Scott LaPierre Ministries

Scott LaPierre

Scott LaPierre (https://www.scottlapierre.org/) is a pastor, author, and Christian speaker on marriage. This podcast includes his conference messages, guest preaching, and expository sermons at Woodland Christian Church. Each of Scott’s messages is the result of hours of studying the Bible. Scott and his wife, Katie, grew up together in northern California, and God has blessed them with nine children. View all of Pastor Scott’s books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Scott-LaPierre/e/B01JT920EQ. Receive a FREE copy of Scott’s book, “Seven Biblical Insights for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Marriages.” For Scott LaPierre’s conference and speaking information, including testimonies, and endorsements, please visit: https://www.scottlapierre.org/christian-speaker/. Feel free to contact Scott at: https://www.scottlapierre.org/contact/. read less
Religion & SpiritualityReligion & Spirituality

Episodes

Learning from the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21)
Yesterday
Learning from the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21)
In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus taught the Parable of the Rich Fool. Ironically, the rich fool looked smart, accumulating wealth and succeeding as a farmer and businessman. Learn why God said he was a fool when his life ended. Table of ContentsEverything Comes from GodWe Can Be Wise in the World's Eyes But Fools to GodThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Didn’t GiveThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Didn’t Plan for EternityThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Didn’t Know to Whom His Soul BelongedThe Rich Man Was a Fool Because He Wasn’t Rich Toward GodUnderstand What Money Can't DoUnderstand What the Gospel Can Do https://youtu.be/XlQwaVEw090 Jesus taught the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21. Learn why God called him a fool despite looking smart and successful. Malcolm Forbes was an American entrepreneur who is most well-known as the publisher of Forbes magazine. He’s also remembered for several sayings, and one that he repeated is, “He who has the most toys wins.” As you would expect from someone who said this, he lived an extravagant, flamboyant lifestyle. He spent millions (or perhaps billions) on parties, traveling, and his collection of yachts, aircraft, art, motorcycles, castles, hot-air balloons, and Fabergé eggs, some of which cost over one million dollars each. Growing up, there was a popular line of clothing called No Fear. They had one shirt that corrected Malcom’s quote: “He who dies with the most toys still dies.” The people working for the secular clothing company were considerably more biblical than Mr. Forbes. They recognized that regardless of how much a man has, he can’t “add a single hour to his span of life,” as Jesus said (Matthew 6:27). The No Fear clothing company also recognized we can’t take any of our toys or possessions with us because if we could, then the one who died with the most toys would be the winner. The man in the parable of the rich fool seems like the Malcolm Forbes of the Bible. He lived only for this life: The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:16-21). The rich fool’s harvest was so great he ran out of room to store it. As a farmer, because his crops are basically money, it’s like he has more money than he knows what to do with. How would you like to have this problem? Believe it or not, it was a big problem for him! He didn’t understand the concept of stewardship and that anything he had ultimately belonged to God and was meant to be used for His glory. Everything Comes from God Some things are harder to be viewed as coming from God. For example, if you study for a degree, it’s hard to say, “God gave this to me” because you feel like you earned it. The same can be said if you’re faithful at work and get promoted, practice an instrument and become an accomplished musician, or train for a race and win. But seeing God’s hand in them is easier with some other things. For example, we have nothing to do with where and when we are born. As of 2023, we have had ten children, and we see God’s hand in this child’s birth because we can’t create life. Only God can do that. One more thing we should view as coming from God is a good harvest, or “land [producing] plentifully.” Although I haven’t been a farmer, I know it’s a profession that greatly depends on circumstances outside our control. My father-in-law, Rick, is a farmer. Katie says she remembers growing up watching her father stand at the window looking at the clouds with conce...
The Unfading Beauty of a Godly Woman (Proverbs 7:10-12 and 1 Peter 3:1-4)
Mar 11 2024
The Unfading Beauty of a Godly Woman (Proverbs 7:10-12 and 1 Peter 3:1-4)
First Peter 3 explains how a woman can have unfading beauty. The godly woman in 1 Peter 3 can be contrasted with the ungodly woman in Proverbs 7 who lures the foolish young man. Table of contentsA Godly Woman Has a Gentle and Quiet Spirit Versus Being LoudA Godly Woman Is Submissive Versus RebelliousA Godly Woman Manages Her Home Versus Neglects ItA Godly Woman Dresses ModestlyAre Men or Women at Fault?A Selfish AttitudeA Godly Woman Can Pursue External BeautyWhat About Jewelry and Nice Clothing?Unfading Beauty Should Be Pursued More than External BeautyOur World's Obsession with Unfading BeautyEven the World Appreciates Unfading BeautyUnfading Beauty Is "Precious to God"What About Jesus's Appearance? https://youtu.be/UxLIno3AskA The unfading beauty of a godly woman is described in 1 Peter 3:1-4 and can be contrasted with the ungodly woman in Proverbs 7. Much of the text in this post is found in Your Marriage God's Way, which also has an accompanying audiobook. I am praying God uses the book and workbook to strengthen marriages and exalt Christ. What makes a woman beautiful? The harlot in Proverbs 7 tried different ways to make herself beautiful, or attractive, to the young man: Verse 10 says she “dressed as a prostitute” Verse 13 shows she was incredibly aggressive: “She seizes him and kisses him” Verse 17 says she used “[perfume], myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon” Verse 21 says she used “seductive speech” Are these the things that make a woman beautiful? Or is it something physical, such as her hair or face? Or something mental, such as her intelligence or education? Or something emotional, such as her personality or friendliness? The Bible acknowledges physically beautiful women. For example: Sarah in Genesis 12:14, Rebekah in Genesis 24:16, Rachel in Genesis 29:17, Abigail in 1 Samuel 25:3. But the weakness of this beauty is it fades with time. But 1 Peter 3:1-4 describes an unfading beauty: 1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be externalthe braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the IMPERISHABLE (or unfading) BEAUTY of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. The godly woman described in these verses can be contrasted with the harlot in Proverbs 7. A Godly Woman Has a Gentle and Quiet Spirit Versus Being Loud Proverbs 7:10 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. 11a She is loud What did it say about the woman in 1 Peter 3? She has a: 1 Peter 3:4 gentle and QUIET SPIRIT It’s important to notice it says, “gentle and quiet spirit” versus “gentle and quiet mouth.” In other words, this isn’t telling women they can never talk. Women can be friendly, social, extroverted, and have quiet spirits. Conversely, women can be introverted, talk little, and NOT have quiet spirits. Consider the description of the virtuous wife in Proverbs 31:26: Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She is applauded for speaking. If Peter is not discouraging women from speaking, what is he discouraging? The Greek word translated “gentle” is prays, which means “mildness of disposition.” It describes how a woman should handle herself and respond to situations in life. She should be calm and in control. She should not be easily wrought or stirred up. Consider how it’s worded in the Amplified: “a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature].” The word appears only two other places in Scripture: Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek [prays], for they shall inherit the earth.
