A Child Will Be Born

Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Through these names, we realize that He provides us with wisdom, power, care, and stability.

There’s Always a Reason to Sing

Music is God’s gift for us to express our deepest convictions and emotions in a fitting way. No matter what is going on in your life, there’s always a reason (and a need) to sing.

I Want to Hold Your Hand

We serve a God who does not leave us on our own but walks beside us through all the challenges of life. No matter what we face, we can endure because we do not struggle alone.

Jesus Isn’t Trying to Snuff You Out

One of the most dangerous, incorrect notions about God is that He is so frustrated with us that He doesn’t want to help any longer. If you are barely hanging on, Jesus isn’t trying to snuff you out.

No One Is Forcing God to Forgive You

If you perceive God’s forgiveness as something He is obligated to do, you miss the heart required to make it happen. No one is forcing God to forgive you, but He actually desires to do so.

Anti-Narcissism on Display

Jesus didn’t demand respect, so He deserves it all the more. In a world full of people expecting recognition, please give it to the One who never required it. 

Preparing Your Sabbath

We serve a God who commands us to rest. How could we ever doubt that he has our best interest in mind with such a directive? I grew up thinking the Sabbath was one thing but Scripture teaches something very different and life-changing.

Your Mission Is Too Small

God blessed the nation of Israel in order to be a blessing to all other nations, but eventually, they refrained from sharing that salvation with others. After the work of Jesus in our lives, we are called to go outside the walls of the church to multiply as we make disciples and plant churches.

READ MORE

Here I Am [Isaiah 6]

Isaiah 6 Preached at One Church – Fairview Baptist Church, Greer, SC – May 24, 2017 Main Points We don’t see God as exalted until we have been humbled. Holiness by comparison seems promising until one encounters the LORD. You are not truly experiencing the presence of God if you believe that you deserve to be there. The most dangerous …

READ MORE

Clear the Path

As the prophet Isaiah attempted to bring God’s people back to obedience, he challenged the spiritual leaders.  God appointed watchmen to watch over the people and to pray for them continually (Isa 62:6). In addition to praying for the people, he also gave them very specific instructions: Go through, go through the gates;     prepare the way for the people; build …

READ MORE

Here I Am – Send Me

“Near, far.  Near, far.” One can easily picture Grover from Sesame Street running back and forth in front of the camera.  The closer he gets to the camera, the bigger he gets.  The more steps he backs up, the smaller he becomes. Or does he?  Obviously, Grover’s size isn’t changing, but our perception of him does. In walking with the …

READ MORE

Jesus Chose to Be Ugly

Humanity is obsessed with the glamorous.  Mankind naturally gravitates towards the attractive, popular individuals.  Notable men are tall, dark, and handsome.  Memorable women are head-turners.  While we naturally follow certain types of people, it is very intriguing regarding how God looked physically when he showed up on earth in the flesh. Jesus could have come into the world looking any …

READ MORE

Responsive Reading from Isaiah 6

I wanted to use a responsive reading from Isaiah 6 for worship, but I couldn’t find one.  So I wrote this one to guide our people to reflect upon God’s holiness, our sin, and his grace. Leader: In the year that his king died, the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord still alive. In a moment when he beheld the glory …

READ MORE

A New Heaven and a New Earth

I had the honor of heading over to Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church this morning.  I took a team of North Side Worship leaders and we led worship and I got to preach for two services, and I taught a class in the middle.  Wonderful day with these wonderful folks!  I got the privilege to spend the weekend with their student …

READ MORE

God Will Make Us Righteous

Today’s services weren’t supposed to happen. Our staff had some planning adjustments for the next few weeks of services.  We were supposed to conclude “The LORD Is Salvation” series today with Isaiah 66.  Due to some unforeseen dynamics, we needed to stretch it out a week, and so we added a service focused on Isaiah 62 today. I’ve never been …

READ MORE

Oaks of Righteousness

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;     my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;     he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,  -Isaiah 61:10 Wonderful services as we walked through Isaiah 61.  Powerful time together!  We had 1 worship team over at Connie Maxwell and many college students serving in …

READ MORE

Grace Made Visible

We focused on Isaiah 58 today and it was an incredible time about talking about a true fast.  Not an opportunity to get God’s attention, but a chance to be his hands and feet in the world. The band led so well today.  I am just honored I get to be in the band. Scott Hill, our Mission Pastor, preached …

READ MORE

The God That Heals

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.  -Is. 57:18 Today’s services focused on Isaiah 57 and it was an incredible time together!  I let the band have a week-off from practice due to all the work they did during Easter week, and they came together prepared and spot on.  So amazed that I get to lead with …

READ MORE

The Great Invitation

HE IS RISEN! I love every Sunday, but Easter Sunday is especially rowdy!  This year was no different.  After a weekend full of “The Old Rugged Cross” services, we had incredible services on Sunday morning as we focused on Isaiah 55 and celebrated the great invitation given to us by God. Services were packed and it was so good to …

READ MORE

Christ Our Savior

Loved celebrating Palm Sunday with the North Side family today.  Our services were focused on Isaiah 52:13-53:12 as we kicked off Passion Week. Can I just tell you how the Lord brings so many things together? We are nearing the end of a study through Isaiah, and this week happens to be on possibly the most pivotal prophecy of Jesus …

READ MORE

A God of Grace

Powerful day with North Side family as we focused on Isaiah 48!  Even on the dreaded Spring Forward Sunday, the church was getting after it this morning! We sang everything from Handel to Gaither this morning! If it is biblical theology, it needs to be sung no matter its age! Four of these songs are from our upcoming Easter services, …

