I am currently preaching a series called “The Truths We Hold Dear.” We are looking at core Biblical doctrines that the church believes. I started with two sermons on why doctrine matters, which you can watch here:
Tag: Christianity
Classic Quote
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
– Jonathan Edwards
Christ Our Head
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ…. (Ephesians 5:23-24a)
Christ is the head of the church. And the church must submit to Him, obey Him, follow His leading.
Christ is in charge of the church, not the pastor, not the leadership team, not you. Christ alone is the head of church.
Follow the illustration. My body follows the instructions of my head. My head tells my neck to turn, my foot to rise, my hands to clap, my fingers to scratch my head. If my body doesn’t listen to my head, then my body is sick. And to whatever extent the church is not listening to Christ, to that extent the church is sick. Christ is the head.
So let us commit to Christ’s leading – as a church and as individual Christians. We must be committed to the leading of Christ. We must follow His instructions in His Word for the church and our lives. We don’t go off and do our own thing. We don’t make up the church or what we believe or how to live. No, we must commit to follow Christ in all things. Christ is our head.
Saturday Strands
Here are some loose strands for continuing to think about the new year:
Old Advice for a New Year – Cassie Achermann (TGC)
Throughout the centuries, pastors and theologians have used the opportunity of the new year to encourage believers. Let’s listen to their advice for the year ahead.
New Year’s Goal-Setting for People with Actual Lives – Joe Carter (TGC)
What we need isn’t a better to-do list but a better grid for making wise decisions across every domain of life, whether we’re planning our fitness goals or our prayer habits. Such a grid should work for anyone, in any season, pursuing faithfulness in any calling.
5 Habits for Better Prayer in 2026 – Blake Glosson (TGC)
Consider five habits or mindsets that can enrich your extended times of prayer.
The Resolution We Rarely Make – Erik Raymond
As you look ahead to a new year—with fresh goals and good intentions—hear again the invitation of Jesus. He does not offer a program of self-improvement, but a path of self-denial. It’s the path of life.
Flashback: Everlasting Significance
Everyone is searching for significance….
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping God with your local church!
Classic Quote
I wish my brothers and sisters, that during this year you may live nearer to Christ than you have ever done before.
– Charles Spurgeon
Trust the Father and Grow!
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Trials are one of ways God uses to help us grow to be steadfast, perfect, complete, that is, mature in Christ. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like that. I wrestle with the idol of comfort, and trials are not comfortable. How then can I count trials as joy? Only as I trust the Father to use those trials for my good. How can I love people, obey God, and do good works in the midst of trials? Only as I trust the Father.
Consider Jesus on the cross:
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (I Peter 2:23)
Jesus was able to love instead of reviling and threatening because he trusted His Father. Jesus was able to obey His Father’s plan and do this good work of salvation because He trusted His Father there on cross.
It is only as we trust our Father, that we will be able to love those who hurt us, obey even when it’s hard and hurts, and do good works even when we don’t feel like it.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (I Peter 4:19)
God is faithful. He has a plan in our suffering. So trust Him while doing good – loving, obeying, and doing good works.
Trust Him and grow!
Good News of Great Joy
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
In the midst of all the bad news of shootings, strife, sorrow, struggles, and suffering, God offers us good news.
At this Christmas time, when everyone is searching for a great deals, great presents, great Christmas goodies, great decorations, great warm fuzzy feelings, and great family time, God offers us great joy.
In a world full of “haves” and and “have nots,” God offers this good news of great joy to all the people.
And what is this good news of great joy for all the people? It is the birth of a baby, who is called a Savior, King, and Lord.
He is a Savior from the penalty and power of sin, and one day from the presence of sin and all its miserable results.
He is a King, who will one day usher in a glorious eternal kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace.
He is the Lord – God become man. Immanuel – God with us.
This Christmas may you embrace this good news of great joy for all the people. Embrace Jesus, your Savior, King, and Lord.
Your Story
God is not just a chapter in the story of your life, he’s the author of your story, the one who makes sense of all the chapters of your life.
– Trevin Wax and Thomas West in The Gospel Way Catechism
God Is Love
God is love (I John 4:8). God is eternal (Jeremiah 10:10). God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). When you put those three truths together, we find that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a perfect loving relationship for all of eternity. He is radiant glorious love in action for all eternity.
God is love in Himself. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forever loving each other. Which means He didn’t need to create us to have someone to love. Instead, He chose to create us, and this eternal love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit spilled over to people like us. That ought to boggle our brains!
And when we sinned against Him, rejecting His amazing love, He chose to show the extent of His great love by saving us through the cross. He went to great lengths to save us, so that He might continue to extend His love to us forever. Not because we are lovable, but because He is love!
So how should we respond to His amazing love? Jesus sums it up in Matthew 22:37-40. Love God with all your being. Love your neighbor as yourself. In other words, love as God loves. Here is our challenge. Here is our purpose. Here is what life is all about. Love as God loves.
Theology Is An Invitation
Theology isn’t an arduous task of arranging irrelevant details. It’s an invitation into greater knowledge of this Jesus who has saved us.
– Trevin Wax in The Thrill of Orthodoxy
Brian J. Mikul 