Three Ways to Resist Temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9
Mar 4 2024
Three Ways to Resist Temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9
God personifies temptation as a harlot in Proverbs 7. The chapter gives us one of the greatest pictures of temptation in Scripture. The harlot pursues the young man the way temptation pursues us. The chapter also gives us one of the greatest pictures of the foolishness of giving in to temptation. The young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. Here are three ways to resist temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9. Table of contentsTo Resist Temptation, Don’t Take the First StepSome Sins Don't Require Taking StepsThe Steps David Took to Commit Adultery with Bathsheba"When He Fell, He Didn't Fall Far"To Resist Temptation, Guard Your HeartCounsel for Parents Who Want to Help Their Children Guard Their HeartsCounsel for Young Men and Young Women Who Want to Guard Their HeartsCounsel for Children Who Have Parents Who Help Them Guard Their HeartsTo Resist Temptation, Stay in the LightWanting to Hide in Darkness Starts at a Young AgePursue the Light https://youtu.be/9BlInZgE7lQ Here are three ways to resist temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9. The young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. God is a visual teacher. He wants us to have pictures in our minds. Think of how God had prophets use object lessons in the Old Testament so the people had images of the preached truths. Think of the poetic language used throughout the Bible, such as: Exodus 19:4 I bore you on eagles’ wings. God didn’t literally carry Israel with eagles, but this creates wonderful imagery of him swooping in to save his people from Egypt. Psalm 6:6 Every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. David wasn’t literally lying on a soggy bed of tears, but it creates the imagery of his sleeplessness and sorrow. Think of the way Jesus taught in parables, causing people to picture: A sower sowing seed A friend coming in the middle of the night A king throwing a wedding for his son A greedy farmer who kept building barns for his crops. This creates pictures that help us understand spiritual truths more easily. God does the same thing in Proverbs 7. He personifies temptation as a harlot. This chapter gives us three things: The harlot gives us one of the greatest pictures of temptation in Scripture. Because temptation can be so strong, God wants us to have an equally strong picture of how terrible it is. The harlot pursues the young man the way temptation pursues us. The foolish young man gives us one of the greatest pictures of the foolishness of giving in to temptation. The young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. The end of the chapter gives us one of the most dramatic pictures of the danger of giving in to temptation. The harlot killed the young man like sin kills us. James 1:14 says, "Each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his own desire." "When he is lured" is one word in Greek, exelkō, which is a metaphor for the seduction of a harlot. In other words, when James wants to describe temptation enticing us, he uses the imagery of a harlot. We get to see what that looks like in this chapter. What is temptation? Some synonyms for ‘tempt’ are: allure, attract, entice, seduce, and tantalize. Each word generates an emotional picture. We are allured by the temptation. We are attracted to it, enticed by it, seduced by its seeming pleasure, tantalized by the fantasy of what it would be like. Dangers Men Face by Jerry White, 1997, p. 80 If you didn’t know better, you would think Jerry is describing a harlot enticing someone versus temptation enticing us. Because we are dealing with a harlot, there’s lots of application for young men, but because the harlot personifies temptation, and we all face temptation, there is application for all of us. That’s why the sermon title is “Three Ways to Resist Temptation” versus “Three Ways for Young Men to Resist Harlots.” When we are tempted,
Young Men Overcoming the Evil One By…
Feb 26 2024
Young Men Overcoming the Evil One By…
In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. Twice, the verses mention young men overcoming the evil one. They do so by being spiritually strong, being in God’s Word, being self-controlled, and resisting the harlot in Proverbs 7. Table of contentsYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Spiritually StrongYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being in God’s WordYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Self-ControlledYoung Men Are Fighting the Toughest BattleYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Resisting the HarlotA Father's ResponsibilityYoung Men Wrongly Think Noone Sees God Sees the Good, TooFootnotes https://youtu.be/wOlsoFelGao Twice, 1 John 2:12-14 mentions young men overcoming the evil one. They must be spiritually strong and resist the harlot in Proverbs 7. Let me tell you about the different units in the Army. I will briefly break them down, starting at the brigade level: A brigade has 2-3 battalions and about 5,000 soldiers. A battalion has 4-6 companies and about 1,000 soldiers. A company has 3-4 platoons and about 200 soldiers. A platoon has 2-3 squads and about 36 soldiers. A squad has about 10 soldiers. Squads make up the platoons, companies, battalions, and brigades They are the building blocks of the Army, and they are filled with young men. We don’t send children, women, or old men to battle. We send young men. They are in the trenches and on the front lines. When a general decides to storm a beach, take a hill, or drop men behind enemy lines, he sends young men. They exert the greatest effort and make the greatest sacrifices. The greatest strength is required of them. First John 2:12-14 divides our progressive sanctification into three stages: children, fathers, and young men. It says to young men twice, "Young men have OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE." Young men are fighting the enemy. They are in the trenches and on the front line. They must exert the greatest effort and make the greatest sacrifices. The greatest strength is required of them. Maybe this is why they are listed last in the verses. Children are addressed first, then fathers, and THEN young men, versus children, young men, and fathers as expected. Maybe John addresses them last because the most is expected of them, and he wants to give them the most attention: 1 John 2:13b I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14b I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Young men know more than the gospel basics of children, but they don’t yet have the deep knowledge and understanding fathers have.1 Three things are said to young men, but only one thing is said to them twice, once in verse 13 and again in verse 14: they “have overcome the evil one.” It seems that if you are wondering when you move from being a child to being a young man, it is when you have victory over temptation. And this could be why some people spiritually remain children: they don’t overcome sin. Now, there must be some balance because none of us stop sinning completely. I think the balance is young men have victory over life-dominating sin. They still sin, but not habitually, or it does not dominate them. Let’s talk about each thing said to young men so we can equip them to overcome the evil one. Young Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Spiritually Strong Because we are talking about young men, we immediately think of physical strength, and that’s probably part of it. Hopefully, you young men are using your strength and energy in positive, productive ways, not wasting your time on frivolous activities. But spiritual strength is even more in view. And there is a relationship between a young man’s spiritual strength and – as it says – “the Word of God abiding in [him].” God’s Word is the source of a young man’s spiritual strength.
Progressive Sanctification from Children to Fathers (1 John 2:12-14)
Feb 19 2024
Progressive Sanctification from Children to Fathers (1 John 2:12-14)
Progressive sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus. Justification is the once-for-all-time moment God declares us righteous by faith in Christ. Progressive sanctification begins after justification and continues throughout our Christian lives until we receive glorified bodies. In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. God’s spiritual family is like human families, with members at different maturity levels. Table of contentsChildren’s Progressive Sanctification Begins with Gospel BasicsChildren’s Progressive Sanctification Begins with Moving from Knowledge to RelationshipGinosko Versus EpistamaiBaby Christians Are Still ChristiansWhat About Unbelievers?A Father’s Progressive Sanctification Comes from the WordA Father’s Progressive Sanctification Comes from TrialsKnowing God Is the Height of Progressive SanctificationWhat Shouldn't We Boast About?One Thing We Can Boast AboutThe Balance with Progressive Sanctification https://youtu.be/uNJ6aP7w2gk Progressive sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus; 1 John 2:12-14 divides it into stages: children, young men, fathers. When we moved to Washington in 2010, Johnny was only a few months old but wasn’t growing. He was classified as “failure to thrive.” It was scary because his skin was hanging from his face and arms, he couldn’t tell us what was wrong, and the doctors couldn’t figure out what to do. I think it was particularly hard on Katie, who tried to nurse him around the clock but couldn’t get him to gain any weight. As concerning as it is when people do not grow physically, it is even more concerning when they do not grow spiritually: Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain…TO MATURE MANHOOD, to the MEASURE OF THE STATURE of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may NO LONGER BE CHILDREN…15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to GROW UP IN EVERY WAY into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes THE BODY GROW SO THAT IT BUILDS ITSELF UP in love. These verses describe progressive sanctification, which is the process of becoming more like Jesus. In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. God’s spiritual family is like human families, with members at different maturity levels. We will look at children and fathers in this sermon and young men separately. The verses are written uniquely: There are two sets of three addresses. The three addresses are for children, fathers, and young men. In the first set, the address begins with, “I am writing to you,” and in the second set, the address begins with, “I write to you.” The verses are written TO US instead of ABOUT US. In other words, they don’t say, “Children know their sins are forgiven, fathers know him who is from the beginning, and young men have overcome the evil one.” Instead, the verses say, “I am writing to you, or I write you children, young men, fathers.” This makes it personal and shows John’s desire to assure us of these truths. These verses are not about biological children, young men, and fathers. They are about spiritual children, young men, and fathers. Children’s Progressive Sanctification Begins with Gospel Basics 1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake...2:13c I write to you, children, because you know the Father. Because children, or baby Christians, only have a basic understanding of the gospel, these are two wonderful yet simple truths to share with them. First, John assured them their sins were forgiven. Sometimes new believers need to be reassured of this truth. If you’re a new Christian, or you remember being a new Christian, you probably remember being amazed at God’s grace and mercy in forgiving and sa...
