The last chapter of James deals with two very different ends of the spectrum of life: success and earthly wealth, and suffering in earthly trials. How do we hold these two parts of life in balance while maintaining a healthy relationship with God?
(Preaching through James. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 27, 2026.)
This sermon is a little different; 38 verses on suffering in the life of the Christian, strung together back to back. Tenses and pronouns have been modified to make the entire thing seem like a continuous letter from God to his church today.
(Preaching on suffering. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 17, 2026.)
Ruth 1 is a devastating chapter, as the narrative jumps right into tragedy in Naomi’s life and her response to that tragedy. What do we learn about Naomi’s mental and spiritual state, and what can we take away from her conversations with her daughters-in-law?
(Preaching through Ruth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 12, 2026.)
There is a tension between the concepts of holiness (remaining separate and distinct from the world) and submission (living in peace and being subject to proper authority). How should the church navigate the tension? And why does so much of the New Testament seem to assume that Christians will definitely be persecuted in the world?
(Preaching on the church engaging with the world. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 8, 2026.)
The middle section of Romans is a masterful treatise on the hope God gives us in the broken, fallen world we live in. Why is the world so broken, and how does God expect us to persevere in it?
(Preaching on Romans. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November 16, 2025.)
The second in our two-part lesson on the problem of pain approaches the problem in a more traditional, critical way: given the nature of God, his power, love, and knowledge, how can evil and suffering still exist?
(Preaching on the problem of evil. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 26, 2025.)
This is the first of a two-part lesson on the problem of suffering and pain in the world. This first part comes from Job: what can we learn about suffering and the problem of pain in our lives from Job and his discussion with his friends?
(Preaching on Job. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 26, 2025.)
We have probably all heard the expression “no pain, no gain.” This is not just a term for athletes and weightlifters, but simply expresses an important concept for Spiritual growth. What kind of pain is necessary for Christian growth, and what does that mean for how we think about the suffering of life?
(Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 5, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from Deeper by Dane Ortlund.)
Almost everyone has felt the urge to question God at some point: why did this bad thing happen, why is that horrible person doing well, why can’t I do this thing? What kind of answers does God promise us?
(Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 17, 2024.)
Suffering is such a generic, ubiquitous part of the human experience. What leads to suffering in our lives, and how does God expect us to respond?
(Preaching on struggles. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 4, 2022.)
