When something doesn’t work out the way we expect, we ask, “what went wrong?” In the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14–30, we consider what went wrong with the servant who squandered their single talent, and how they could go from being a wicked and slothful server to a good and faithful servant. … [Read More…] Own It! The Pathway to Becoming a Faithful Servant
Dear Moody Church Family Member, Some dreams are years in the making. The good ones are worth the wait. As By The Hand opened their sixth site this past April, once again they saw God’s providence and faithfulness in action—just as they experienced in 2001 when The Moody Church said “yes” to starting By … [Read More…] August 2023 Stewardship Letter
The Gospel shapes all of life. The Gospel doesn’t just matter on Sundays, the Gospel matters ALL days. It saturates and permeates and consecrates every facet of our lives. And to illustrate how the Gospel shapes all of life, Paul then goes to the heart of where most people do life: at work and … [Read More…] The Gospel at Work and Home
One of the highlights of our trip to Washington a couple weeks ago was getting to see Krista’s Grandma. Grandma Florence has lived on a farm in Soap Lake for decades, and it’s always a joy to go and visit. This was our first time back since Grandpa LeRoy went to be with Jesus … [Read More…] July 23, 2023
In chapter 5 of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul has been exploring the implications of the Gospel for every facet of our Christian lives, he lays out the Christian understanding of marriage. The Christian understanding of marriage is radically different from the understanding of marriage found in both traditional and modern cultures. In Traditional … [Read More…] Sacred Marriage
This week we’re diving deep into the Christian understanding of marriage as a sacred reflection of the ultimate covenant love that Christ has for his bride, the church. The Bible’s vision for marriage is lofty. But the problems in marriage are often heavy to bear. Since we’re considering marriage this Sunday, I thought it … [Read More…] July 16, 2023
There’s tremendous power in the quiet, organic, incremental, growth of the life of God planted in us. When the seed of the Gospel is planted within us, as the Father redeems us in the Son by the power of the Spirit, the new life of God starts growing within us. And we may not notice … [Read More…] Children of Light
In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus tells two short parables the church historically calls “The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in the Field” and “The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value.” This sermon explores three questions about the parables: 1) What is the kingdom of heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven in the same … [Read More…] Is God the Supreme Treasure of Your Soul?
“In God’s family, we choose to live differently.” That’s pretty much what Paul is saying in Ephesians 4. Now that we’re alive as sons and daughters of God, now that we’re members of His family, the house rules have changed. This new family doesn’t live like other families do. It’s all different. 1) The … [Read More…] New Life
“In our family, we choose to live differently.” Our kids can repeat that phrase. There are so many times when Krista and I have to explain to our kids why we are a bit odd as a family. They overhear other kids using words they’re not allowed to use. They wonder why they … [Read More…] June 25, 2023