Don’t Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You Are Young (1 Timothy 4:12)
Feb 12 2024
Don’t Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You Are Young (1 Timothy 4:12)
Paul said, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). Paul says young people should set an example in five ways. Table of contentsWhen Young People Set an Example That Should Be Looked Down OnThe LaPierre HouseholdAddressing One of My Weaknesses as a FatherThe Journey to a Family BusinessThe 12 Disciples Were Probably in Their TwentiesGod Told the Prophet Jeremiah He Was Not Too YoungAccording to 1 Timothy 4:12 Young People Should Set an Example in Five Ways...First, Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You Are Young by Setting an Example in WordSecond, Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You by Setting an Example in ConductThird, Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You Are Young by Setting an Example in LoveFourth, Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You Are Young by Setting an Example in FaithFifth, Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You Are Young by Setting an Example in PurityGrace and WorkFootnotes https://youtu.be/cEbcuvyEqf4 Paul said, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers" (1 Timothy 4:12). The text in this post is from Work and Rest God's Way. There is also an accompanying Family Guide. Both are available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. I'm praying God uses them to exalt Christ in your lives and family and encourage you as you serve Him. People with lazy childhoods rarely grow up to be diligent adults because they’ll bring the habits they developed in their childhood into adulthood; therefore, the best approach is to start training children to have a strong work ethic when they’re young. Their work depends on their strength and maturity, but even at a young age, they can do jobs around the house and sometimes even in the surrounding neighborhood. In the church I pastor, we strive to take care of our needs ourselves as opposed to paying people to do it for us. This means we have a schedule for families to clean the church, instead of hiring a janitor to do it. We have church workdays versus hiring people for maintenance and repairs. When church cleaning and workdays take place, families perform these tasks together. Children work alongside adults. Unfortunately, in some churches, children might be the least likely to serve, but this is the opposite of what should be the case. In Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20, Paul charged, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right,” and “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” Performing chores faithfully and with a good attitude is one of the primary ways children obey their parents. Parents can remind their children that 2 Thessalonians 3:10 teaches that people who don’t work shouldn’t eat. Are parents going to starve their children? No, but rare is the child who wouldn’t benefit from the lesson that missing a meal teaches. How many children would work more diligently if they were told the meal wouldn’t be served until all the work is done? When Young People Set an Example That Should Be Looked Down On Unfortunately, society makes children think they aren’t adults until they’re twenty-one, but they can behave maturely years earlier. Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). According to this verse, becoming an adult has more to do with putting away childish things than it has to do with age. Some children are mature because of the childish things they’ve put away. Conversely, some older people are immature because of the childish things they haven’t put away. According to a 2017 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, 57 percent of today’s children will be obese by the time they’re thirty-five.
When I Kept Silent About My Sin (Psalm 32:3-5)
Feb 5 2024
When I Kept Silent About My Sin (Psalm 32:3-5)
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Uriah, in 2 Samuel 11. We wouldn’t know it from that chapter, but David was paying an excruciating price while he wouldn’t confess. He wrote, “When I kept silent about my sin,” and then described the consequences he experienced in Psalm 32:3-5. Table of contentsOutline for Psalm 32:1-5Psalm 32:3-4 Describes David's Misery When He Kept Silent About His SinSin Is a Heavy BurdenIf We Keep Silent About Sin, It Can Physically Affect UsIf We Keep Silent About Sin, It Can Bring God’s DisciplineDavid's ConfessionA Confession Can Bring ReliefIf We Keep Silent About Our Sin, We Fail to Prosper or Obtain MercyA Confession Can Be Short If It Is SincereSincere Confessions Can Bring Habitual Sins to an EndNathan's Response to David's Confession https://youtu.be/NmTSVy4EhL0 David wrote, “When I kept silent about my sin,” and then in Psalm 32:3-5 described the consequences he experienced when he wouldn’t confess. I want to tell you about one of the most difficult students I had as an elementary school teacher, who also became one of my favorites. His father was in jail. I still remember reading a letter he wrote him encouraging him to be strong because he knew prison must be really difficult. Imagine a son writing that to a father! I don’t think his mother was in the picture. His aunt, who also had her children to care for, raised him. I don’t think she was married, so she had to work full-time to care for herself and the children, which didn’t leave much time for him. Even though he behaved poorly, regularly disrupting class and getting in trouble, I would have had him in class every year if I could have. So, what gave me so much affection for him besides his difficult background, which made me want to see him succeed? He never argued, made excuses, lied, or blamed others when he got in trouble. He made foolish decisions but admitted what he did wrong whenever I confronted him. I found this to be very refreshing because the first two words out of most students’ mouths when they were in trouble were the word “But” followed by the name of the student they wanted to blame: “But Brian hit me first,” or “But Jessica was talking to me when I was trying to work.” The humility to accept responsibility is endearing and impressive. I have often wondered how King David could be the Man after God’s Own Heart after committing adultery with Bathsheba and then trying to hide his sin by murdering her husband, Uriah. David’s actions were so wicked that we would doubt the salvation of anyone else who did the same. I’m convinced that at least part of the reason God spoke so highly of David was his humility in accepting responsibility for his actions. Outline for Psalm 32:1-5 In Psalm 32, which David wrote after confessing, he did two fascinating things: In Psalm 32:1-2 David wrote about the blessedness for those whose sins God covers. In Psalm 32:3-5 David wrote about the misery he experienced when he kept silent about his sin. Psalm 32:3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah When David said, “When I kept silent,” he criticized himself. He meant: “When I wouldn’t confess my sin.” “When I pretended to be deaf to the Holy Spirit’s conviction.” “When I was stubborn, proud, and rebellious.” If Cain, Absalom, or Ahab had written these words, we wouldn’t wonder what they were thinking because we expect men like them to keep silent about their sins. But David wrote these words, and he was the Man after God’s Own Heart. So, we can wonder what a deeply spiritual and godly man could have been thinking when he kept silent about his sin. I have wondered this many times. Some of you might remember that the first books I chose to preach through when I came to WCC were 1 and 2 Samuel.
