spotlight leaves your ministry and goes toward others? When God brings a new talented person to increase growth in His Kingdom does it make you joyful? Or do you instead tear down others when you’re in their shadow?  God calls us to be encouragers. And like John, we should be filled with joy when others build the Kingdom for which we fight.  

Pride is the original sin, and its self-centeredness is poisonous. I am a servant of the King, and my aim is to exalt Him. Whether I am elevated or serve as a steppingstone does not matter, so long as He is glorified. Live your life helping others succeed, and when it happens, be their biggest fan.

“The true measure of your own success is found in how loudly you cheer for the achievements of others without feeling a single shred of envy.”
- anonymous

PSALM 75:3 9/22/2026

“The earth and all who inhabit it are unsteady…”

What a powerful statement from the mouth of God.  God is the only reliable foundation available to us. Anyone, or anything I turn to for stability will prove to be unsteady.  If I desire my life to be on firm ground… if I desire strength,  steadiness, and contentment, there is only one foundation that will stand. I must depend solely on God.  All earthly anchors will be weak and unsure.

My Dad’s career was in commercial construction, and he was well known for his insistence on strong pier and beam foundations. He oversaw the building of First Baptist Church Houston back in the 1970’s when they moved from downtown, out to the west loop. Years later, at Dad’s funeral, I learned that the church’s foundation had been built strong enough to allow multiple stories to be added if it became necessary.

Few people nowadays build in that way. Most spend the minimum on the foundation, which is unseen, and pour the money into the above ground amenities that are visible…. Which is fine, until it’s not. Until the rain and wind, followed by the heat begins to move the ground you built on and cracks start to appear. This happens in buildings, marriages, careers, relationships, etc. And when the cracks appear it threatens everything that has been built upon the faulty foundation. 

Like a wise contractor you must be patient in building your life. This morning’s verse must be an undeniable part of your theology and lead you to patiently invest in a strong, immovable foundation on which to build your life.  The nine words in this passage should greet you every morning. They should be an integral part of your belief system. The time and resources you will waste by forgetting those words are immeasurable.

Are you looking for security in your bank account? Do you think your “followers” and social media clicks assure your significance? Do you expect your political party to deliver you from the threats this world poses?… God says all of that is shifting sand…what the world offers may look good in the sunshine, but when the rain comes, it will all fall apart. Take your time, insist on quality footings and build your life on the Rock.

“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand”
- Edward Mote

PSALM 39:1 9/15/2026

“I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle...” 

This is our pet sin; we make no attempt to guard our mouths. We are quick to speak, slow to listen, and quick to become angry, which is exactly backwards of biblical instruction. When triggered, we are just a keyboard away from exposing the vitriol we carry in our hearts.

When I read this verse, I thought of how I should instruct you all to respond to God, instead of reacting in anger… I wanted to warn you to be careful before hitting the send button… But not a single thought about myself.  No remorse for hurtful words that slip out because I don’t guard my mouth…. No repentance for a heart that hides arrogance behind religious phrases. Why do I so clearly see your problems but am blind to my own? It seems we’re better at critiquing other people’s statements than muzzling our own mouths.  When my heart gets polluted, my tongue is the thermometer that quickly reveals how controlled I am by sin. 

David is clearly depressed at the writing of the psalm, but he doesn’t lash out and blame someone else. He owns it .  Which is something we seem to have lost the ability to do.  Some call David inconsistent and moody…but the truth is he is transparent.  He, like us, has days that he is ready to take on the world with a slingshot, and other days when he doesn’t want to get out of bed because he feels defeated and exhausted.

The instructional part is that though he argues, he complains, he pleads, he confesses …all of that is directed toward His Father… Psalms is a book of prayers to God, not posts to followers.  God is always the answer to his questions. He never hides from the Lord or gathers a group of friends together to complain to…  he consistently turns to the Father for comfort and leans on advice found in scripture. 

Surround yourself with friends who love you and will help carry your burdens… but guard your mouth. Save your most intimate heartfelt words for your Father in praise and supplication, and intentionally eliminate statements that produce depression, despair, and anxiety. 

“God is always ready to listen anytime you are ready to talk.”
- Anonymous

2 Corinthians 4:17 9/8/2026

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

When I was in elementary school, I received a rock tumbler as a gift. I was amazed when I first used it and saw that what had once been dull average looking rocks had become shining jewels.  This led to what I am sure was my Mom’s and sisters most memorable Christmas as they received exquisite rings and necklaces  that I had handcrafted from the rocks I had tumbled for weeks.  Strangely, I don’t remember anyone but my mom actually wearing them.

Looking back, that little machine was a great illustration. The friction caused by the constant motion slowly wore off the dull outside of the rocks and revealed a beauty that, without the abrasiveness, would have never been seen.  Paul says that the troubles of this world do the same thing.  They are not only endurable, but they actually serve the purpose of achieving eternal glory for us.  The constant tumbling and rubbing and bumping into the trouble found in this world removes rough edges.  The abrasion reveals beauty buried deep inside. 