READ MORE

Trusting God’s Sovereignty

Powerful day focusing on Isaiah 45 today!  We tried to do some minor tweaking to the service to allow people to prepare to meet with God.  It was pretty special seeing people quiet their souls before we began. Today’s service (well, at least the 11:00, we changed some things around on the spot at 9:30): Are You Washed in the …

READ MORE

Fear Not, For I Am With You

Above is a sermon I preached on Isaiah 41 at North Side Baptist Church on February 21, 2016. God never reassures people based on their potential but with his presence. The greatest promise of God is the presence of God. God’s presence is the only promise powerful enough to subside our fears. Sermon Notes God invites the people to try to …

READ MORE

Fear Not, For I Am With You

Great time with our church family today.  The worship team was great.  The leadership and volunteers were getting after it all over the place.  I loved getting to meet some new guests!  The preacher was decent ;). It was an honor to be able to preach today at North Side but also to be led by such a great team! …

READ MORE

Waiting for His Coming

Powerful day with the North Side family!  It is simply amazing watching the church be the church! Today’s services: Reading – Isaiah 40:28-31 Everlasting God – North Side Worship Christ Be All Around Me – Michael W. Smith Prayer Time (we have 11 Baptist churches in our community without a pastor and we split into groups, choose one of them, …

READ MORE

Desperate Times, Divine Measures

“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.”  -Isaiah 37:16 Powerful day of worship as we built our services around Isaiah 36 and Isaiah 37. Here’s the service order: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – North Side Worship Reading – Isaiah …

READ MORE

Wayward Children and a Waiting Father

Since Connie Maxwell Baptist Church is in a transition time, I took a band over to lead worship with our family over there this morning.  It was such a great time to serve that church.  Love the ministry of our partners over there and excited to serve them! I knew that North Side was in excellent hands.  I heard the …

READ MORE

Spiritual Blindness

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth     and honor me with their lips,     while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men -Isaiah 29:13 Such authentic services today.  Amazed at what God is doing through his church. Here is how the service based on Isaiah 29 came together: …

READ MORE

God’s Perfect Peace

Powerful time in Isaiah 26 this morning.  So many people with so much that God is doing in their lives right now.  Incredible just to be a bystander to watch him at work. Today’s services: Risen – North Side Worship Christ Is Risen (He Is Risen Indeed) – Keith and Kristyn Getty Announcements (Chronic Pain Class, Ladies’ Night Out, Marriage …

READ MORE

Where Is This Ruthless World Headed? [Isaiah 25]

Where is this ruthless world headed?  As you look at the state of our world, it is easy to get overwhelmed with its course and direction.  How are believers to respond? We addressed this issue today through the teaching of Isaiah 25.  Our services were also built around this great chapter of Scripture.  It was such a special time of …

READ MORE

The Peaceable Kingdom [Isaiah 11]

Today was such a great reminder of God’s faithfulness for this church.  He has been so good to this congregation and continues to show himself strong among us. Loved hearing the very loud singing worshipers today.  It really just seemed like everyone was dialed in.  It was a great moment to celebrate the vote and hiring of our Mission Pastor. …

READ MORE

Isaiah 9

It was a fantastic day as we completed our last worship services at North Side in 2015.  So thankful for all that God is doing with these people! Services: Joy to the World – North Side Worship (with iPad intro) In Christ Alone w/The Solid Rock – Travis Cottrell Scripture Reading – Isaiah 9:6-7 Prayer Time What Child Is This? …

READ MORE

Here Am I [Isaiah 6]

Powerful services today at North Side.  I love worshipping with our church family.  I love all the new folks God is bringing our way.  I love watching people just get it. Here is how our services came together: Little Drummer Boy – We arranged this song on Wednesday using cups, trash cans, roto toms, and drums.  I used my boys …

READ MORE

The Parable of the Fields [Isaiah 5]

To say my heart is full tonight is an understatement.  Words cannot describe all the wonders of what God is doing in the life of his church right now. I won’t apologize for the emotions, because God has just been so good to me and to his church. Today was absolutely full of God on the move.  Here is how …

READ MORE

Isaiah 1 [Let Us Reason Together]

Such a special day to start out celebrating Christmas! We started a new series studying through the Book of Isaiah.  We are calling it “The LORD Is Salvation” since that is what the name of Isaiah actually means. Our services went like this: Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24 – Trans-Siberian Orchestra Family Dedication Hark the Herald Angels Sing – North Side Worship O …

READ MORE

God Isn’t Ignoring You

Many people wrongly assume that God is unaware concerning our situations.  Believing that he is too lofty and too out-of-touch with us down here on earth, some people will live in such a way that ignores God’s involvement in our lives. They ignore God because they believe that God is ignoring them. The Bible teaches us that God knows how …

READ MORE

Holding My Son Down in the Hospital

This picture was taken a few weeks ago.  Eli was having some minor surgery, but as many of you know, surgery for a 3-year-old is never minor.  When your child is taken from you, knocked out, cut on, comes back loopy with tons of chords sticking out of him, it’s never a fun encounter.

I prize myself on being a tough father.  I’m that “it will be alright” kinda dad who can grasp that bumps and bruises are learning tools.  I was not expecting the kind of emotional turmoil that I went through that day.  I don’t know if it was the first time that my son was out of our protective care or what it was, but it was hard.  It was hard holding my son down for strangers to do things to him that hurt.

When he began to wake up, he laid on Mom a good long while and seemed content.  Later, they needed to check on him and begin to remove connected wires and such, so he was handed to Dad (thanks, a lot!).  Eli looked up at me and said, “Daddy, I want to go home.  Take me home, please.”

“I will in just a minute baby, but you have to let these people make you feel better.”

When they started to work on him and I had to hold him down, the look in his eyes was something I had never seen before.

READ MORE