Blessed Are Those Whose Sins Are Covered (Psalm 32:1-2)
Jan 23 2024
Blessed Are Those Whose Sins Are Covered (Psalm 32:1-2)
God took away Adam and Eve’s fig leaves and clothed them himself. He stopped them from covering themselves, and he covered them. This is a physical picture of a spiritual reality. God doesn’t want us to cover our sins. He wants to cover our sins for us. In Psalm 32:1 David wrote, "Blessed are those whose sins are covered." We can't cover our sins. When we try, we fail. We still see our sin. It is always before us. But when we confess our sin, and God covers it, it is hidden from sight, never to be seen again. Table of contentsOur Flesh Tempts Us to Cover Our SinsCovering Their Nakedness Pictures Them Covering Their ShameThe Word Atone Means "To Cover"God Wants to Cover Our SinsGod Wants to Forgive our TransgressionsGod Doesn’t Want to Count Our Iniquity Against UsGod Doesn’t Want Us Living DeceitfullyWe Can't Cover Our Sins https://youtu.be/dW0Uplz5hPs "Blessed are those whose sins are covered" (Psalm 32:1). We can't cover our sins, but when we confess them and repent God covers them for us. Last Wednesday, January 10th, Charis and Chloe baked cookies, walked around our neighborhood and quickly sold out. Two days later, they wanted to bake and sell more cookies on Friday morning. I knew the big storm was coming, but I told them I would take them around a different neighborhood to support their entrepreneurial efforts. When we were leaving the house, George wanted to go too. I brought him even though he wasn’t dressed warmly, and it should have occurred to me that he didn’t know how cold it was or what we were doing. As a two-year-old, he saw people leaving the house and didn’t want to miss out. Plus, I thought he might help us sell cookies. Ignore the fact that it was about 20 degrees outside, and he wasn't dressed very warmly. Things were going well until, actually, things were never going well. It was freezing. People didn’t seem interested in buying cookies. Charis and Chloe were walking down different sides of the street, and they wanted me to stay out of sight. I think everyone who opened the door thought, “What is this little girl doing outside my door all by herself, selling cookies with a National Weather Service warning? Where are her parents? Is that why she’s selling cookies? Is it because her parents don’t care for her, and she needs the money? And is that a little boy with her?” At one point, a man came out of his house to tell Chloe to bring George home. I quickly ran up to explain the situation. I said, “Well, you see, my girls sold out of cookies the other day, and I told them that if they baked more, I would take them out again. I thought I should keep my word even if the weather is bad. I brought my son along so that Katie could have a break from him because he’s very busy, and we have nine other kids. Yes, I did say nine, so that makes ten total.” Believe it or not, my story didn’t convince him that I wasn't being a foolish father. And did you know cold weather is hard on car batteries? That was another fun part of the night. I couldn't get the car started when we tried to leave. Fortunately, I had my portable battery charger. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it to work. Katie called to see where we were because she knew we were only a neighborhood over, and it shouldn’t take long to sell eight boxes of cookies. I told her what happened, and she asked, “Do you want me to pick you up in the bus?” This was code for, “I hate my kids being outside when it’s freezing, so let me come pick you up.” I said, “Well, they aren’t outside. They are inside the car.” Unsurprisingly, that didn’t make her feel better because she knew the heat wasn’t on. After all, the battery was dead. Nothing really gets by Katie. She said, “Just let me come pick you up.” I said, “I bought a car battery charger, and now I can learn how to use it.” This also didn’t make Katie feel better because she knows I’m not the handiest with this sort of stuff. After trying for 5, 10, or 47 minutes,
The Stone that the Builders Rejected Has Become the Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22)
Jan 15 2024
The Stone that the Builders Rejected Has Become the Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22)
Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 at the end of the parable of the vineyard owner: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." In a few days, the religious leaders arrest Jesus and murder him. They look victorious, and he looks defeated, but this verse lets everyone know he will be victorious, and they will be defeated. Even though they rejected Jesus, God the Father chose to exalt him. Table of contentsGod Stopped Focusing on Israel and Focused on GentilesGod Gave His Vineyard to Tenants Who Produce FruitActs Shows the Transition from Jews to GentilesJews Were Losing an Inheritance Versus Gaining OneThe Stone Represents the Son, and the Builders Represent the TenantsNot Just Any Stone or Rock, but the CornerstonePsalm 118:22 Is About Jesus' Victory and the Religious Leaders' DefeatFall on Christ’s Mercy, or He Falls on You in JudgmentJesus' Warning Is Loving https://youtu.be/BxNl1tYVTUo "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" (Psalm 118:22) This is about Jesus' victory even though he was crucified. Not long after Katie and I moved to Washington, my parents followed us. They found what seemed like the perfect house. It was beautiful, and the price was low. I wondered how this house could have stayed on the market for so long. I came to find out there was a crack in the foundation. The house was so unstable no bank would back a loan. On one hand, I thought It was sad that such a beautiful house seemed to lose everything because of a poor foundation! On the other hand, I thought, How valuable is a house with a poor foundation? Buildings are not the only things that need strong foundations: marriages, families, and nations do, too. When the nation of Israel rejected Jesus as their foundation or cornerstone, they also lost their value. Let’s briefly review what we have covered so far: Luke 20:9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. From Isaiah 5, we know the vineyard owner represents God, and the vineyard represents Israel. Luke 20:10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. The servants the vineyard owner sent represent the Old Testament prophets, whom Israel repeatedly rejected and mistreated. Much of the parable would seem absurd to Jesus’ listeners. It was hard to believe the tenants would respond this way. The worst tenants would do is refuse to provide the expected fruit, not beat the servants, and send them back empty-handed. It was hard to believe the owner would respond this way. No owner would keep sending mistreated servants without getting upset at the tenants. It reveals God’s long-suffering nature. Luke 20:13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ With this verse, the owner reaches the height of absurdity. No reasonable father would send his son to check on tenants who severely beat the servants sent to them. Sending a son would be the LAST thing a father would do. How do the tenants respond to this incredible demonstration of love, patience, and compassion? Would they go so far as to beat the vineyard owner’s son, too? They do even worse than that: Luke 20:14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? The tenants’ wickedness reached an all-time high with this decision. They didn’t even talk about murdering the servants,
The Parable of the Vineyard Owner and the Wicked Husbandmen (Luke 20:9-18)
Jan 8 2024
The Parable of the Vineyard Owner and the Wicked Husbandmen (Luke 20:9-18)
The Parable of the Vineyard Owner and the Wicked Husbandmen is in Matthew 21: 33-46, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-18. As the owner continued to send servant after servant after servant (the way God sent prophet after prophet after prophet), it says much about the tenants and how stiff-necked and rebellious they were. But it says even more about the vineyard owner (God) who kept sending them because of how longsuffering he is. Table of contentsGod Pursues PeopleGod's Pursuit in the Parable of the Vineyard Owner and the Wicked HusbandmenThe Wicked Husbandmen Represent the Religious LeadersThe Servants Represent Old Testament ProphetsGod's Longsuffering in the Parable of the Vineyard Owner and the Wicked HusbandmenWhy Did Jesus Preach Something So Absurd?Two Shocking Points About the Owner's ResponseThe Vineyard Owner's Son Represents JesusWhat Could the Wicked Husbandmen Have Been Thinking?God’s Longsuffering Comes to an End https://youtu.be/jhI1_Q45-5k The parable of the vineyard owner and the wicked husbandmen is in Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, and 20:9-18. Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, and Pete Fleming were the missionaries who tried to preach the gospel to the incredibly violent Auca Indians in Ecuador. It was well-known that the Aucas had killed many people around them, including the workers at a nearby oil company drilling site. The oil company closed their site because people were afraid to work there. Jim Elliot and the other missionaries wanted to show the Aucas they were friendly. Nate Saint, their pilot, devised a way to lower a bucket filled with supplies to the Indians on the ground while they flew overhead. They thought this would win the Aucas’ trust while keeping the missionaries safe. They began dropping gifts to the Aucas while using an amplifier to speak friendly Auca phrases. After months, the Aucas put a gift in the bucket that the missionaries could bring to their plane. Jim and the other missionaries felt the time had come to meet the Aucas face-to-face. The five missionaries built a base a short distance from the village. After four days, an Auca man and two women appeared. The missionaries shared a meal with them, and Nate took the man up for a flight in the plane. Later, two Auca women walked out of the jungle. Tragically, as the missionaries approached these women, a group of Auca warriors killed all five heroic men on January 8th, 1956. Although, this wasn’t the end of the story. In less than two years, Jim Elliot’s wife, Elisabeth Elliot, their daughter, Valerie, and Nate Saint’s sister, Rachel, moved to the Auca village and continued trying to reach the Aucas. Many of them became Christians. They are now a friendly tribe with some missionaries, including Nate Saint's son and his family, continuing to live among them. God pursued the Aucas using Jim Elliot, the four missionaries with him, and some of their family members. God Pursues People While God might not pursue everyone as dramatically as he did the Aucas, he has pursued man since the fall. Isaiah 59:2 Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. Because we are the ones who sinned and separated ourselves from God, I would think we would then have to be the ones to pursue God. But instead, God pursues us. We see this beginning at the fall, right after Adam and Eve ate from the tree: Genesis 3:8 They heard the sound of the Lord God [and] hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 The Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” God has continued pursuing man with the gospel throughout all human history. Think of some of the common metaphors we use for the gospel to communicate God’s pursuit. We say the gospel is a call to salvation: 2 Thessalonians 2:14 HE CALLED YOU THROUGH OUR GOSPEL, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. He calls us to be part of his kingdom:
The Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7)
Jan 2 2024
The Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7)
The owner comes looking for fruit in the Song of the Vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7. He didn't send servants too early when the tenants were not ready. God is not expecting us to produce fruit that we are not ready to produce yet. But because of all God has done for his vineyard, whether Israel in the Old Testament or the church in the New Testament, he still expects fruit. Table of contentsDon't Take God’s Grace for GrantedGod's Grace in My LifeWe Should Examine Our FruitGod Only Needs to Remove His Protection to Discipline UsGod Removed Job's Hedge of ProtectionIsrael's DesolationJesus Expanded on The Song of the VineyardGod Expects Fruit in the Song of the Vineyard and Our LivesThe Right Motivation to Produce Fruit https://youtu.be/RyO3zw6Y2Ms The owner comes looking for fruit in the Song of the Vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7. He didn't send servants early when the tenants were not ready. My dad was always a big fan of working outside. To give you an idea of how much he liked it, I once asked him what he thought would be his favorite job, and he said – and I’m not kidding – “Working on a railroad in the hot sun.” Yes, he said the words, “In the hot sun.” And he didn’t mean inspecting railroad cars. He meant laying down ties to build the track. As a kid, I couldn’t imagine many things that sounded more unpleasant, and I feel pretty much the same as an adult. I thought this was what they made inmates do in prison for punishment. Because Dad liked working outside so much, it seemed like he was always finding things for us around the house, even if I didn’t think they needed to be done. If I was home on the weekend or during the summer, I had to work outside with Dad. I tried to get a job as soon as possible for two reasons. First, so I could be inside with air-conditioning. Second, so I could get paid. One thing Dad loved was having a garden. I remember many hours in the backyard on our hands and knees, removing rocks and picking weeds. Dad would come into the house with vegetables he grew and ask us to try them. He was proud that he thought they tasted better than anything we could find at the supermarket. It didn’t matter to me how good they tasted. I didn’t think they were worth the effort. I couldn’t understand all that hard work for something we could buy at the store for a few dollars. But I think that misses the main reason my dad, and probably others, have a garden: the satisfaction from watching things grow. But what if you planted a garden and it didn’t grow? What if it never produced anything? Worse, what if it produced what it wasn’t supposed to produce? That would be very frustrating, but this is what happened to God. He had a vineyard that produced the wrong kind of fruit, and it is described in the Song of the Vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7: Isaiah 5:1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2a He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; Isaiah speaks in the first person and refers to God as “My beloved.” Notice the wonderful advantages the vineyard enjoyed: It belonged to a loving person: my beloved. It was planted in a great place: a very fruitful hill. The ground was carefully prepared: dug and cleared it of stones. Good plants were used to get it started: choice vines. It was protected: a watchtower [was] in the midst of it. Provision was made for the fruit to be processed: a wine vat [was] in it. My dad would’ve been proud! 1 Corinthians 10:11 These things [in the Old Testament] happened to [Israel] as an example [for us, and], they were written down for our instruction. So, this account with Israel is an example for us. It’s not a question of whether we should learn from it. It’s a question of what we should learn from it. And there’s much we should learn from it!
Prepare the Way of the Lord Spiritually Versus Physically (Luke 3:1-6)
Dec 25 2023
Prepare the Way of the Lord Spiritually Versus Physically (Luke 3:1-6)
John the Baptist told people to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” There’s no record of Jesus walking around saying, “Man, these roads are terrible. Why didn’t anyone fix things up for me?” The preparation he wanted was spiritual instead of physical. Jesus didn’t care about having better roads to walk on, but he did care about people having better hearts to receive him. Table of contentsThe Old Testament Prophesied a King Was ComingWhen Kings CameIs This What Jesus Really Wanted?Jesus Wants Heart Construction Versus Road ConstructionPrepare the Way of the Lord by RepentingPrepare the Way of the Lord By Providing a Straight PathPrepare the Way of the Lord By Being JoyfulPreach to Your SoulThe Joy of ChristmasPrepare the Way of the Lord By Being HumblePrepare the Way of the Lord By Acting JustlyPrepare the Way of the Lord By Smoothing Out Rough EdgesSeeing Jesus Is Seeing "the Salvation of God"Jesus' Robe, Crown, Scepter, and Servants https://youtu.be/lCn8cZopKZI John the Baptist told people to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Jesus wanted people to prepare for him spiritually versus physically. On November 30th, Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida and presidential candidate, debated Gavin Newsom, governor of California. Governor DeSantis criticized how Governor Newsom prepared San Francisco for China’s president, Xi Jinping’s, visit. Governor DeSantis held up a map of San Francisco that showed areas Governor Newsom wanted cleaned up. Because it is so disgusting, I won’t tell you what Governor Newsom wanted cleaned up from the streets of San Francisco, but I will read part of what Governor DeSantis said: “When a communist dictator [came] to town. Then [Governor Newsom] cleaned up the streets. [He] lined the streets with Chinese flags. [He] didn’t put American flags there. [He] cleaned everything up. So, [he’s] willing to do it for a communist dictator, but [he’s] not willing to do it for [his] own people.” Governor DeSantis was upset Governor Newsom prepared San Francisco for a Chinese president, but not for the American people. I mention this because it is a present-day example of the practice described in this morning’s verses: preparing for the arrival of an important or powerful person. In our day, we do it for presidents, and in the ancient world, they did it for kings. The Old Testament Prophesied a King Was Coming When Jacob was blessing his twelve sons, he said to Judah: Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. In ancient times, scepters represented a ruler or king’s power. This is a prophecy a king would come from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy, which is why he’s called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. We learn more in David’s day when God made a covenant with him about his son: 2 Samuel 7:13 I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son…16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” Jesus fulfills this prophecy, so he’s also called the Son of David. Listen to the way the angel Gabriel described Jesus’ birth to Mary: Luke 1:32b The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Gabriel told Mary that Jesus’ birth was the coming of the prophesied King. When Kings Came The Old Testament also prophesied what people were supposed to do when that King came: Isaiah 40:3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.”
