Dwell in the Word: Isaiah 3:1-4:1
I told you that this was an interesting passage, and I didn't lie, right? This is an interesting passage in many ways, a fun memory for me. There was an official alternative band in the mid-nineties, late '90s maybe, called Johnny Q-Public that had a silly, funny song on their first album called a Bald Women. No, it was Women of Zion. As I was reading this, that song was going through my head.
Dwell in the Word: Isaiah 2:6-22
In the first part of Chapter Two, we read about this time where everyone is going towards God and there will be peace. It's the whole famous beat their swords and plowshares passage, right? Then the tone turns to a tone of judgment. The idea here is that there is idolatry, there is rebellion against God, and that has to be punished. And once again, we see another example of the way that idolatry is spoken of
Dwell in the Word: Isaiah 2:1-5
This is probably one of the better-known passages from the beginning of the Book of Isaiah. Maybe Isaiah 6, we know a little bit better, but I don't think so. I think this passage with going to the mountain of the Lord and people beating their swords into plowshares, that is a very well-known part of this beginning of Isaiah. Now notice what it says here, It shall come to pass in latter days.
Dwell in the Word: Isaiah 1:21-31
Well, we see here that Isaiah isn't messing around, is he? Isaiah is using strong language. Notice how this chapter starts out, verse 21. This is difficult for us to say, difficult for us to hear, how the faithful city has become a whore. She who was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderous.
Dwell in the Word: Isaiah 1:1-20
As we start out here in Isaiah 1, we see some beautiful language. You can tell, by the way, this is laid out here that this is more poetic language. It is a prophetic word. It is a prophetic statement. There's a poetic nature to this, and it's beautiful language and it's powerful. As you read it, maybe as you heard me read it, you get a sense of the gravity of these words and the way that they are brought together, the images that it brings to our minds.
Mercy for Others | Jonah 4:1–11 | Dwell in the Word
Despite Jonah's obedience in going to Nineveh, his heart remained hardened toward the people he preached to. Jonah 4 offers a revealing glimpse into the prophet’s inner struggle with God's mercy. Instead of rejoicing in Nineveh's repentance, Jonah is angry—so angry he wishes to die. But God, in his patient compassion, teaches Jonah (and us) a lesson through a withering plant and a question that still echoes: “Should I not pity Nineveh?”
This passage invites us to reflect deeply on our own hearts. Do we truly desire mercy for the lost—even those who seem far from God or different from us? Or are we more like Jonah, clinging to our own ideas of who deserves grace? As we dwell in this final chapter, may we grow in gratitude for God’s mercy to us and cultivate a heart that longs to see others come to repentance and life.
When a City Believes | Jonah 3:1–10 | Dwell in the Word
God sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message of judgment—but what unfolded was nothing short of miraculous. In this chapter, we witness an entire city, from the least to the greatest, humbling themselves in repentance. The people of Nineveh didn’t argue or delay—they believed God, turned from their evil ways, and hoped for mercy. Their response stands in stark contrast to Jonah’s reluctant obedience and reveals the transforming power of God's Word.
As we reflect on Jonah 3, we’re challenged to examine our own hearts. Do we respond to God’s Word with humility and faith? Like the people of Nineveh, we are called to turn from sin and trust in the mercy of the Lord.
Salvation Belongs to the Lord | Jonah 2:1–10 | Dwell in the Word
From the depths of the sea—and the depths of despair—Jonah lifts a prayer that reveals the heart of the Gospel: salvation belongs to the Lord. As we dwell in Jonah 2, we find ourselves drawn into his descent, not only into the belly of the fish but into the spiritual realization that only God can rescue.
Jonah’s prayer paints a vivid picture of what it means to be brought low—and then lifted up by grace. His journey reminds us that God hears us even when we feel far gone and that He alone can save. In a world filled with noise, false hope, and self-reliance, Jonah’s voice from the deep calls us to remember the one true source of deliverance.
Running from God | Jonah 1:1–17 | Dwell in the Word
When God speaks, we often imagine ourselves responding with bold obedience—but Jonah’s story reminds us that even prophets can run. In this first episode of our Dwell in the Word series on Jonah, we meet the reluctant prophet as he flees the call of God. But God’s purposes won’t be thwarted. In the storm and the sea, in the hearts of pagan sailors, and even in the belly of a fish, we see God’s mercy and power at work.
As we reflect on this passage, we’re reminded that we cannot flee from God's presence. Rather than resisting His will, we’re called to trust and submit—knowing that His ways are perfect and His purposes will prevail. Watch, listen, and dwell in Jonah’s story to be challenged and encouraged in your walk of faith.
June 12 Sermon: Joseph's Generosity
A common cliche is that you will catch far more flies with honey that you will with vinegar. Now, I’ve never put this statement to a literal test. Perhaps if I had a little more free time this past week I would have gotten things together to have a little experiment of this statement. We know it is likely true without testing it but we know that the point of this cliche isn’t actually whether honey would catch more flies than vinegar. Our grandmothers or some other wise individual that transmitted this information to us were wanting us to understand that if we are kind and loving people are more likely to be drawn to us than if we talk to people harshly and treat them poorly.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 6:1-18
As we come here to the close of Galatians 6, we continue to see Paul's tone shifting a little bit again, don't we? He is very concerned with their Holy living. And this seems interesting because Paul's tone has been harsh, yet he's telling people to help people with their transgressions with a spirit of gentleness. Paul said anything but a spirit of gentleness earlier on, but notice what the distinction is.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 5:16-26
We land here at the end of chapter five, and it's starting to feel like maybe that the tone is starting to shift a little bit. There's a little bit more maybe friendliness to the exhortation. Maybe that's not the right word. But you can see here where Paul is really encouraging them to continue to live by faith and live their lives in a particular way. He is encouraging them not to gratify the desires flesh.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 5:1-15
As we find ourselves in chapter five, we see that Paul has not given up his feisty tone, here has he? He does start off here reminding us that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. In other words, Jesus died to set you free from this yoke of slavery, this yoke of the law. It was so that you wouldn't have to do things like circumcision or follow the law to feel as though you had to earn your salvation that Christ died for you.
June 5 Sermon: Joseph's Deception
The conscience is an interesting thing. Sometimes it is a mere whisper in your mind and at other moments it is voice that rings through over all the other noise in your head. It is that voice that we try to silence but it can’t be avoided or ignored. It is something that we can’t quantify or maybe even explain but we know it exists because we have all felt the pangs that it creates within in us. One thing that is amazing about our conscience is that often it causes us to remember things that we have done in the past and we feel this unbelievable sense of guilt.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 4:21-31
Every time I come to this passage, one of the first thoughts I have is, I wonder how being told that they are the children of Hagar went over with the Judaizers. I'm guessing that wasn't very popular at all because what is Paul doing here? He is telling these people who are desiring the law to be what determines whether or not they're in the faith that they are basically Ishmael, they are not Isaac, and that those who trust simply by faith are Isaac. They are the children of the promise.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 4:8-20
As we come to our passage from today, we see this continuing theme of Paul's here in the letter to the Galatians. This is one main idea, right? He is upset that they have accepted the teaching of the Judaizers regarding circumcision, that they have accepted this idea. Faith in Christ is good, but you need to have the sign of the Old Covenant, circumcision, in order to be a part of the Christian body, in order to be a Christian, or to come to God.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 4:1-7
So, we see here Paul's continuing argument about how we are united to Christ, how we are sons and daughters of God, and so therefore we are heirs of eternal life, regardless if we are Gentile or Jew, whether we are man or woman, whether we are slaves or free, all those distinctions that we have seen that the world values, we see all of those come together in Christ. All of those are brought together because we have been made whole in Him.
May 29 Sermon: Joseph's Rise
We often see people who make waves and from our perspective it seems as though their rise is quick and out of nowhere. As a baseball fan I usually think about the player who makes it to the major leagues and you’ve never heard their name before in your life and suddenly they are getting on base and knocking in runs at the most opportune time for your favorite team. Suddenly this person whose name you might not even have been able to pronounce three weeks ago is the talk of the team’s fandom. It seems as though its about luck or just pure God given talent from our perspective but the truth is this person’s rise to being famous had a lot to do with paying their dues and putting in the work.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 3:15-29
This passage is really good news for us, those people who are not of the Hebrew persuasion. Paul is making his case here that in Christ, we are all Abraham's offspring. It's not by blood, it's by faith in Christ. And that's good news. That's why we have hope. That is why we know that we have salvation. Now, Paul is talking here. He says in verse 18, For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by the promise, but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Dwell in the Word: Galatians 3:10-14
So, Paul is continuing to speak out against this idea that faith and works are mixed together. Remember, we're addressing the claims of the Judaismizers. They are the people who are saying, Yes, faith in Christ is good, but you have to mix in the works of the law, specifically the ritual act of circumcision. You have to be circumcised. Now we can understand why this would be a problem as Paul was trying to reach out to Gentile believers.