In some ways God’s work to restore creation is at the heart of the whole Bible story from the opening chapters of Genesis to the closing of Revelation. The image of the church as a new creation in Christ is a vital part of the larger story of God’s renewing work. How do we fit into this grand narrative?
(Preaching on images of the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 7, 2026.)
When considering different images or analogies of the church, none is more common than that of a family. It is so common, in fact, that it may be inappropriate to think of it as an analogy at all; it seems to be simply the default way that the writers of the New Testament thought about the church. How should the use of family language regarding the church change the way we think about and interact with God’s kingdom today?
(Preaching on images of the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 31, 2025.)
The metaphor of spiritual warfare is at the heart of the Christian life and our struggle with sin, the Devil, and temptation. In what way is a Christian like a soldier, and what does the image of war and fighting mean for our daily walk with Jesus?
(Preaching on images of the Church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 24, 2026.)
The image of the church as a bride has a lot of implications: for how we think about and conceptualize our relationship with Jesus, for how Jesus thinks and feels about us, and for how seriously we treat our sin. Why has God always used this analogy with his people, and what should it mean for us today?
(Preaching on images of the Church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 17, 2026.)
The image of the church as branches of a tree or a vine is one of the less common in Scripture, but it is instructive nonetheless. What does this analogy teach us about our relationship with Jesus and our job as his followers?
(Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 3, 2026.)
The image of the church as a flock of sheep is perhaps the least flattering one in all of Scripture. This comparison goes back a long way, to God’s relationship with the Israelites and their leaders. What can we learn from Israel’s use of this analogy, Jesus’s adoption of it, and the early Church’s continuation of its use?
(Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 26, 2026.)
The image of the church as a “body” is one of the most common word-pictures in the New Testament. Why is it so prevalent, and what does it mean for how we think about and act in God’s kingdom?
(Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 19, 2026.)
We begin a series on “images of the church” in the New Testament, different word-pictures or analogies for God’s people, with temple language. What is significant about the word “temple,” and how does it apply to the church?
(Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 12, 2025.)
Watts in the Word 