Grasping God’s Word

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Book Overview Grasping God’s Word has proven itself in classrooms across the country as an invaluable help to students who want to learn how to read, interpret, and apply the Bible for themselves. The third edition, revised based on feedback from professors, will continue to serve college-level students and lay learners well in their quest to gain a firm grasp …

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The Headache and Heartache That Was Rich Mullins

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Today is the 20th anniversary of Rich Mullins’ death. More than just a Christian music artist, he was one of those souls who had the ability to make other believers uncomfortable in the best type of way. On Sept. 19, 1997, he was returning from a concert in his jeep when he lost control and ejected from the vehicle.  He …

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The Importance of Context

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When it comes to reading Scripture, context is key.  

Too much of our current biblical study focuses on isolated verses and neglects the context of which the verses were originally written.

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The Word of the LORD Was Rare

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The Word The Word of the LORD Was Rare [1 Samuel 3:1-4:1] Samuel was called to be a prophet during a time when the Word of the LORD was rare. His ministry was established by God’s presence and determined by God’s Word. CONTEXT After 40 years of wilderness wanderings, the Israelites saw the Promised Land under Moses and entered the …

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Couple’s Fight Rule #1: Never Go to Bed Angry

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Whether you call them fights or disagreements or squabbles, every couple has them.  Since we all are selfish people, every couple are going to have to work through issues together. As we have learned to work together in our home, we established fight rules to disagree by so that our marriage can really improve throughout the years. We came up …

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Power Through Prayer

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Collected here in this 8-in-1 omnibus edition are all of E. M. Bounds’ powerful books. No one else wrote with such power and authority on prayer. These classic books continue to inspire and instruct us on all aspects of prayer and its uses in everyday Christian life. Power Through Prayer (1st book in this volume) teaches readers that prayer is much …

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3 Key Areas for the Church Volunteer

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  Churches struggle with recruiting and retaining volunteers.  While it is challenging enough to recruit a sufficient amount of people to meet the needs, there is another problem that comes when you get them: What expectations do you have of the church’s volunteers?   I’m not talking about what time they show up and what job they perform.  I’m talking …

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Settling for Golden Calves [When God Appears to Take Too Long]

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When Moses met with God on the mountain to receive the commandments, all of Israel waited to hear the divine directives. The problem is they didn’t wait that long.  They grew impatient and took matters into their own hands. The baffling thing about this narrative is how good God had been to them. God didn’t prescribe commandments until after he …

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The Interpretation of Translation

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In the 2nd week of our Hermeneutics course, we learned about “The Interpretation of Translation.”  The Bible in our possession has divisions of testaments, books, chapters and verses.  66 books are included and many religious books were left out.  In addition, the Bible was composed in 3 different languages, and a reading in English means that someone has already began the process of hermeneutics without us really thinking about it.

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Impatient Idolatry

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The Word Impatient Idolatry (Ex. 32) Even though the people had gotten out of Egypt, Egypt hadn’t gotten out of the people. Growing impatient with God’s timing, the people used a gift from God as an idol for God. This passage focuses on the Israelites’ formation of the golden calf and God’s judgment of their actions. CONTEXT After Joseph died, …

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10 Bible Verses for Conquering Your Fear

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Looking for Bible verses to study or memorize on a particular area of struggle?  One of the best ways to combat sin is by memorizing Scripture. Here are 10 verses for conquering fear. Ps. 56:3 – When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as …

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Hurricanes and My Heart

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Like so many of us, I have watched the hurricane coverage this week with disbelief.  The size of the storm is overwhelming.  The devastation is unimaginable. Something about a storm that we can prepare for but not stop challenges us as such an advanced, capable culture. As I watch the category 5 hurricane blast through countries I have never visited …

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God as Author: A Biblical Approach to Narrative

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I skimmed through God as Author by Dr. Gene Fant before we interviewed him as a candidate for North Greenville University’s President.  In one of our interviews with him, I asked him some questions regarding his presentation of the “hermeneutics of optimism” in his book for two reasons: 1) I loved the concept, and 2) I wanted him to know I …

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September’s Focus: Curriculum

