I recently ran across an article that laid out some very helpful steps for fighting sin. There’s an old saying that says “prior planning prevents poor performance.” This principle can be applied to addressing sin in our lives. We can have the best of intentions to live free from sin, but without a plan, we will not get very far. So, below are eight steps that may be helpful (for a more detailed de...  Read More

If we were to identify a NT passage that most accurately describes what it looks like to live a life that reflects the themes of both the burnt and grain offerings, it would be Romans 12:1-2:“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be...  Read More

Have you ever wondered what it takes to have a “successful” life? This question is often evaluated by such things as: my level of happiness, how much money I have, fulfillment in my job, if I feel liked/accepted by others, how much I feel in control of my life, how my kids are functioning, how well I’m getting along with my spouse, and the list goes on and on. In short, many of the ways we define ...  Read More

Below are Pastor Ben's sermon notes from this past Sunday, in case they may be helpful for further study. Intro: (1) first big section of Leviticus is about sacrifices — cannot overemphasize that the penalty for our sin is death (2) difference between Israelite and pagan sacrifices (cf. Psalm 50:12-13) (3) first big sacrifice is the burnt offering (cf. v.3) — daily offering offered every morning a...  Read More

The Bible is comprised of two primary covenants: the old covenant and the new covenant. This is actually where we get the names Old Testament and New Testament, for the Old Testament describes life for God’s people under the old covenant, and the New Testament describes life for God’s people under the new covenant. The covenants are similar in that they are both based on grace. Just as we did not ...  Read More

Did you have a best friend as a child? Riding bikes around the neighborhood, playing games, climbing trees, sleep overs, chasing lightning bugs after dark (I am probably telling my age!). Many of you can remember fun times with a best bud or a BFF. For some, those are special memories.Today, we live in a culture where friend can mean anything from “adding someone to your list of contacts on a soci...  Read More