We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments,to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings,the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men,and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.At our church the Bible is the final authority on questions of the Christian faith and the Christian life.  We define the Bible as “both Old and ...  Read More

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments,to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings,the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men,and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.That’s the first point of our church’s statement of faith.  We start with the Bible.We don’t start with a particular tradition.We don’t start wit...  Read More

I never felt a need to construct a mission statement, since Jesus left us one:  make disciples (Matt. 28.20).  Jesus even included two subpoints:  baptize them and teach them to observe what I commanded you (Matt 28.20-21). The problem isn’t the mission statement but carrying it out given the changes in the world since the time Jesus issued the command.First, Jesus, being Jewish, was immersed in a...  Read More

A story doesn’t need to be true to convey truth.  Stories that aren’t true often convey the truth more effectively than stories that are true.After David sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered, the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to David with a fabricated story about a rich man who, rather than butchering his own sheep to feed guests, stole a poor man’s pet lamb and killed it for his fea...  Read More

Our Christmas celebration is peppered with things that aren’t true.  I don’t mean Santa Claus, elves, and flying reindeer.  I mean the things that we think of as the biblical, Christian, and religious elements of our Christmas celebrations.The second verse of “The First Noel” depicts the shepherds seeing the star of Bethlehem.  The same stanza says the star “continued” to shine “both day and night...  Read More

…Did none of the social justice warriors who succeeded in removing the NFL’s Redskins from Washington DC so that the Commanders could move in to take their place recognize the irony?…Because I grew up in a teetotaling home I am unable to recognize when I’m interacting with a person impaired by drugs or alcohol.  I interact as though they are reasoning normally and not always with pleasant results....  Read More

Following a moral principle at personal cost can be hard.  Even harder, however, is navigating life when two valid moral principles of good clash.This morning I was notified that our church’s name was tagged in a post about homelessness.  Some social justice warrior was railing on the churches in and around Pottstown for not solving the problem of the homeless camp outside of town.  He listed seve...  Read More

Every time turmoil in the Middle East makes the news, many conservative Christians get excited, certain that biblical prophecy is being fulfilled before their eyes because they believe the state of Israel is God’s chosen people, the center of God’s work on earth.But I have come to believe the New Testament teaches that Jesus is the chosen One, and those who have faith in Him, Jew and Gentile, form...  Read More

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!Behold, your house is forsaken.  And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 13.34-35)Jerusalem, the capital of Judea...  Read More

I saw this once on a church marquee:WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE?COME TO OUR CHURCH AND FIND OUT!Whether intentional humor or ironic oversight on the part of the sign-maker, this expresses a crucial truth about the purpose of the church.Following Jesus is about dying to self and about learning to die to self, and that can only be done in the context of interaction with other selves.  The flip side of...  Read More

Following Jesus, according to Jesus, involves dying to self:  discovering places in your soul where self has to be conquered, and then conquering it.  You put ‘you’ on the cross.  You deny your self, and yes, I intended ‘your’ and ‘self’ to be two separate words.  Denying self isn’t merely keeping things from yourself, but learning to say “no” to your self’s desires and drives – saying no to the s...  Read More

If people are drawn to you, eventually they’ll become a part of your circle, and that circle should include Christian friends and people from your church.  Becoming part of a Christian circle doesn’t make one a Christian.  But God’s drawing people to Himself necessarily involves the influence of and connection with others.  Others must lead the horse to the water.  When a soul decides to follow Ch...  Read More