Workers Pleasing To God: Tenth in a Series on 1 & 2 Timothy

2 Timothy 2:14-26 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do...

The Signature Of The Shepherd

John 10: 22-30 For forty-three years I signed official documents for three colleges and two seminaries. Often I write out the full name complete with middle initial, but in-house documents required only the initials KOG which I have surely signed thousands of times. Putting either my name or initials on...

The Way of the Cross

Matthew 16:22-26 If Jesus had lived in the deep south in the years following the Civil War, His "cross" probably would have been a rope around his neck and His crucifixion a lynching. If he'd been ...

Strength In Suffering: Eighth in a Series on 1 & 2 Timothy

2 Timothy 1:7, 11-12 "For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him." There are various kinds of...

Jesus the Trouble-Maker

John 2:13-22 Recently we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Quite properly we hailed him as a latter-day prophet to America, a drum-major for justice, a visionary whose dream still inspires us. But I am old enough to remember our attitude toward Dr. King while he was alive. He was ...