Shows
Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leadersBridging Technology and Effective Training with Dan Collier of Suffolk ConstructionOn this episode, Dan Collier, Senior Director of Talent and Leadership Development at Suffolk Construction, shares his journey from the printing industry to spearheading talent development initiatives that integrate cutting-edge technologies like VR, AR and AI.Key Takeaways:(01:45) Dan discusses his transition from printing to leadership and talent development.(04:04) The biggest changes in learning and development over recent years, including the shift to microlearning and immersive tech.(06:10) Future directions for L&D, blending technology with traditional methods.(09:54) Why Dan would prioritize building a...
2024-06-0422 min
Hold Up The BookHow to have & implement a great daily Bible reading programIn many churches, a daily Bible reading program is put forward for the members, but in many cases, it just becomes background noise and is easily forgotten. Like a forgotten New Year's resolution, there is some excitement around it in January, but then that excitement fizzles and the idea lies dormant until the next January. In this episode, we talk about some helpful methods and mentalities to make a DBR program work well and gain more traction in the lives of church members. Since we're told to "let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly," it's my hope...
2024-01-1916 min
Hold Up The BookCommunion Meditation | What You Do, Do QuicklyWhen Jesus was eating the Passover meal with the apostles, he told Judas to get up from the table and do what he was thinking about doing. The emphasis was simple: make up your mind—stop waffling between good and bad, just make up your mind to do one or the other.
2023-09-0531 min
Hold Up The BookClass Recording | The Case for A Cappella Church AssembliesIn most of the Churches of Christ, you will find only a cappella music in the church assemblies. Many wonder why we do this, and the answer to that is based on a Biblical rationale. This is a class recording from a few weeks back in which we talked about that rationale and its basis in New Testament teaching.Next week, we'll post part 2 of this class, in which we give several warnings for believers who are committed to a cappella assemblies but who have sometimes spoken hypocritically or with intellectual dishonesty in defense of it.
2023-08-3118 min
Hold Up The BookDissonance & Consonance | A Study of Romans 7The dissonant harmonies of some musical pieces help us appreciate the consonance of other passages in the same piece. Romans 7 is arguably the most dissonant passage in the grand symphony that is The Letter to the Romans, but there's a resolution for all the tension. This message attempts to smooth it out and help us understand Paul's expression of the good news.
2023-08-2831 minHold Up The BookWhy Would A Man Be A Minister?What is it that motivates a man to want to minister to a church of God's people? There may be lots of motivations, and each man may articulate his personal sense of drive differently, but they should ultimately come down to a handful of basic things: a love for people, a conviction about the truth of God's word, and a willingness to serve. This episode explores some of those ideas and hopefully encourages all men who lead in a ministry role to continue doing it for godly reasons.
2023-08-2616 min
Hold Up The BookConfess & Claim FreedomIn Psalm 32, David expresses a series of ideas that ring with familiarity to anyone who, in an effort to take their faith seriously, has yet sinned and attempted to hide it from God rather than confessing it. In beautiful, accessible poetry, David explores the following ideas:vv. 1-2 — Realization that forgiveness is far better than guiltvv. 3-4 — Refusal to confess, and all the problems that come with thatvv. 5-7 — Repentance of sin and the pressure that it relieves from our heartsvv. 8-9 — Reform: the teachi...
2023-08-2129 min
Hold Up The BookWanderers & Conquerors | Living Faith At Life's MilestonesThe beginning of each new school year is a milestone moment in the lives of students and teachers. And at that milestone, it's good to be reminded of some principles for godly living that will help us in the upcoming stage of the journey. This message pulls four principles out Moses' sermons in Deuteronomy that will help anybody who's going back to school to make the most of the school year as they try to live out their faith.
2023-08-1434 minHold Up The BookPlan Your Sermons | A Vision for Comprehensive Bible PreachingOne of the most important parts of my work in preaching for a congregation over time is planning what to preach and teach. This helps to create a balanced diet of Bible teaching: covering topics of perpetual importance while also having enough variety to cover "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).In the episode, I made reference to my personal planning method. You an click here to download an example of the type of calendar that I use.
