A simple way to study a book of the Bible is to make note of repeated words or phrases; this is often the easiest way to identify the theme of a book! In Malachi, that phrase is “but you say”, which appears frequently in just four chapters. Why does the prophet use this phrase so often, and what does it signify for the modern reader?
(Preaching on the return from exile. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 31, 2025.)
Songs have a complex relationship with culture; music is both shaped by, and also shapes, the culture in which it is written, and serves as a vehicle for transmitting the norms, values, and ideals of a culture to the next generation. Viewed in this light, it is no wonder that we are instructed to teach and admonish one another with “Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” What can we learn from the Psalms of Israel, and how does teaching with the Psalms shape the people that are immersed in them?
(Preaching on the wisdom of Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 4, 2025.)
The book of Psalms spans a thousand years of Israelite history, and is the greatest collection of songs and prayers to Yahweh ever assembled. How was this collection assembled, why was it structured the way it was, and how can we begin to use this incredible resource in our own lives?
(Preaching through the wisdom literature. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 6, 2025. You can find the chart mentioned below.)
We encounter Jesus today at a very mundane place…a well. Who did Jesus meet, and what does his meeting tell us about Jesus and our connection to him?
(Preaching on one-on-one encounters with Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November 5, 2023.)
The growth of the early church was astonishingly rapid and expansive. Why? How? What did the early church do that helped them grow so quickly, and what does that mean for us?
(This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 25, 2023.)
When Jesus promised to build his church, what purpose did he have in mind? What did he desire to accomplish by creating such a group of people, and how do we fit into his goals?
(Preaching on the church that Jesus built. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 7, 2023.)
What is “worship”? What does it mean to worship, and why is it such an important concept in the church?
(Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 14, 2022.)
As we consider our worship in song, we examine the motivations behind it. Not in the negative sense (why don’t we use instruments?) but in the positive; why should we sing, and what does it do for us?
(This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 16, 2021.)
While it is nice that we can meet for worship in a virtual space, there are some key aspects of physical fellowship that can’t be replicated. What are they, and why are they so important?
(Recorded for the Dewey Church of Christ on April 26, 2020.)
Why is the birth of Christ so important? How should we consider it in our every day walk with God? When should we celebrate it?
(Preaching on things people think about around the holidays. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 22, 2019.)
Watts in the Word 