The key to the process is the grit.  The stones themselves do  not do  the work… it is the small, almost imperceivable grit that does the work of shining.  The other indispensable ingredient is time. There are no shortcuts and there is no way to speed up the process. 

As people chasing after God’s own heart, we must be tumbled around a bit ourselves. The friction generated by the irritants of this world reveals what is beneath the surface of your life. If you have been redeemed, grinding and scuffing will begin to reveal the beauty of the Spirit of God as the rough edges are smoothed away. 

There is no doubt that we will all enter the tumbler today, surrounded by enough grit to wear away the carefully crafted façade we show our friends and followers. Make sure the beauty of God is at your core, so when the trials of this world remove the outer layers, people are drawn to what lies beneath. Though your heart may at times appear to be common and dull, allow the constant pressure created by the trials of this world to reveal it as a priceless gem.

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.” - Helen Keller

PSALM 85:10 9/1/2026

”Graciousness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

Commentators describe the phrase, “met together” as a term depicting those who should be friends, but whom circumstances have separated. That is an accurate description of our relationship with God…. He is our Father, Creator, and King… we should be family, but our sin has divided us. Our communion with God has been disrupted and we no longer live in the relationship for which we were created.

However, because of His great love for us,  God has remedied this condition. “Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other”… that occurred on the Cross where Jesus horrifically suffered and died to pay my debt. God’s glorious grace, and the shame of my wickedness encountered each other, and God’s righteousness has been satisfied. His grace has given me the kiss of peace, and our relationship has been restored. 

What possible response, other than gratitude can I have to this miracle? Is there any room for boasting? Would it not be insanity to claim that I have done anything that merits such a gift? Yet we “church goers” entertain such madness on a regular basis. We think our quiet times, offerings, or kindness somehow makes us more deserving of salvation than our neighbors. 

Ironically, few attitudes are more repulsive to God than believing we can earn His grace. It nauseates Him… and understandably so. If you sacrificed a loved one to save me, and I offered you money or trinkets in return, it would do nothing but offend you. Multiply that by infinity and you will begin to understand God’s opinion of you “working” for your salvation. 

We hear “Amazing Grace” so often that the phrase loses its power to astonish us.  It is utterly unimaginable that God would do what He did. That He would sacrifice His Son to redeem us even while we were pushing Him away…. And it is inexcusable for us to believe we have anything to offer as reimbursement. 

When counting your blessings, place first the fact that His love and your sin came face to face, and His grace bestowed on you Christ’s righteousness, and the kiss of eternal peace with your heavenly Father… In comparison, everything else is just details. 

“We are justified, not by giving anything to God, but by receiving from God, what Christ hath done for us.”  – William Gurnall

2 Corinthians 5:21 8/25/2026

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

This is one of the clearest verses illustrating what theologians call “Imputed Righteousness”.  The early reformers called it  “Alien Righteousness” which I like better, because it clarifies that it does not come from this world.  The power that saves you does not originate within you.  That’s why Jonathon Edwards said, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”  Whatever you call it; this concept is the heart of the gospel.   

Alien Righteousness is also a stumbling block for many people….  because it absolutely eliminates boasting.  I didn’t accept Christ because I am smarter, more perceptive, or innately better than those who are lost.  Believing that we can do something that will make us like God is what tripped us up in the garden and still does today.  Surely, we can  find a  way for us to get at least a little bit of credit for our eternal salivation, right?  Nope, because if there were, we would boast.  

We would take credit and become our own little god, and that violates the very First commandment… “ …have no other gods before me.”  The original sin is pride, and it can only be combatted by humility. And the way to humility is to take an honest look at our condition and acknowledge our inability to change it. 

The self-righteous insists that If they do more good than bad, they should get into Heaven… The problem is that regardless of their accounting, they don’t do more good than bad, and even if they did, the requirement for entrance is perfection.

The pious believe their religious deeds, and rituals make them “more” worthy and thereby qualify them to judge others. The issue there is that scripture calls their deeds “filthy rags” (research that and you’ll be repulsed by what it means). 

The bottom line is that our own righteousness is inadequate… We must have His righteousness, and only His death and resurrection can impute this alien righteousness to us.  Only then by grace, may we stand before God in complete perfection and enter into His presence…. That is amazing grace.

 “You stand before God as if you were Christ, because Christ stood before God as if he were you.” – Charles Spurgeon

Luke 9:23 8/18/2026

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”’

Moderation is overrated. The phrase “Everything in moderation” is attributed to the Greek poet Hesiod. But in this verse Jesus blows that philosophy out of the water. 

At this point, the disciples have seen amazing miracles; crowds are gathering… the movement is gaining momentum. Then Jesus abruptly forecasts His own death and clarifies what it means to follow Him. Jesus knew the allure of success and approval could be dangerous, so he makes sure they understand the assignment.