2023-08-1013 min
Hold Up The BookChristianity WILL ContinueJesus made a promise to Peter with these words: "I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) The promise is that his kingdom will stand, and it will thrive forever—as long as there are those who seek him through the word. How would Christians behave differently if we truly believed that promise?
2023-08-0727 minHold Up The BookA Message from Dan: A break between season 1 and 2Thanks for listening to Hold Up The Book, season 1. There will be a 1-month break of episodes in July 2023, and then we'll resume episodes — new ones and TBT's — around the first Sunday of August.I really appreciate those of you who've helped and encouraged me in this effort!
2023-06-3001 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Grace In The WildernessMiriam, the sister of Moses, teaches us some important character lessons through the narrative of her experience with God and throughout the Israelites' experience of leaving Egypt.
2023-06-2929 min
Hold Up The BookBig Church? Small Church? Or Faithful Church.This sermon talks about some of the hallmarks of the church in Jerusalem — the first group of saints who'd been saved by faith in Jesus. Their faithfulness is a model for every church in every time and place, regardless of the size of church that we are.
2023-06-2639 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | If I Am A KingIf we believe that God is the king of our lives, then we'd better treat him as king, which means that we must respect his authority and simply do what he says.
2023-06-2241 min
Hold Up The BookOne Crucial Verse For DadsFor Father's Day, this message reminds all of us to have high expectations for Christian fathers. Whether you're a dad, a mom, or even a Christian who isn't raising any kids... this message reminds all of us of some of the God-given responsibilities of dads who are called by God to, "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4).
2023-06-1936 minHold Up The BookTBT | God's Victory Thru SamsonThe story of Samson is messy. Morally, he's all over the map: breaking vows to God, murdering and stealing, complaining against God, lying, and marrying non-Israelite women on multiple occasions. So how is it that he's considered a heroic figure in the overall plan of God to redeem his people? It's because GOD is the one who gains a victory, even if it comes through the actions of a morally confusing character like Samson.
2023-06-1530 min
Hold Up The BookAssembly of the Faithful: Leaders In God's Church (part 3)In this third installment of our series on elders/pastors/shepherds, we talk about three more responsibilities of those who lead a congregation, and we talk about one responsibility that all saints have toward the elders who lead them.
2023-06-1232 minHold Up The BookTBT | The Downfall of JudahThis message, part of a series about the grand story of the Bible, talks about the final chapter of the Hebrew Bible: 2 Chronicles 36. It seems like the end of the story of Israel, and there are some heavy lessons to learn from it. And yet, even the writer who penned this chapter knew that, because of the grace of God, this wasn't the end of their story. And that's where we see the good news of The Gospel—that God isn't finished with them yet!
2023-06-0832 minHold Up The BookCommunion Message: The Intercession of JobJob is often held up as a great example of patience & endurance through times of great suffering, as well he should be. But in the final chapter of his story, Job's experience turns much more messianic — showing a shadow of things to come in Christ as he intercedes for his friends and God forgives them based on his actions. This communion meditation brings all of that to light, reminding us to be grateful for the mediator who brings about forgiveness of our sins—Jesus the Christ.*This is a throwback message b/c I'm on vacation and not p...
2023-06-0411 minHold Up The BookTBT | Hold Firm; Traits of A Powerful ChurchThis message simply puts together some Biblical traits of a great group of Christians. Some of them are transcendent ideals about our relationship with God in Christ, and some of them are just very practical ways that we can live out the implications of that grand relationship.
2023-06-0130 minHold Up The BookBonus Episode (short): The Very Stones Would Cry OutDuring the Triumphal Entry, the Jews told Christ to rebuke his disciples for the way they praised him ("Hosanna to him who comes in the name of the Lord!"). Jesus' answer was: "If these were silent, the very stones would cry out!" And, as it turns out... sometimes throughout the Bible, the stones did cry out as a mighty act of God was being done!
2023-05-3008 min
Hold Up The BookAssembly of the Faithful: Leaders In God's Church (part 2)There are several distorted models of leadership that simply don't work as metaphors or models for elders/pastors of a church. This message highlights some of them and the downfalls of each, plus points us to the importance of shepherds who feed the sheep.
2023-05-3038 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; Do Not CovetThe final commandment is longer than it is often given credit for. More than a generic warning against greed, it's a specific command not to desire things which do not righteously belong to us. It often seems out of place among such lofty ideals as some of the other Commandments, but we attempt to show its powerful place among them with this message.
2023-05-2537 min
Hold Up The BookAssembly of the Faithful: Leaders in God's Church (part 1)A church of the living God is his people — both in the universal, eternal sense and in their smaller, congregational identities. One of the hallmarks of congregations is that they are led by elders—a role that is often also called "shepherds" or "pastors." This is a crucial role in a congregation, so this is the first of three messages of teaching on this role and those who fill it.
2023-05-2338 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; No False WitnessThe meaning of the ninth commandment is typically flattened from "You shall not bear false witness"—which is an issue that pertains to the courts and their ability prosecute evil among the nation—to a general piece of advice that all people should tell the truth. But flattening it like that causes us to miss some of the power that this commandment has for shaping a whole nation of people into a society that values truth, life, equality, and goodness for all people within it.
2023-05-1836 min
Hold Up The BookFor This Child I PrayedHannah—the mother of Samuel—serves a great example of faithful, devoted parenting. Hannah's ultimate decision to give her son to God teaches a lessson that all parents should understand: the our kids ultimately belong to God and are to be given to him.
2023-05-1633 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; No AdulterySexual fidelity in marriage is a matter of crucial importance throughout the pages of the Bible, and so it's important that God's people in all of time learn to value the good of righteous marriage and see the dangers of giving in to the temptations of adultery.
2023-05-1135 min
Hold Up The BookFrom Slaves of Sin to Slaves of GodRomans 6 describes how salvation releases us from the slavery to sin and our own destructive desires... and gives us the grace to volunteer as slaves of God. This is a challenging thought for modern, Western readers, but it is a wonderful promise when seen through a Biblical worldview.
2023-05-0835 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; Do Not StealWhile it might sound like another simple commandment that hardly deserves an exposition, "Do not steal" has powerful life implications and applications for those who would truly serve God.
2023-05-0429 min
Hold Up The BookTo The One On The ThroneThe hymn, "On Zion's Glorious Summit," offers a paradigm shift for those who are willing to see it. Because that hymn doesn't just celebrate some of the elements of Heaven; it gets to the heart of the issue. It reminds us that Heaven is not just about what we will get and experience and receive — it's all about God himself.
2023-05-0337 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; Do Not MurderThe King James Version of the Bible translated Exodus 20:13 as "Thou shalt not kill." But that really doesn't capture the truest meaning of the commandment, which is more accurately rendered in virtually every modern translation: "You shall not murder." And while that might sound like a commandment that's so obvious as to be unnecessary, it teaches us SO MUCH about God and humanity when we look deeply into it.
2023-04-2737 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; Honor Your ParentsCultures throughout human history have gone up and down in their levels of appreciation for parents and the whole concept of parental authority. This lesson reminds us of the concept's importance among the people of God—whether they lived under the covenant of Moses or of Christ.
2023-04-2033 minHold Up The BookParadigm Shift: EvangelismThis message, based out of a single verse in the last chapter of Acts, helps us to have a powerful, realistic, and HOPEFUL perspective on evangelism and what it will be like when we share the gospel with the world around us.
2023-04-1734 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; Keep the SabbathA case could be made that the Sabbath commandment is the one that set the Israelites apart from their neighbors the most. It reminded them of the importance of rest, of trusting God, and of equality among all people, because all are made in the image of God.
2023-04-1340 min
Hold Up The BookBecause He LivesAll throughout the book of Acts, God's people spoke about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And far from being celebrated by the world around them, that message was what got them imprisoned, beaten, and persecuted over and over again. The question we all have to ask and answer for ourselves: Are we as convicted about the resurrection as they were? Will we stand for that truth while the world hates us and ridicules us for it? And will we believe the promise of our own resurrection so that we'll be able to hold fast to our faith thru to...
2023-04-1038 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; Taking YHWH's Name In VainThe command says "you shall not take the name of the Lord in vain." Surely, that means that we must not speak it in vain, and it means much more than that. This message explains and applies the command for all of time.*One thing that you need to know for this this audio-only recording to fully make sense: toward the end of this message, Dan held up a cardboard cut-out of Jesus as an illustration.
2023-04-0630 min
Hold Up The BookThe Forgiveness RevelationWhen Christ opened people's eyes to God's unique brand of forgiveness, there were some naysayers and skeptics. And today, there are still naysayers and skeptics, even among believers. On some level, we all struggle to understand the depths of the forgiveness that we've received and the depths of the forgiveness that we should offer. This message helps us to see them both more clearly.
2023-04-0338 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; No Carved ImagesThe second word in the Ten, like the first, has some major theological value as it teaches us about God and gods. This message looks at the commandment in its ancient context, pagan context, and Christian context.
2023-03-3029 min
Hold Up The BookSalvation By Faith: God's Offer to ALL PeopleIn this message, we work our way through what I'm calling the 2nd movement of Romans — from 3:27 thru the end of chapter 5. There are four big ideas that we're taught about righteousness and salvation:Not By Moses’ Law, But By Faith (3:27–4:25)Not Just For Now, But For Eternity (5:1–5)Not By Our Power, But By Christ’s (5:6–21)Not Only For “Us,” But For All (a theme throughout these passages)This message is dense with information and asks us to think deeply about how we view our brothers & sisters in Christ. It's a lot to take in all at once... just like...
2023-03-2735 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Ten Commandments; No Other GodsThe Ten Commandments are ubiquitous. To this day, they are the foundation to the greatest moral national law ever laid down for any earthly nation. And the first one makes it plain why they are so great: because they are from YHWH God.For the next 10 weeks, the TBT sermons will be a whole series on the Ten Commandments.
2023-03-2337 min
Hold Up The BookLiving In Green PasturesThe 23rd Psalm reminds us that we shouldn't picture God as an eternally dissatisfied parent who is always frustrated with everyone all the time—even with his faithful ones. This psalm helps us see the joy and comfort and peace that we can have when we know the Good Shepherd. He gives what we need, and he fulfills our longings that we can say truthfully, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
2023-03-2030 min
Hold Up The BookGOD: The Shepherd of Our SoulsEzekiel 34 is a heart-rending passage about how miserably the leaders of God's people have failed to care for them. And yet, the same passage is full of hope as God promises that he will shepherd his people and care for them in place of their failed human leaders. Promises like these make us love God all the more.
2023-03-1636 min
Hold Up The BookA Call to BaptismIn this message, we simply work our way through Acts 16's account of the conversion of the Philippian jailer (vv. 16-34). The passage is a great place to look to observe the necessity of baptism for salvation by faith, and the urgency of it. The outline of keywords through the story is as follows:Prayer (v. 16)Power (v. 17-18)Problems (vv. 19-22)Prison (vv. 23-24)Praise (vv. 19-25)Protection (v. 26)Preaching (vv. 27-32)Plan (v. 33)Peace (v. 34)
2023-03-1335 min
Hold Up The BookThe Newborn Savior – Good News For Troubled TimesWhen Christ was born, his family followed Old Testament law and took him into the Temple to be dedicated to God. There, the baby Jesus met an old man named Simeon who celebrated God's gift to humanity that He was giving through this infant. Simeon's love for God on this occasion is a powerful reminder for us about the joy that we can have in believing God's promises.
2023-03-0935 minHold Up The BookCommunion Meditation: The Cross and the Lions' DenThe story of Daniel in the lions' den is typically taught to young as a moral example of faithfully standing up to persecution, but its allusions to the Gospel are strong. It, like so many other Old Testament accounts, foreshadows many elements of Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
2023-03-0611 min
Hold Up The BookiDENTITYWho and what determines who we are? Do we each determine our identity ourselves? Or does our identity come from someone outside of us? The Christian perspective is obvious: that each of our identities are inherent to our being created by God, in his image. This message is very counter-cultural in our current cultural moment, and that's what it makes it that much more important.
2023-03-0235 min
Hold Up The BookStanding In Grace: We're All Lost Without GodIn Romans 1-3, the Holy Spirit shows how Gentile, Jew, and everyone are contaminated by sin and lost without God's righteousness. Basically, we're all doomed but for the grace of God.This message is part of our church theme for the year: "Standing In Grace." We'll be periodically adding another lesson in the series as we spend the year studying through the book of Romans.
2023-02-2733 min
Hold Up The BookHospitality 101Part of basic Christian morality is: "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Rom. 12:13) This message reminds us simply how this is needed and what positive effects it can have.
2023-02-2334 min
Hold Up The BookThe REAL Romans-14 IssuesRomans 14 is a passage to which we frequently appeal when making determinations about issues that divide God's people. But if we're using this passage as a determination of division, then we are actually seeing its purpose as exactly the opposite of what the Spirit meant from it. This message shows how Romans 14 (and the first several verses of chapter 15) are all about UNITY among the people of God; not division.
2023-02-1643 min
Hold Up The BookHow To Get SavedWhen the Coast Guard are called out for an S.O.S., what's the most important element of a successful rescue effort? Speed? Hurry? Haste? No, actually. The most important element is skill—the ability and knowledge to actually get the job done. Sometimes, Christians are too hasty to show someone the truth about salvation accurately, so this message attempts to take the necessary amount of time and care to show a person the full truth about getting saved.
2023-02-1332 min
Hold Up The BookPeace WithinHow is it that Christians can have peaceful minds & hearts when we face trials and struggles in life? It all comes down to whether we truly trust God's promises.
2023-02-0929 min
Hold Up The BookNavigating the Marriage MazeMarried life definitely has its challenges. When two people, both flawed and facing their own individual inner struggles, bring their lives together in such an intimate way, there is bound to be friction. This message addresses some fundamental principles of marriage that will help us navigate the challenges in spiritually healthy ways.
2023-02-0530 min
Hold Up The BookOne-Way DiscipleshipOnce a person steps onto the path of faith, it's imperative that each of us stay committed to following him all the way through life. It's a conscious, deliberate, daily decision to follow Christ all the way to the end of life and the beginning of eternity.
2023-02-0237 min
Hold Up The BookOne-Way DiscipleshipOnce we start down the path of Christian living, it's important that we never leave it. Our discipleship to Jesus Christ is meant to be, as Eugene Peterson said, "A long obedience in the same direction." This message encourages us to set our minds on reaching the end of that long road, increasing in our faith every day that we travel on it.
2023-02-0237 min
Hold Up The BookStanding In GraceRomans is the apostle Paul's magnum opus—the writing that brings together more of God's truth in one place than anything else that he wrote. The Spirit's work through Paul guides the churches in Rome to a greater knowledge and especially greater appreciation of God's plan to save us. The letter will be the focus of our 2023 theme, so this message is the intro to the theme series.
2023-01-3036 min
Hold Up The BookThe Truth About What We ShareOne of the most powerful features of the Gospel message is its ability to bring people together from all walks of life, from all different ethnicities, from all different languages, and from all different religious backgrounds. Sometimes, however, we get led into thinking too much about what divides us from other believers... and so in this message, we try to bring that discussion into the light and see that what unites us is FAR more powerful than what divides us.
2023-01-2639 min
Hold Up The BookPreach It!You're preaching about preaching? Yep.Faithful Christians understand the importance of gospel preaching. This message breaks down Titus chapter 2 and reminds us of the transcendent importance true preaching, relevant preaching, Christ-centered preaching, hopeful preaching, and prayerful preaching. It's a message for preachers and for all of God's people as it helps us remember the paramount importance of faithful preaching.
2023-01-2335 min
Hold Up The BookDifferent Times; Same Good NewsChristians live differently in the world. In fact, the Gospel message turns some things about our worldview completely upside-down because it helps us to see the truth that we were living upside-down anyway and needed God to shows us how things really are. In this message, we talk about some ways that the Gospel—the message the "turned the world upside-down" in the book of Acts—still does that today.
2023-01-1942 min
Hold Up The BookGod's Word Every DayIn the Law of Moses, only one passage—Deuteronomy 17:14-20—addresses the way that God would have the kings of his people behave when, in Israel's future, they would eventually be ruled by kings. And in that passage, we find a reminder of the great importance of knowing God's word, by reading it (and sometimes even by writing it) all the days of our lives.
2023-01-1631 min
Hold Up The BookBorn AgainChrist's message about being "born again thru water and the Spirit" (John 3:8) is full of joy and hope for those who are getting saved from sin.
2023-01-1235 min
Hold Up The BookNew Year, Same Old You? Making Spiritual Resolutions That StickAt the beginning of a new year, as we determine to make some life improvements, there are several pieces of Bible wisdom that can help us make resolutions to be better disciples. These ideas will help us as we strive to be all that God calls us to be.
2023-01-0936 min
Hold Up The BookA Life Lost and FoundThis message, taking its title from a book by Wilson Adams & David Lanphear, offers encouragement to those who suffer the pain of grief for lost loved ones. Especially around the holiday season when the pain of loss can be most acute, this message offers a great deal of hope.
2023-01-0536 minHold Up The BookA Seat For EveryoneIn this message, we explore some of the Bible's reminders that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ has a place in his church. There is a seat for everyone whose faith and life are all about Jesus.
2022-12-2220 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Church Compass Points, part 2If the church is going to be oriented toward life and Heaven as God would have us (and we should be after all, since our whole identity is found in our allegiance to him), then these are some of the defining hallmarks that we need to be aware of in setting ourselves aright to seek Him. This is part 2 of a two-part series.
2022-12-1527 min
Hold Up The BookIt All Adds Up To 1In Philippians 2:1-11, the apostle Paul lays out his case for the kind of unity that should ideally characterize God's people — unity that is built on selflessness and humility... Humility like Jesus, the one who left Heaven and became a servant who was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
2022-12-1233 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Church Compass Points, part 1If the church is going to be oriented toward life and Heaven as God would have us (and we should be after all, since our whole identity is found in our allegiance to him), then these are some of the defining hallmarks that we need to be aware of in setting ourselves aright to seek Him.This is a 2-part series. We'll post the second part for next week's TBT.
2022-12-0824 min
Hold Up The BookI CAN Persevere To the EndThe Christian experience is one that must be defined by perseverance. It's a concept that the Holy Spirit talked about a lot to our early brothers and sisters in the faith, because life is full of reasons to give in and give up. But Christians persevere in spite of all the things taht threaten to overthrow our faith. And we persevere because the reward of knowing Christ is worth all the trials and difficulties of life.This is the final message in Northside's preaching theme series for the year: I Can Do All Things Through Christ...
2022-12-0537 min
Hold Up The BookThru Heaven's Eyes: Leaders in Christ's ChurchAs God looks down from Heaven and hopes to see things among his people which glorify and honor him, what does he hope to see in the leaders of his people? What traits ought to define church leaders? That's what this lesson is all about.
2022-12-0128 min
Hold Up The BookThe Gift of BaptismThe narrative about the Ethiopian nobleman (Acts 8) is the story of a man who already possesses some of God's gifts, and who receives many more blessings in addition. This message reminds us that baptism is a necessity that we must obey... and more than that, it's a gift.
2022-11-2836 min
2022-11-2523 min
Hold Up The BookA Voice of Thanks & PraiseThis message, in which we sang several hymn (not included in the recording) reminds us of the connection between thankfulness and praise, reminds us that thankfulness is more than a nebulous feeling (it's got to be directed toward a person), and that it's the job of saints in every generation to make songs of thankfulness and worship an integral part of our lives. Happy Thanksgiving this week, everyone!
2022-11-2121 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Secret Sin—The Hidden Unity KillerThis message comes from a series called "Unity In Action," and it uses an Old Testament narrative to make an eternal point: that a hypocrite in the midst of God's people hurts all of us. The story is of when Achan kept and hid forbidden treasures from the destroyed city of Jericho, and from it we can learn the damage that our secret sins can do to God's people as a whole.
2022-11-1737 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Confess & Claim FreedomI was out of the pulpit yesterday, so here's a TBT for the regular listeners.In this message from the autumn of 2018, we look at one of David's poems that illuminates the experience of sinning, trying to hide that sin from God, and then finally confessing it and being forgiven. It's a good reminder for how all of us process sin and repentance, and it reminds us that God is good to allow us forgiveness when we confess our sins to him.
2022-11-1431 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Church; A Place For FriendshipThis sermon was part of a series titled "Unity In Action," and it explores a simple but oft-overlooked aspect of what makes a congregation great: that her members are friends with each other. The early saints were often characterized by friendship, and so his people should continue to be in every generation.
2022-11-1032 min
Hold Up The BookI CAN Endure TemptationThis message is another installment in our 2022 theme series: "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me." In this message, we hone in on temptation: What it is and isn't, how we often think rightly or wrongly about it, and where the power to bear it comes from. It's a good lesson for new Christians and seasoned Christians, because it reminds us that God's grace is continually at work in us as we do our best to live for his glory.
2022-11-0734 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | If I Were the Devil, Part 2In this 2-part sermon series, we explore some of the temptations that are common to humanity. Loosely inspired by insights from C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," this message reverses the perspective, reminding God's people that, "If I were the devil, I would work on destroying your faith by..."
2022-11-0334 min
Hold Up The BookSovereign Authority, Part 2If God is the sovereign authority of the universe, and if he has spoken through the Bible, then we must listen to the Bible and respect its authority. This message adds a few more reasons for why we should live our lives under the authority of the Bible.
2022-10-3135 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | If I Were the Devil, Part 1In this 2-part sermon series, we explore some of the temptations that are common to humanity. Loosely inspired by insights from C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," this message reverses the perspective, reminding God's people that, "If I were the devil, I would work on destroying your faith by..."
2022-10-2730 minHold Up The BookCommunion Meditation — Squares & Rectangles, Mercy & GraceMercy and grace differ from each other by a matter of quality and of degree. All mercy is grace, but not all grace is mercy. But both are seen in abundance when we look at the Gospel plan as realized in the cross and in the empty tomb. This communion meditation reminds us to be grateful for God's mercy in the Cross and for his grace in the Resurrection.
2022-10-2306 minHold Up The BookTBT | Draw Clear LinesThe Bible gives so much guidance for how we ought to live as Christians. But in many cases, what God gives us is wisdom about moral choices, and he leaves it to us to decide exactly how we will apply that wisdom. In many of those cases, we would do well to draw clear lines for ourselves that we will not cross—not that we bind our self-imposed rules on others, but that we draw the lines that we will not cross, even sometimes drawing those lines far back from the potential of getting into trouble.
2022-10-2025 min
Hold Up The BookSovereignWho is in charge of Christianity and Christians? And how do we know what that being wants from us?This message reminds us of the Bible's claim that God is sovereign—that he rules the universe in his own good way. And if we believe that, then we will also accept that he has spoken to us through the Bible and that we should do all we can in life to respect his authority through the Bible.This is a classic treatment of the subject of God's authority, hopefully offered with clarity, concision, and a de...
2022-10-1731 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | God's Trial By FireIn 1 Kings 18, God's prophet, