This is the first lesson in a series on how the church can or should interact with the world around it, in politics, culture, social pressures, communities, etc. In this first sermon we consider the way God has always called his people out of the world to be something special or different, and lay the groundwork for what is to come.
(Preaching on the church in the world. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 4, 2026.)
This sermon is a bit of a preview of a series of lessons we will start in the new year. 1 Peter is a book addressed to “the elect exiles of the dispersion.” What does this title mean, who does it apply to, and why does it matter for the modern Christian?
(Preaching on 1 Peter. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 7, 2025.)
Having just finished a series on “Developing an Identity in Christ”, we transition to thinking about Christ – who was he? Who is he? Like anyone else, the identity of Jesus is composed of many different facets. We will begin with the most basic part of the identity of Jesus – his Jewishness.
(Preaching on the identity of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 13, 2024.)
As we develop our identity in Christ, there is room for us to maintain our unique personality and to develop individual identities as followers of the master. How can we maintain the core of discipleship to Christ while retaining the things that make us who we are? And how does God want to use us personally, as unique individuals?
(Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 29, 2024.)
We make a lot of decisions about how we present ourselves to the world that we might describe as aesthetics, or style, or a vibe. Does God care how we present ourselves to the world? What role do our aesthetic choices play in cultivating a holy identity in Christ?
(Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 22, 2024.)
In many ways humans are defined by their relationships to others. It can be easy to allow our individual identities to be subsumed by these connections. How does God expect our relationships to influence our identities, and how can we develop an identity in Christ while also righteously connecting with others?
(Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 8, 2024.)
Politics dominates modern discourse, but what exactly are politics. What makes something political? And, most importantly, what does God expect of the Christian in regards to politics?
(Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 1, 2024.)
Most adults spend most of their waking hours at work, so it’s not surprising that working or professional identity becomes a central part of our sense of self. But what is the point of work in the Bible? What does God have to say about the role of work in our identity?
(Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 25, 2024.)
It’s not saying anything special to note that sexuality is at the heart of a lot of modern life, from advertising to politics to entertainment and culture. What does God have to say about human sexuality and gender, and how can we fit our sense of self into God’s design for humanity?
(Preaching on developing an identity in Christ. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 18, 2024.)
We continue our study on identity by considering the difference between the word “Christian” and “disciple” – which word did the early Christians use to identify themselves? How does our spirituality relate to our self-formulation of identity?
(Preaching on identity. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 11, 2024.)
Watts in the Word 