Jesus’ Authority Questioned by the Chief Priests and Scribes (Luke 20:1-8)
Dec 18 2023
Jesus’ Authority Questioned by the Chief Priests and Scribes (Luke 20:1-8)
Jesus' authority was questioned by the elders, chief priests, and scribes in Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, and Luke 20:1-8. The religious leaders “were afraid of the people” (Mark 11:32). They wouldn’t obey Jesus, but they would obey man because we obey what we fear. Table of contentsThe Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders Questioned Jesus' AuthorityThe Chief PriestsThe ScribesThe EldersThe Religious Leaders Tried to Trap Jesus, but He Trapped ThemThe Religious Leaders Played DumbJesus Would not "Give What Is Holy to the Dogs"We Obey What We FearSaul Disobeyed Because He Feared the PeopleLove and Fear Produce ObedienceAbraham Obeyed Because He Feared GodThe Hebrew Midwives Obeyed Because They Feared GodIsrael's Fear Would Produce ObedienceLack of Fear Produces Disobedience https://youtu.be/qKES6njGGJc Jesus' authority was questioned by the elders, chief priests, and scribes in Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, and Luke 20:1-8. Henry Kissinger served as secretary of state and national security advisor during Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford’s presidencies. He wrote about the seven people he believed to be the most powerful in history: Number 7: The American President since 1945 because of the nuclear weapons at his disposal Number 6: President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) Number 5: Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) the Emperor of the French Empire Number 4: Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) the leader of the Indian Independence Movement Number 3: Peter the Great (1672-1725) the czar of the Russian Empire Number 2: Qin Shi Huang (259 B.C.-210 B.C.) the emperor of Unified China Number 1: Julius Caesar (100 B.C.-44 B.C.) the Emperor of the Roman Empire It’s a good thing nobody asked me who I thought the seven most powerful men in history were for two reasons. First, I don’t think I would have guessed many of the names on the list. Second, the Person I would have said is number one didn’t even make the list, and that’s Jesus. He said: Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Nobody has ever had more authority than Jesus because he has all authority. But you wouldn’t know that from the gospels. The religious leaders didn’t even think Jesus had the authority to cleanse the temple. The context for this account is important. The triumphal entry is in verses 28 through 40. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem in verses 41 through 44. This was on Sunday, also known as Palm Sunday, and it began the last week of Jesus’ earthly life leading up to his crucifixion. Then, in verses 45 and 46, which was probably Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple. This went over terribly with the religious leaders. Not only did it make them look bad, it also cost them lots of money. If that wasn’t enough, Jesus followed this up by calling them robbers and thieves: Luke 19:47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. They want to murder Jesus, but they can’t. This shows why they questioned Jesus' authority: they couldn’t directly get rid of Jesus because of his popularity, so they try to indirectly by trapping him. After Jesus cleansed the temple, even though the religious leaders were trying to murder him, he decided to stay in the temple teaching during the week leading up to the crucifixion. In our sermon on these verses, I said it was like Jesus set up his headquarters in the middle of enemy territory. Think about what it looked like when Jesus cleansed the temple. He bursts in, and we know by looking in all three synoptic Gospels he drove out everyone who was selling and buying, and overturned the tables of the money changers and knocked over the chairs of those selling pigeons. Mark 11:16 says he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple,
The Importance of the Blood of the Lamb (Exodus 12)
Dec 11 2023
The Importance of the Blood of the Lamb (Exodus 12)
The blood of the lamb of God saves us. Jesus’ life was important. He had to be unblemished to serve as our Passover Lamb. But if Jesus had stayed alive, he wouldn’t have helped us anymore than any Passover lambs would’ve helped anyone if they weren’t sacrificed. Table of contentsThree Things That Could not Deliver Israel from EgyptFirst, Moses Could not Deliver IsraelSecond, the First Nine Plagues Could not Deliver IsraelThird, the Passover Lamb Could not Deliver IsraelThe Blood of the Lamb Provided Immediate DeliveranceLooking Forward to ChristThe Lamb's Death Is More Important than Its LifeThe Blood of the Lamb's ImportanceThe Blood of the Lamb ProtectedThe Blood of the Lamb Was not to Be Trampled OnThe Blood of the Lamb Must Be Personally AppliedThe Lamb's Sacrifice Becomes PersonalEveryone Needs the Blood of the LambGod Was Willing to Do What He Wanted to Spare People From Suffering https://youtu.be/yErE5hFzuFA Charles Spurgeon said, “Morality may keep you out of jail, but it takes the blood of Jesus Christ to keep you out of hell.” Billy Graham said, “Be assured that there is no sin you have ever committed that the blood of Jesus Christ cannot cleanse.” Charles Spurgeon and Billy Graham had high views of Jesus’ blood. By the end of this post, you too, will have a high view of Jesus’ blood, and if you already have a high view of it, you will have an even higher view. Three Things That Could not Deliver Israel from Egypt I want to begin by sharing three things that could not deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Then, I will share the one thing that did deliver them. First, Moses Could not Deliver Israel We say that Moses delivered Israel – and God used him to do that – but if you’re familiar with Moses’s attempts, you know how poorly they went. Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”...6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.” Not only was Moses unable to deliver Israel, but he actually made their bondage worse. How did the Israelites respond? They weren’t happy with Moses at this point, as you might expect: Exodus 5:20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” The people were like, “Some deliverer you are. I hope God punishes you for what you’ve done.” Second, the First Nine Plagues Could not Deliver Israel What did the first nine plagues accomplish for the Israelites? Were the Israelites any less slaves after the plagues were unleashed than they were before? Were they in any less bondage? Had their oppression been improved whatsoever? Even though these were the most dramatic plagues the world has ever known, they didn’t change anything for the Israelites. Third, the Passover Lamb Could not Deliver Israel Exodus 12:3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. The Israelites got a lamb for Passover on the 10th day of the month of Nisan. We could argue that this is when Passover began. They had their lambs from the 10th day to the 14th day, and at any time during those days, were they delivered? No. So, when exactly was Israel delivered?
Examining Christ Our Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-6)
Dec 4 2023
Examining Christ Our Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-6)
According to Exodus 12:1-6 families were to get a lamb on the tenth day of the month of Nisan, examine it, and sacrifice it on the fourteenth. The five days between the tenth and fourteenth look forward to the days between the triumphal entry and crucifixion when Christ, our Passover Lamb, was examined. Table of contentsJesus Is Our Passover LambWholehearted Service to GodLooking to Christ in JerusalemChrist Our Passover Lamb Was Examined Before Being SacrificedJesus' Six TrialsChrist Our Passover Lamb Was Without BlemishChrist Our Passover Lamb Passed God the Father’s Examination https://youtu.be/3SbLjawBeKU The days between Nisan 10th and 14th (Exodus 12:1-6) look forward to the days when Christ, our Passover Lamb, was examined in Jerusalem. During ROTC, after we fired live rounds, we had to clean our M-16s and then have them examined before they could be turned back in. My freshman year was the first time I went through this tedious process. I would guess I cleaned my gun for about 30 or 45 minutes, and then stood up to go have it examined. The cadet I was sitting across from was a junior who had done this numerous times, and he said, “What are you doing?” I responded, “I’m going to have my gun examined to see if it’s clean enough to turn in.” He said, “Don’t bother. There’s no way your gun is clean enough yet. Nobody gets to turn their gun in until they have been cleaning for at least three hours.” I can’t remember if I brought my gun up at that moment or not, but I do remember that when I did bring it up, it was rejected numerous times before finally being accepted. Sure enough, it did take about three hours, which seemed to be the average for almost everyone. So, I was only off by about two hours and 15 minutes. The cadre examining the M-16s would search every spot. If they could pull out their finger or a cotton swab with the tiniest black speck on it, they sent you back to continue cleaning. I had never seen anything in my life examined like those guns, until my studying this week. I think Jesus