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  • Root and Branch, Stump and Shoot (Isaiah 11:1-10)

    Isaiah 11:1-10 December 12, 2004 Root and Branch, Stump and Shoot Isaiah 11:1-10 December 12, 2004 (Sermon Transcript/Extended Notes) By Rich Lusk G. K. Chesterton is one of my favorite authors. In his wildly funny and futuristic novel Napoleon of Notting Hill, he talks about a game the human race has been playing for a… Read more

  • Satan the Deceiver

    Satan is a deceiver and a counterfeiter. He cannot create anything of his own, but he can twist things God made to evil and perverse purposes.  This means Satan has his own sacraments. In 1 Corinthians 10:21 Paul speaks of partaking of the table and cup of demons; this provokes the Lord to jealousy (10:22)… Read more

  • From the Archives: Who May Celebrate the Eucharist? (TPC Position Paper)

    Thankfully,we have an associate pastor so we do not run into the issue of what to do about the Eucharist when the pastor travels on a Lord’s Day. But before we had a larger pastoral staff, it was a dilemma for us. After going several years and struggling to find a pastor who could fill-in,… Read more

  • Sermon Follow-Up: 1 John 1:1-4

    In 1 John 1:1-4, John says “we” apostles testify and proclaim to “you,” the church, the Word of Life which we have heard, seen, and handled. John gives a complete Christology in a few short verses. “Word of Life” is obviously a divine title; “heard, seen, and handled” describes one who is truly human. Jesus… Read more

  • A Celebration of the Incarnation Must Be Incarnational — 12/11/2005 Sermon (Edited Version) — Advent in Isaiah (Part 2): The Church’s Culture of Feasting

    I got AI to convert a couple excerpts from my 12/11/2005 sermon into short essays. I’m experimenting with this, and have posted a few different versions with varying degrees of editing, but I like the way these came out so I’m sharing them here: — The world today is a joyless place. It is up… Read more

  • From the Manger to the Cross (and other Christmas Notes)

    In Luke 2, heaven opened when the angels met the shepherds. It’s interesting how much this theme of heaven opening shows up in Advent and Christmas hymnody, e.g.• “O Come O Come Emmanuel” – “Key of David come and open wide our heavenly home”• “Good Christian Men Rejoice” – “he hath opened heaven’s door”• “While… Read more