This Christmas blog article confronts the reality of a fallen and violent world while directing readers to the only true source of hope—Jesus Christ. Drawing from Matthew 1:18–25, it presents Christmas not as sentiment or nostalgia, but as God’s decisive intervention in history to redeem sinners. By highlighting the holy origin of Christ, the hidden hand of God in hardship, the saving purpose of the incarnation, the fulfillment of God’s historic promises, and the harmonious unfolding of His sovereign plan, the article calls readers to rest their hope fully in Christ, who came to save His people from their sins and remains God with us.
Keep ReadingWilliam Carey’s life reminds us that God delights to use ordinary believers with extraordinary conviction. With only thirteen pounds and a burden for lost souls, Carey obeyed Christ’s Great Commission and helped spark the modern missionary movement. His ministry was complete, compassionate, and crucial—and though Carey was imperfect, he points us to the perfect missionary, Jesus Christ. May his example call us to “expect great things from God” and “attempt great things for God.
Keep ReadingThis final section explains that the storm on the Sea of Galilee served as a spiritual classroom, preparing the disciples for the greater trials they would soon face. It emphasizes that Jesus leads His followers into storms not to harm them, but to deepen their trust and anchor their confidence in His sovereign care. Part 4 concludes by reminding believers that the One who calms the waves is always with them, and every storm ultimately teaches the heart to say, “It is Him.”
Keep ReadingThis section reflects on the disciples’ awe-filled question, “What kind of man is this?” as they witness Jesus command the wind and waves with divine authority. It highlights the stunning contrast between His humanity—sleeping in exhaustion—and His deity—speaking creation into calm. Part 3 teaches that every storm is a revelation of who Christ truly is, calling believers to worship and deeper trust in the One who rules over all.
Keep ReadingPart 2 focuses on the moment the disciples awaken Jesus in panic, crying out, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” It highlights how their imperfect but genuine faith drove them to the only One who could save them, and how Jesus used the storm to expose their fear and draw them into deeper trust. Through His rebuke and His immediate calming of the sea, Part 2 shows that Jesus not only rescues His people, but also lovingly strengthens their faith through every trial.
Keep ReadingThis article traces the unbroken testimony of faith from the Apostles to the early church, focusing on Polycarp of Smyrna as a living example of belief that endures without sight. Through vivid retelling and biblical reflection, it celebrates the miracle of the church’s perseverance, the courage of its martyrs, and the promise that one day faith will become sight when believers behold Christ face to face.
Keep ReadingPart 1 introduces the theme of recognizing Christ’s divine power through the story of Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8:23–27. Drawing from a child’s joyful realization of God’s existence, it calls readers to a simple, childlike faith that trusts God’s sovereignty even when life feels chaotic. Through vivid imagery and reflection, it reminds believers to look at every storm and declare with confidence, “It is Him.”
Keep ReadingBefore his conversion, Augustine wrestled between conviction and desire, praying for repentance but fearing obedience. His encounter with Pontitianus awakened him to the truth that his problem wasn’t lack of knowledge—it was love of sin. Sixteen centuries later, the same struggle continues as people claim to seek proof while resisting surrender. Pastor Brandon shows from Matthew 9:33–35 that the same miracle of Christ drew both worship and rejection, proving that unbelief is not intellectual failure but moral refusal. The blog concludes that the dividing line between belief and unbelief is drawn not by evidence, but by the heart’s willingness to yield to Jesus Christ.
Keep ReadingPaul’s familiar greeting, “Grace to you and peace,” reveals that every believer’s life begins with grace and results in peace. All do not share this peace, but it belongs only to those who humbly receive God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. As Pastor Brandon explains, grace is the foundation of salvation, and peace is one of its beautiful fruits.
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We can define an expository sermon as text driven preaching where the point of the sermon and its outline are derived from the correct interpretation of the text of Scripture. The preacher arrives at the interpretation through careful exegesis using the literal, historical, grammatical method. In the act of preaching, the preacher carefully explains the God-intended meaning of the text giving its modern implications.
Keep ReadingAug 5
2024
This post reflects on how God uses difficulties to deepen our prayer lives, highlighting insights from the book of James and the example of Isaiah's simple, heartfelt prayer. It invites readers to embrace the trials that drive them to depend on God in prayer, preparing their hearts for a deeper understanding of prayer through Jesus' teachings.
Christians cannot use ignorance as their reason for not acting upon the truth. God will hold them accountable for their access to the truth and will hold pastors responsible for teaching biblical truth. Expository preaching gives God's people a weekly opportunity to hear the Scriptures read and explained so they will grow in their longing for the Word and their walk with Christ. In short, they will grow in knowledge and understanding, thus, fulfilling God's requirement of His teachers and His people.
May 6
2023
We can define an expository sermon as text driven preaching where the point of the sermon and its outline are derived from the correct interpretation of the text of Scripture. The preacher arrives at the interpretation through careful exegesis using the literal, historical, grammatical method. In the act of preaching, the preacher carefully explains the God-intended meaning of the text giving its modern implications.
Apr 25
2023
As our families and churches face significant headwinds in this culture, many Christians don’t know the answers to what they see in the culture because they have lost confidence in God’s word and don’t believe in its power to change our families and churches. In this post, Pastor Brandon shows the power of Expository Preaching to fortify our families and churches against this culture.
Apr 25
2023
God's people long for challenging and life-changing preaching, even if they don't fully know it. Yet, most cultural Christians would request a topical sermon packaged in a bite-sized, easily digestible form. In other words, they want a magic pill. In this post, Pastor Brandon explains why expository preaching benefits God's people.
Feb 21
2023
Christians must know that God has given us everything we need, starting with eternal life. This incredible truth ought to be enough to cause us to praise Him and give thanks to Him in all we do!
We all can struggle with knowing what to do in life. Some of our youth here struggle to understand what college to attend, whether to attend college, go into the military, or work in a trade. In life, it's okay to struggle to get on the right path, especially when you're young. Looking back on my life, I struggled to find the right direction. Yet each move was ordained by God, who guided our family. I'm sure if you look at your life, you can see many of the same things.
As we move forward, there will be continued pressure for Grace Bible Church to change with the times. This pressure originates from our surrounding culture, but there is more than a subtle push to change from within the church. On the one hand, we understand that change in the church is like the seasons. Our ministry is in a constant transition, with people coming and going. On the other hand, we know that not all change is biblical. Therefore, how are we to evaluate our current path and direction as a church? How are we to assess each ministry in the church? These questions underscore our need for a biblical Philosophy of Ministry (POM).
Aug 18
2022
Wea need to harness the power of masculinity so our families, church, nation, and the world all benefit. Indeed, as we face significant headwinds in our culture, we may find ourselves begging the men to return! If they don't, the blood will continue on our hands.
Aug 10
2022
If you are enduring some trial, I encourage you to consider the joy of having the Holy Spirit dwelling in you! I pray that you will not bitterly complain but will be thankful for the growth in your walk with Christ.