faced greater examination than those M-16s did. During the last five days of his earthly life there seemed to be no part of his life they didn’t inspect. I assume many of you already know this, but even if a few of you don’t, it’s worth mentioning. We use the title “Last Supper” so often we can almost forget that the Last Supper was when Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples. Then after the meal Jesus went out to be crucified. So, Jesus celebrated Passover, and then became our Passover Lamb. Jesus Is Our Passover Lamb 1 Corinthians 5:7 Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. Every Passover lamb that was ever sacrificed – and there were millions of them – were shadows and types of Christ. Or another way to say it is, every Passover, beginning with the first one back in Exodus, looked forward to, or prefigured, Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. Because Passover – like so much else in the Old Testament – looks forward to Christ, let me be clear about what is happening in this chapter: Egypt is a picture or type of the world. When the Israelites, God’s people, were delivered from Egypt, it looked forward to us, God’s people, being delivered from the world. When the Israelites were delivered from their bondage to the Egyptians, it looked forward to us being delivered from our bondage to sin and death. When the Passover lamb was sacrificed and its blood covered the door so the firstborn sons would not experience physical death, it looked forward to Christ, our Passover Lamb being sacrificed and his blood covering our sin so we would not experience eternal death. Consider these verses: Colossians 2:17 These [things in the Old Testament – including Passover] are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Hebrews 10:1 [The Old Testament is] a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple of Corruption (Luke 19:45-48)
Nov 27 2023
Jesus Cleanses the Temple of Corruption (Luke 19:45-48)
The second instance of Jesus cleansing the temple of corruption is in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 21:12-16, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-48). The first instance is only in John 2:12-25 right after the wedding at Cana when Jesus’ ministry began. The first thing Jesus did after his ministry began was cleanse the temple, and the first thing he did after making his triumphal entry into Jerusalem was cleanse the temple. These two cleansings serve as bookends on Jesus’ three-year ministry and reveal his heart for "pure and undefiled religion" (James 1:27). Table of contentsJesus Cleansed the Temple Because Jews Were Ripping Off GentilesMisusing the Temple CourtyardThe MoneychangersThe Animal VendorsForbidden in the LawFalse Teachers Rip Off People TodayOld Testament Verses Were Quoted Because of Their Context"My House Shall Be A House Of Prayer" (Isaiah 56:7)"You Have Made It A Den Of Robbers” (Jeremiah 7:11)Jesus Cleansed the Temple Because He Cared More About Religious Corruption Than Roman OppressionJesus Cleansed the Temple and Then Remained in the Heart of Enemy TerritoryWas Jesus Really in More Danger When He Remained in the Temple?God the Father Was Always in Control https://youtu.be/IRhPakgaiLY Jesus cleanses the temple of corruption in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 21:12-16, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-48). When I was in Army ROTC, during one of the summers, I attended air assault school at Fort Drum in upstate New York. We had a weekend off, so we decided to travel across the border to Canada. We went to a restaurant, and after we ate, we told the cashier that we only had US dollars. We didn’t know the conversion rate between US and Canadian dollars, so we simply had to trust the cashier when he told us how much our meal cost. The one thing I did know was I had never paid that much for a meal before. But we were in no position to argue because we had no familiarity with the conversion rate between Canadian and US dollars…and we didn’t have cell phones that allowed us to say, “Okay Google.” Now I feel old. The cashier also pointed toward the cash in his register and said that he didn’t have any US money, so he would not be able to give us change. As we were walking out, I saw him lift the till containing the Canadian money. He put our US dollars underneath it…on top of what looked to me like quite a bit of US money. I said, “I thought you said you didn’t have any US dollars?” I don’t remember what he said in return, but it was obvious that he took advantage of us. This Canadian cashier ripping off his American neighbors reminded me of the Jewish vendors in the temple courtyard who were doing the same to their Gentile neighbors. At least until Jesus came along. Jesus Cleansed the Temple Because Jews Were Ripping Off Gentiles Luke 19:45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, This is the second instance of Jesus cleansing the temple. The first instance is only in John’s Gospel. It took place right after the wedding at Cana, which is to say it took place right after Jesus’ ministry began. So, it is interesting that: The first thing Jesus did after his ministry began was cleanse the temple. And the first thing he did after making his triumphal entry into Jerusalem was cleanse the temple. These two cleansings serve as bookends on Jesus’ three-year ministry. Why would Jesus cleanse the temple at the beginning and end of his ministry? Iit reveals his heart for pure and undefiled religion: James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James says that pure and undefiled religion does two things. It is loving. It does things such as visit orphans and widows. This is not an exhaustive list. James mentions these as examples so that people know what pure and undefiled religion looks like.
Why Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44)
Nov 19 2023
Why Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44)
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41-44. After the triumphal entry, in the midst of the shouting, worshiping, multitude, was a weeping King. Jesus saw the Jews' coming judgment for rejecting him in five days. Table of contentsThe Bible Contains Vivid Descriptions of Men CryingJeremiah’s Weeping Is a Type of Jesus’ WeepingWhy Did Jesus Weep Over Jerusalem?The Jews Rejected Peace When They Rejected the Prince of PeaceJesus Saw the Jews' Coming JudgmentHow Did Jesus Weep Over Jerusalem?Weep in Hell or Have Your Tears Wiped Away in Heaven https://youtu.be/KcgGSqCu7iI Jesus weeps over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41-44, because he saw the Jews' coming judgment for rejecting him in five days. We had our tenth child, Hudson Taylor LaPierre at the end of October. So far, he has been a great baby. But if he cried a lot, it wouldn’t surprise us because we expect babies and infants to cry. We understand God created men and women differently. Women tend to be more sensitive and emotional than men. Because of that, we are not surprised when women cry. But because we don’t expect men to cry, at least not as much as babies or women, there can be something dramatic, and even moving about men, especially grown men, crying. The Bible Contains Vivid Descriptions of Men Crying When David and his men were hiding from Saul, they returned to Ziklag where they were staying with their wives and children. They found Ziklag burned to the ground and their wives and children kidnapped: 1 Samuel 30:3 When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. This isn’t what we normally think of as weeping. Weeping doesn’t sap all your strength. David and his men wept, or probably more like sobbed or wailed, until they were completely exhausted. When you consider the type of men these were, I think their weeping looks even more dramatic. They were used to killing other men with swords or their own hands when they were close enough to look in their faces. These included David’s mighty men who had been hardened by war, hunger, thirst, fighting, and fear of death. But there’s no record of anything driving them to this point before. But now they weep like this because they know their wives and children were captured by some of the wickedest people in history: the Amalekites. If there was ever a group you would want to keep as far away from your family as possible, it was them. They were so evil that decades earlier God commanded Saul to exterminate them. But because he failed, they were able to attack David and his men’s families. Another example that stood out to me was when Esau realized he would receive no blessing, because he gave away his birthright: Genesis 27:34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!…38 Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Esau was another man’s man. He was a hunter. He was hairy, even as a baby. You know you’re a man’s man when you’re hairy even as a baby. But when he learned that he would receive no blessing from his father,  he wept loudly. It is sad picturing a grown man sobbing and begging his father to give him something. I also thought about Job’s friends because they wept, not for themselves, but for Job. When they heard the news about what happened, they went to visit him: Job 2:12 When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. These grown men wept loudly for their friend because his trials left him unrecognizable to them.
