A reflection on John 19:16-42
In our modern age, it’s hard to imagine that some people in America have never heard of Jesus. Yet for those of us familiar with the story, the crucifixion narrative can sometimes feel like old news. But here’s the truth: this ancient account carries profound relevance for our lives today.
A reflection on John 19:1-15
Have you ever noticed how jarring it can be to sing songs of praise about Christ’s glory, then immediately turn to passages depicting His suffering? This past Sunday, we experienced exactly that contrast as we moved from exalted worship into John 19—one of Scripture’s most difficult passages.
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In a world where “truth” often feels subjective and debatable, Pontius Pilate’s ancient question—”What is truth?”—resonates powerfully today. As we explored John 18 this Sunday, we discovered how different people interact with truth in radically different ways, and how Jesus embodies truth itself.
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Witnessing Transformation in GuatemalaA firsthand account of how the gospel is transforming lives in Tactic, Guatemala
Picture someone living under a curse—stripped of hope, dignity, and joy. Now imagine that curse being lifted, replaced by freedom, peace, and abundant life. This transformation isn’t just a theological concept; it’s happening right now in Guatemala. Continue reading
Note: This blog post is based on a sermon originally preached on June 15th, 2025.
On Father’s Day, we explored one of Scripture’s most intimate passages—Jesus’ prayer in John 17. Known as the High Priestly Prayer, this chapter reveals Christ’s heart as He prepared for the cross. In a culture that often diminishes fathers and challenges biblical manhood, this passage offers profound encouragement about purpose, identity, and God’s love for His people.
A reflection on John 16 from our Sunday sermon
Growing up in the 1980s as an only child meant finding creative ways to entertain myself. No internet, no YouTube—just imagination and whatever I could find in the backyard. I vividly remember being about five years old, playing with a particularly good stick I’d found under my grandma’s tree. As I threw it higher and higher into the air, my mom came outside with a warning: “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I assured her it was fine.
“Well,” she said, “when you hit yourself in the eye with that stick, don’t come crying to me.”
You can guess what happened next. That stick came down and hit me directly in the eye. As I held my throbbing eye, trying to stay quiet so she wouldn’t know she’d been right, I wondered: Does my mom know the future?
She didn’t, of course. She just had parental intuition. But as Christians, we have something far greater—we can listen to our God who actually does know the future and can tell us things to come. Continue reading
When the Spirit Opens DoorsHave you ever wondered why 95% of Christians have never led anyone to Christ? This statistic hasn’t changed in 20 years, and it grieves me every time I teach on evangelism. But what if the problem isn’t that we don’t know enough or aren’t bold enough? What if we’ve been missing a crucial biblical pattern that connects the Holy Spirit, prayer, and effective witnessing?
In week three of our “Out of the Fire” evangelism class, we explored this vital connection. What emerged was both convicting and encouraging: God wants to open doors for His word, and He’s already equipped us with everything we need to walk through them. Continue reading
As a young Christian reading through the Bible for the first time, I found myself stuck on one particular verse in John 16. Jesus told His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away.” Every time I read those words, I would pause and think, “Lord, I believe you, but how? How could your leaving possibly be better for us?”
This question becomes even more perplexing when we understand what Jesus was actually saying. He wasn’t promising His followers an easier life after His departure. Instead, He was preparing them for persecution, hatred, and even death—all while claiming this would somehow be to their advantage.
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Reflections from Week Two of Our Evangelism Class“Who does that sound like to you?” my friend Blaine asked after reading a passage from Scripture. My Buddhist friend paused, then quietly said, “Uh… Jesus.” Blaine smiled. “You know what? I think you’re right. That sounds like Jesus to me too. Does it mean anything to you that this was written 700 years before Jesus was born?”
I watched the color drain from my friend’s face. For the first time in our many conversations about faith, he had no wise-crack response, no smarmy comeback. He just sat there, speechless.
That moment, years ago, taught me something powerful about the difference between sharing my personal experience with Jesus and sharing God’s own testimony about His Son. Both have their place, but one carries a weight and authority that the other simply cannot match. Continue reading
This post is adapted from Sunday’s sermon on John 15:18-27.
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Have you ever tried to assemble something with an important piece missing or without all the instructions? Or attempted to understand a conversation when you’ve missed the crucial context?
That’s exactly how many of us approach Christianity—we’re missing a vital piece of information that would make everything else click into place.
Howell Bible Church 