When I write sermons, I talk them first. I say things out loud as it I were speaking to you. As themes and wisdom and truths come to me, the sermon beings to take shape. The I dictate the first draft so I have a record of it. I adjust, put in illustrations and stories, get rid of the tangents no matter how fun they are; and all the time I’m talking listening to the Lord’s direction while I’m talking right out loud. Good thing the dog is used to my wondering around the house passionately proclaiming the word of God! Until Friday morning. I was practicing this sermon in…

You have already experienced the greatest transformation of all. You are saved, you are a new creature in Christ! Once you’re saved, the Lord tells His children to become more like Christ, to “pick up your cross and follow Me.” This means developing qualities like the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Please note that none of these include hating people for their professions or politics. Just saying.) Transformation in Christ happens when you take the Word of God seriously by reading it, studying it, and/or listening to it every day; and when you live it out the way you deal with other…

Elijah, the great prophet of the Lord in the apostate kingdom of Northern Israel, lay in a heap on the dusty ground. Not two days before he had worked a mighty miracle. At God’s will, he challenged horrible King Ahab and Queen Jezebel to a showdown: he represented the Lord God against nine hundred priests of the false gods Baal and Asherah, the pet gods of Ahab and Jezebel. The challenge? In front of thousands of people, each side would sacrifice a single bull on their respective altar. The worshipers would then call down fire from their god to burn up the sacrifice. The winner’s deity would claim the hearts…