It's Been A While

In the blog world it has been a while. Things have been very busy here. We had our grand opening of our new youth room this past Sunday with over 120 people attending. Our men's ministry has kicked into high fall gear. My family is in fall mode and we are trying to keep up with the current.

I didn't preach this past Sunday and it was wonderful to sit under the preaching of my dad from the book of Matthew. The Holy Spirit was ministering to me in a powerful way and I was glad to be able to rest in God's Word. Although, I am looking forward to preaching again this week from Acts 4.

If you have been following along, I would encourage you to read Acts 3-4 this week. It will help you to have the context of the passage before Sunday morning. See how God uses the healing of the lame man to all 2000 people unto himself. See how Peter had to take a stand in front of the murderers of Jesus Christ. See how he didn't back down. See how God blessed his boldness and how it was God, not Peter, who received all of the glory.

Often preachers received praise and adulation after a good sermon. These compliments help if we keep it in perspective to encourage us to fight the good fight. However, my hope is that the Lord is the focus of praise and adulation after a sermon. My dad said something to this effect this past week. It is always wonderful to hear how "I" ministered to someone through preaching. But my true goal is to point you to our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who strengthens me and who has found me faithful and has appointed me to this work. For I was once a blasphemer...and yet the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly.

My prayer is that you would be blown away by God's incredible grace and salvation this week. Start by reading Acts 3-4 and ask God to give you opportunities, like Peter and John had, so that the Gospel might go out in a dark world.