Misunderstanding Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus’ Coming (Isaiah 61:1-2)
Nov 13 2023
Misunderstanding Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus’ Coming (Isaiah 61:1-2)
The Jews misunderstood Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' Coming. The Old Testament compressed prophecies of Jesus' first and second coming, leading the Jews to believe all the prophecies would be fulfilled in one coming. Table of contentsThe Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus' Coming Were CompressedJohn the Baptist Questioned Whether Jesus was the Messiah, Because He Misunderstood Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus' ComingA 2,000 Year-Old CommaThe Jews Expected Old Testament Prophecies to be Fulfilled in One ComingThe Jews Wanted Salvation from Rome Versus Salvation from SinUnderstanding Jesus' Two ComingsFootnotes https://youtu.be/iKJpHR5GTgE The Jews misunderstood Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' Coming, because they believed they would be fulfilled in one coming. This past week I read about some of the greatest misunderstandings in history. I settled on the Treaty of Wuchale as the second greatest misunderstanding. On May 2, 1889, Ethiopia and Italy signed this treaty to promote friendship and trade, but the two countries wrote the treaty in their own language. One part, Article 17, was particularly problematic. The Ethiopian version stated that their Emperor could use the Italian embassy to conduct his foreign affairs if he wanted. But Italy understood the Ethiopian Emperor was committing to using the Italian embassy. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it led Italy to believe Ethiopia had given up its independence and become a colony under Italy’s protection. Italy informed all the European governments that they could no longer conduct diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, and instead could only deal with Italy. Ethiopia did not like this, so they denounced the treaty. Italy attempted to enforce it, and when this failed, Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1895. Ethiopia ended up winning, safeguarding its independence. You heard that correctly: because of a misunderstanding over the wording of a treaty – that was supposed to promote friendship and trade – two nations went to war. I told you this is the second worst misunderstanding in human history. Of course, you want to know what’s first? The Treaty of Wuchale pales in comparison to the misunderstanding at Jesus’s triumphal entry. The people in attendance completely misunderstood what they were witnessing. I think the best way to understand this misunderstanding is by looking at the Old Testament to see how it happened. The Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus' Coming Were Compressed Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Ephraim is another name for Israel because Ephraim was the largest tribe. Zechariah is prophesying of the Second Coming when Jesus defeats the nations that assemble against Israel:  he cuts off the chariot, warhorse, and battle bow. Jesus’s rule stretches from the river, referring to the Euphrates, to the ends of the earth.16 He speaks peace to the nations, because with all the enemies destroyed peace is established. The order of prophetic events: Jesus returns, destroys enemies at the battle of Armageddon, and then sets up his kingdom on the earth. Many well-known verses describe this as a time of peace: Isaiah 2:4 They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 11:6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.
Why Even the Rocks Will Cry Out (Luke 19:40)
Oct 23 2023
Why Even the Rocks Will Cry Out (Luke 19:40)
At the triumphal entry Jesus's "disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice" (Luke 19:37). The Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples” (Luke 19:40). Jesus responded, "I tell you, if these were silent, even the rocks will cry out." This was the one and only time that Jesus permitted a public demonstration on his behalf. On this day there would be no silencing the welcoming of the Son of David, Israel’s king. Table of contentsEven the Rocks Will Cry Out, Because Jesus Was Following a Divine TimelineThere Was a Time to Be SilentThere Was a Time "Even Rocks Will Cry Out"There Was a Time to DieJesus Repeatedly Said, “My Hour Has Not Yet Come”Jesus Finally Said His Hour Had ComeThe Triumphal Entry Ensured Jesus Would Die on TimeGod Has a Course for Our Lives https://youtu.be/OXYG89Hzyuc When I was in Army ROTC at Florida Tech there was an ITT (individual tactical training) course You’ve probably seen courses like this in movies that depict basic training, or if you’ve been in the military you’ve probably been on courses like this multiple times. Unlike other obstacle courses, which teams typically go through together to build teamwork – think of soldiers helping each other over walls – ITT courses are performed individually. Hence the word individual in the acronym. ITT courses include numerous obstacles that involve running, climbing, swinging, balancing, high crawling, low crawling, jumping, dropping, and sometimes swimming. You move from one obstacle to the next as quickly as possible with soldiers yelling that you are moving too slowly and need to pick it up…regardless of how fast you are going. The entire course is laid out for you. You don’t get to decide whether to go left or right. You can’t skip any obstacles or do them out of order. You move from one to the next in the order laid out for you. Even the Rocks Will Cry Out, Because Jesus Was Following a Divine Timeline A you read the gospels, you might notice that Jesus’ ministry seemed like this. He moved from one event (or obstacle) to the next in the order laid out for him by God the Father. Listen to Jesus describe his ministry this way: John 5:30 “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me." John 6:38 “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus was describing the course that was before him. At least once he even described his earthly ministry as a course: Luke 13:32 “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.” Jesus didn’t get to decide whether to go left or right. He didn’t get to skip obstacles or do them out of order. He moved from one obstacle to the next. There Was a Time to Be Silent Let me show you some examples from Jesus’s life. In Mark 1:40-42 Jesus cleanses a leper. Then: Mark 1:43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. It is surprising that Jesus told this man not to tell anyone about the miracle. Why would he do that? One reason is it wasn’t time for the people to recognize Jesus was the Messiah. That might sound odd, but he was following the divine timeline set by His Father. Another reason is large amounts of publicity would hinder Jesus’s mission and divert public attention from his message to his miracles. He wanted to continue teaching ministry in an uninhibited way. He needed to be able to move around easily.
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40 and 12:12-19)
Oct 16 2023
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40 and 12:12-19)
Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem is one of the unique accounts that's found in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19). The account fulfills the prophecy in Zachariah 9:9 and reveals Jesus's Messiahship and Kingship. Table of contentsThe Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Fulfilled ProphecyA Surprising ProphecyA Full Understanding of the Triumphal EntryWhy Did Jesus Send the Disciples to Get the Donkey for Him?The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s MessiahshipThe Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s KingshipWhy a Donkey "On Which No One Has Ever Sat"?We Should Be Willing to Give Up Whatever the Lord NeedsThe Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s OmniscienceJesus Came to Bring Peace Between God and ManFootnotes https://youtu.be/k5xubljPTVc Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem is found in all four gospels: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19. George IV’s coronation as king of the United Kingdom took place at Westminster Abbey in London on July 19, 1821. George’s extravagant tastes and lifestyle greatly influence the ceremony. It ended up costing 238,000 pounds, which would be 21,000,000 pounds today, or converted to dollars, almost $26,000,000. You heard that correctly: King George IV’s coronation would cost almost $26,000,000 today. The money went toward renovations and furnishings for Westminster Abbey, costumes and uniforms, jewels and plate armor, and a coronation feast for all 4,656 guests. It proved to be the most lavish and expensive of any British monarch. It was over twenty times more expensive than the previous coronation. Unlike King George’s coronation, the coronation of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, involved no cost whatsoever. The coronation, like the rest of Jesus’s earthly life and ministry, was characterized by modesty: born in a manger in Bethlehem, parented by two poor people in Joseph and Mary, raised in Nazareth, and baptized in the Jordan. All of these speak of Jesus’s humility. There is nothing impressive about Bethlehem, Joseph, Mary, Nazareth, or the Jordan. The only reason we know about them is because they are associated with Jesus. But if I had to choose one earthly event that pictured Jesus’s humility better than others, second only to the cross, it would be the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The traditional calendar for events has this taking place on the Sunday before resurrection Sunday. In other words, this is five days before the crucifixion. Typically, we call this Palm Sunday, which is the beginning of Holy week or Passion week, or the last week of Jesus’s earthly life leading up to the crucifixion. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Fulfilled Prophecy Let's begin by looking at the prophecy of the triumphal entry: Zechariah 9:9a Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; Because Zion is another name for Jerusalem, saying daughter of Zion and daughter of Jerusalem are both ways of referring to Jerusalem’s inhabitants, the Jews. They are told to show great exuberance, and rejoice greatly and shout aloud, because their king is coming. A coronation is a time of celebration, but the Jews have even more reason to celebrate, because listen to the way their king is described: Zechariah 9:9b righteous and having salvation is he, They should celebrate because of who Jesus is (righteous or just), and what he brings (salvation). Many kings throughout history have been selfish. Instead of serving people, they used people for personal gain. When Israel rejected God as king, and asked for an earthly, human king, God could have justly given them what they wanted and let them suffer for it. But first, he graciously warned them what it would be like to have their earthly king. Listen to the repetition of the word take: 1 Samuel 8:11 [Samuel] said,