On Sunday, I updated our church about the New Orleans church plant. A summary of the update is outlined below. News Completed our branding (logo, design, landing page for website – GraceBibleNOLA.org) registered as a corporation with the state of Louisiana...
William Hamilton Burns (1179-1859) was a pastor in Kilsyth, Scotland who is now known, oddly enough, for having faithfully and quietly carried out his ministerial duties in obscurity. Burns’s long-range approach to ministry is worthy of imitation and should not escape...
Preaching is the bread and wine of the gifts to the church of God. It is sweet to the soul, rich with depth, but also at the same time easy to digest. It is essential to maturity in the life of the believer. If too long without it, it leaves one in a spiritual state...
First, Dinner… Recently, I was reading Everyone A Child Should Know with my family during dinner (our children love this book!). We learned about C. T. Studd (1860-1931), a famous cricket player who left the game after his brother nearly died, causing him to...
A logo has the ability to communicate important values about the group that it represents. Our aim in designing a logo for Grace Bible Church was to create a simple, unique image that embodies what we hold dear. The result was a simple image that allows for some depth...
“For they went out for the sake of the Name, receiving nothing from the Gentiles.” – III John 7 There are a few books that our core team is planning to read and discuss together in preparation for planting in New Orleans. Last month, we completed the first of...
Some of our core team recently took a trip to New Orleans, which, for several on the team, was their first time ever visiting the city. I updated the church during Equipping Hour about how our core team has been preparing since July 2021. This was a good opportunity...
In August, our core team began discussing what we’re calling “ministry-sustaining convictions.” These convictions are a collection of biblical truths that, if maintained, will ensure not only a strong start to a church plant, but will provide a sturdy foundation for...
In a previous post, I began sharing some wrong motivations for church planting. In this article, I want to share a few more that we discussed at our recent core team gathering. These wrong motivations are particular to church planting, but should be avoided in other...
Proverbs 4:23 teaches us that the “springs of life” flow out of the human heart. Our thoughts, desires, and even the motivations deep inside us determine the direction of our life’s various springs. For this reason, the members of the church plant must maintain right...
Recently, I have been reading Jehovah Jireh: A Treatise on Providence by William S. Plumer. In chapter 8 where Plumer tackles God’s providence over Judas Iscariot, a lengthy portion details and diagnoses religious hypocrisy. I have found myself referencing, reading,...
It seems that Dr. James Hal Cone (1938-2018), founder of Black Liberation Theology*, is being universally championed by those who both claim Christ and embrace the woke movement. One author, speaking favorably of Cone, recently stated, “No analysis of Black ecclesial...
W. S. Plumer’s commentary on the Psalms has been a tremendous blessing to me in preparing to read Scripture each week during our Sunday morning gatherings. In each psalm, his verse by verse exposition is followed by several “Doctrinal and Practical Remarks” that are...
As I read the commentary of Christian brothers near and far away, I cannot help but notice the striking absence of Scripture from so much of what is said. More specifically, what I’m observing is Christians speaking about police brutality, racism, and systemic...
Over the last several years, as Black Lives Matter (BLM) and the woke church movement have grown, “justice” has become a popular buzzword. “No justice, no peace!” shout BLM protestors. “God loves justice, so we have to be about justice,” say woke church proponents....
Since 2014, when Michael Brown, an unarmed black man, was justifiably killed by white police officer Darren Wilson, the Black Lives Matter organization has been growing in popularity, power, and influence. Many wise, Christian men have boldly issued a clear warning to...
Love. Compassion. Charity. Patience. Caution. Prayer. Generosity. All these responses are appropriate for Christians and have been evident within our church family over the past few weeks since the emergence of the Coronavirus threat in the United States. Grace Bible...
I love that our church is weekly reading through the Psalms. So often, a psalm that has been recently read in our corporate gathering is exactly what I need for shepherding my own heart and others. This week, I have been encouraged by Psalm 46, which we just read this...
Our Smallgroup has been studying the “one another” commands of the New Testament. We recently discussed First Thessalonians 5:13, “Live in peace with one another.” Since Christ’s death reconciled us with God and other Christians, maintaining peaceful, loving...
SUNDAY MORNING SCRIPTURE READING: MALACHI THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BOOK Author: the prophet Malachi (1:1) Date: Approximately 435 B.C., making it the final Old Testament book written. Purpose: Malachi was written to call Israel and its leaders back to covenant...
