This weekend is a special set of days for me as it marks the ninth year of existence for First Family Church. That’s right, nine years ago – September 10, 2004 – we held our first “official” service as a body of believers committed in … Read More
Rear View Mirror: On Planting a Church #8
It’s the question I get asked most often by young, aspiring church planters: “If you had to do it over again, what would you do—or not do—differently?” It is in answer to that question that I’ve been using my “rearview mirror” perspective. So today, here’s installment #7, … Read More
A Memory Lane Moment for Mom and Dad
Last weekend my two sisters gathered with our parents in Chattanooga to celebrate mom’s and dad’s birthdays. Since I couldn’t make it, and since I know my older sister had planned a beautiful “memory lane moment” for them, I thought I’d at least chip in … Read More
Q Zone: “It Takes Two” Takes 5
Even when there is succinct clarity and laser-like accuracy, questions should be expected, not rejected. And so we address a few pertaining to marriage issues in this follow-up post to Sunday’s message, “It Takes Two.” (Click here to listen to the message.) Q: How can … Read More
“It Takes Two” — Bonus Bits!
We began a short, 3-week series today designed to highlight two things fundamental to marriage. We’ve drawn them from a single verse penned by the writer of Hebrews — 13:4. (Yep, you’ll have to catch the message to find out what the two things are.) … Read More
“Like” – A Bullet Summary of our Summer Series
So what have learned about the kingdom of Heaven (i.e., the kingdom of God) in these past 12 weeks from the parables in Matthew? Here’s a bulleted list, with the number in parenthesis referring to the parable(s) which made that point. The passage for each … Read More
Rearview Mirror: On Planting a Church #7
It’s the question I get asked most often by young, aspiring church planters:“If you had to do it over again, what would you do—or not do—differently?” It is in answer to that question that I’ve been using my “rearview mirror” perspective. So today, here’s installment #7, … Read More
Rearview Mirror: On Planting a Church #6
It’s the question I get asked most often by young, aspiring church planters: “If you had to do it over again, what would you do—or not do—differently?” It is in answer to that question that I’ve been using my “rearview mirror” perspective. So today, here’s installment #6, … Read More
Q Zone: Pondering Pricelessness
A preacher who isn’t boring? $30. An opportunity to ask questions of the preacher? $60. Having your question answered in a blog when the preacher didn’t get to it in the service? Priceless! Okay, enough of my lame attempts at humor. Here’s the point – … Read More
Q Zone: The Parables, Judgment, and Hell
Even a scant reading of the parable of the kingdom net leaves us with this understanding: an eventual “sorting” is inevitable. In a phrase, judgment is coming. And in a few simple verses, Jesus described the judgment of the wicked in terrible, horrible terms – … Read More