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It’s a new month and that means it’s time for a new focus for the leadership at Rocky Creek.  Each month, we are focusing on a specific area to really develop as a church body.  Just to catch you up, here’s what we have been focusing on at Rocky Creek: January: Pastor – I am so thankful you allowed me …

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Stats on the Bible

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The Bible is 1 narrative composed of 2 testaments made up of 66 books – 39 books in the OldTestament followed by 27 books in the New Testament.  The Bible has 1,189 chapters composed of 31,173 verses filled by 773,692 words. The Bible was written by different authors whose occupations ranged from kings to shepherds, scholars to fishermen, prophets to …

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God Meant It for Good

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The Word God Meant It for Good Gen. 50:15-21 Once Israel died, his sons feared Joseph’s retaliation. While Joseph had been hurt by their evil, he viewed his suffering role as critical in the good God was doing. CONTEXT Genesis portrays God’s promise coming true through Abraham’s growing family. Abraham’s great-grandson, Joseph, was favored by his father and yet despised …

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The Supremacy of God in Preaching

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According to Warren Wiersbe, The Supremacy of God in Preaching “calls us back to a biblical standard for preaching, a standard exemplified by many of the pulpit giants of the past, especially Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon.” This newly revised edition is an essential guide for preachers who want to stir the embers of revival. Piper focuses his study on the …

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The Law Commands and Makes Us Know

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I ran across the wonderful hymn the other day by Isaac Watts written in 1709. I love the way that Watts shows the difference and dynamic between the law and the gospel. Here is the text from the Lutheran 1941 Hymnal: 1. The Law commands and makes us know What duties to our God we owe; But ’tis the Gospel …

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Jesus Is the Greater Isaac

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Isaac. This beloved, only son was willing to be sacrificed, followed his father up the mountain, traveled on a donkey’s back into the city of sacrifice, journeyed three days to his destination, carried the wood of his death upon his back, the substitute had a crown of thorns, and the son was raised from death. Is it just me, or …

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The Task of Hermeneutics

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  -2 Tim. 2:15

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There’s a Ram in the Thicket

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The Word There’s a Ram in the Thicket (Gen. 22) God miraculously gave Abraham a son but later commanded to sacrifice him. Instead of Abraham having to go through with Isaac’s death, a ram in the thicket became the substitute.  Context After the Fall in the Garden of Eden, sin escalated so much that God sent his wrath in the form of a …

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How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

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This book started my hermeneutics journey while in college and it is still a treasure to reread today. The concern of the scholar is primarily with what the text meant; the concern of the layperson is usually with what it means. The believing scholar insists that we must have both (10-11). First, to find out what the text originally meant; …

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Power of the Cross

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I have always loved “The Power of the Cross” by the Gettys.  I recently heard an arrangement by Heather Headley that is an incredible interpretation of the song.  It was one of those I had to pull over on the side of the road so I didn’t wreck!  Hope you enjoy! “Power of the Cross” Oh, to see the dawn …

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Satan’s Strategy

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Curiously, in the Garden of Eden, the serpent begins his attack with Eve.  The devious nature of this attack lies in the fact that God had instructed Adam concerning the law of the land, and yet the serpent approaches Eve to challenge those rules. The manner in which he comes also speaks volumes.  Lucifer, known for his brilliant covering arrayed …

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Two Trees in the Garden

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The Word: Two Trees in the Garden (Gen. 1-3) It didn’t take long before sin corrupted God’s good creation. While disobedience brought about brokenness, God revealed a plan to redeem what had fallen. CONTEXT God addressed formlessness and emptiness by stating, creating, and celebrating (Gen. 1:1-4). 1 – Light                4 – Sun, moon, and stars 2 …

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6 Things to Do When You Start a Bible Reading Plan

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If you struggled with consistently reading the Word, you are not alone, but that doesn’t mean that you have to remain where you are. It’s difficult to hit something if you aren’t aiming at it.  Many people fail at Bible reading because they don’t have a plan.  There are many great reading plans out there, but regardless of which one you …

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The Word 100-Day Reading Plan

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The Word Bible reading plan is a chronological 100-day guide that focuses on 50 pivotal Old Testament readings and 50 pivotal New Testament readings.  As we go through “The Word” series, our Sunday sermons will focus on the passage for that day.  During the week, our church will be reading through the rest of the passages to gain a fuller …

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Pocket Guide to the Bible

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I enjoyed the fresh manner in which Jason Boyett educated on the Bible in the Pocket Guide to the Bible: A Little Book About the Big Book.  He is informative and hilarious as he writes. Favorite Quotes Like any collection of sacred documents written in ancient languages over the span of several centuries, the Good Book has a lingo all …

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I’m Unsure of the Way [But Sure of Who’s Leading]

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I was at a place where I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life. The choice before me was never one I anticipated making.  Moving churches, homes, and cities was not on the radar for our family.  If God was in this transition, why was it so hard?  It seemed apparent that God was pointing …

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A Bible Summary in 271 Words

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I have preached through the narrative of the Bible in different ways in the past.  For “The Word” series at our church, I decided to give an outline.  In the past, I have always told people to avoid taking notes because it is too free-flowing.  But I have also found myself spending so much time on the Old Testament that …

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3 Circles: 1 Method of Sharing the Gospel

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The 3 CIRCLES PRESENTATION helps answer common questions in a simple and memorable way so that you can begin to naturally and actively share it with others. Here are two videos to help you understand the nature of the presentation and to show you how to present it in a conversation with someone as you share the gospel.   Here is a more …

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The Story of the Bible

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The Word The Story of the Bible (Rom. 1:1-6) The Bible is not a collection of disconnected, moralistic stories. It is the one overarching story of how the cross of Christ will rescue a fallen people. Outline God created the heavens and the earthMankind rebelled trying to prove their worthSin escalated to the shedding of bloodGod’s wrath displayed in the form of a floodYet one was blessed to be a blessingA nation promised, a Messiah comingA people rescued out …

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Glorious Day

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We have so loved the truths of this song in our home as of late!  Such great gospel declarations. “Glorious Day” is from Passion’s release “Worthy of Your Name.” LYRICS: I was buried beneath my shame Who could carry that kind of weight? It was my tomb ‘Til I met You I was breathing but not alive All my failures …

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40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible

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In 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, New Testament Professor Dr. Robert L. Plummer tackles the major questions that people ask about reading and understanding the Bible. Questions include: Does the Bible contain error? Do all the commands of the Bible apply today? How do we interpret historical narrative? Favorite Quotes The Bible itself is evidence of one of its …

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10 Ways to Welcome Your New Pastor

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All churches go through times of transition.  When a pastor has to leave a church (whether for a good reason or a bad reason), the church has to navigate through an interim time and work through the process of finding a new pastor. When a new pastor has been selected, how should a church welcome him and his family? I …

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August’s Focus: Groups

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It’s a new month and that means it’s time for a new focus for the leadership at Rocky Creek.  Each month, we are focusing on a specific area to really develop as a church body.  Just to catch you up, here’s what we have been focusing on at Rocky Creek: January: Pastor – I am so thankful you allowed me …

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How Often Do You Read the Bible?

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I once was asked if I believed in the Bible.  My answer was emphatically, “yes!”  After my response, the person asked, “Have you read everything in the Bible?” At that point, I couldn’t say that I had. I was basing my entire life off of something I had not completely read yet. That needed to change.  I began to read …

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The Word

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Discover the over-arching narrative of the Scriptures through a 100-Day Bible Reading Plan. These sermons cover one passage per week during the initiative.

Creation & Revelation

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Psalm 19 is a key passage to help explain how we learn about the character and nature of God. Creation tells us there is a God.  Revelation tells us what he is like [Ps. 19:1, 7]. If you read Psalm 19:1-6, the psalmist proclaims that creation shows us that God exists.  Most people look at a night sky or a …

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For the Bible Tells Me So

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The Word For the Bible Tells Me So Ezra 7:1-10 Similar to our context, Ezra the scribe lived in a time when the Word of God had been neglected. How are we to reorient our lives to what the Bible teaches? Karl Barth’s greatest theological truth: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Our prayer …

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