Jesus doesn’t “recruit” followers; in fact, He consistently highlights the cost of being one… and there’s nothing “moderate” about following Christ. In this verse He listed three requirements. 

First, “denying yourself” which involves a change of management. You are no longer on the throne. You no longer issue orders; you obey them. 

Second, “taking up the Cross” means dying… His disciples understood that men carrying crosses were headed for execution. Spurgeon recommends we “die every morning before we leave our bedroom” as a way of daily taking up our cross…  acknowledging that it is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me. 

And finally, “following Jesus” means changing direction… You’re not slightly altering your course; you are doing an about-face.  You stop pursuing your goals and start chasing His. 

It is critical that we recognize that Jesus said we do these things DAILY.… My good friend, and mentor Joe White says that “every” is one of the most important words in the English language. What he means… and what Jesus makes clear in this passage, is that picking up your cross, denying yourself, and following Him is not a onetime act. It is something we do EVERY day. Trusting Christ is not the finish line… It’s the beginning of our full-time calling to fight against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil. 

It’s unacceptable to God when we just “Moderately” adjust our lives for Him …And when you consider the price He paid for our redemption, you understand His disgust with those who approach their faith with anything less than wholehearted reckless abandon. 

“Radical Christianity is not going on a mission trip or a big conference. Radical Christianity is staying steady for decades.”  - Mike Bickle

2 Kings 19:14 8/11/2026

“Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.”

That’s how you handle a problem. 

King Hezekiah had just been given an ultimatum by the King of Assyria to surrender Jerusalem or be destroyed.... His response is a template for us to follow when we are threatened. No matter your position, no matter how powerful you think you are … the way you handle a problem is to go to God,  lay it in front of Him, and wait. 

I must confess, that is not always my response… I can picture myself receiving this threatening letter and firing off a terse email… or strategizing how best to fight. Or stomping around shouting “how dare they” …etc. But I love the clear, concise language in this verse. He took it from the servant…. read it…. took it to the temple…. spread it out before the Lord. 

Why do we so often respond differently? Is it because we have forgotten God’s power? Have we forgotten that God loves us more than we can comprehend? At no point in this process does Hezekiah appear to feel alone or desperate… Why do we? Why do we preach God’s deliverance until we are the ones threatened? 

“IF” I go to the Father, I usually come with my own plan, and instead of faith I come in fear. My prayer is usually instructive as though God needs my guidance in resolving the problem. When will I realize that any energy, spent outside of getting my issue before the Lord, is wasted energy? 

Since Hezekiah went directly to God and trusted Him, the Lord replies: ” … ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.” That verse is followed by about ten verses describing things God is going to do for Hezekiah… that Hezekiah cannot do for himself. And that is the point. That is how we find peace. 

So today if you get ambushed by an unexpected danger,  spread it out before the Lord and lean on Him. He is not surprised and if you’ll turn loose of the reins, and have a little faith, He will handle it. 

 “God’s plan is still working even when your plan is falling apart.” 
- Max Lucado

2 Timothy 4:11 8/4/2026

“…get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

Mark was an understudy who abandoned Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey. It led to one of the most well-known “Church Arguments” in history.  Barnabas wanted to bring Mark on the next trip and Paul said, “no way”… That disagreement split the team. Scripture says, Barnabas took Mark  ….But Paul chose Silas and departed”.  Then, Fifteen years later, Paul writes the sentence we’re studying this morning, and there’s a lot to learn from that sentence. 

First, we learn how to disagree without making it personal. This has become rare in our culture.  Paul didn’t spend the years since the argument, assassinating Mark’s reputation.  Neither was he worried about his own when he wrote this letter. He didn’t say “I was right years ago, and Mark has finally grown up”… He just said that Mark was important to the ministry, and he wanted to see him.  

The second lesson is Restoration… People get all wound up over “church discipline” because they don’t understand it.  Church discipline is about restoration.  Mark dropped the ball… he did the worst thing you can do as a teammate, and though I am sure it was uncomfortable, Paul called him out. We don’t know if Mark would have become the man he became without learning that quitting had ramifications. But this incident and Paul’s honest assessment no doubt magnified the importance of endurance and loyalty to Mark. 

The final lesson is forgiveness for others (and yourself)… Basically, don’t live in negativity. I used to tell my players when they were upset over a bad game, that they needed some “GOI therapy” (Get Over It). That’s what Paul is teaching with this sentence.  Sometimes, When we blow it… or people let us down, we just need to Get over it, or as my granddaughter sings “Let it go”.  Paul forgives and forgets. 

Paul pardons Mark for bailing on them; Mark forgave himself and came back better than before. I don’t care how badly you blew it. If you have confessed and repented, you can be “helpful in ministry”.   Stop worrying about the past …. Get up, forget the times you or your teammate failed, and always remember that the most important play is the next one.

“Who you’ve been, ain’t who you gotta be” - Tim McGraw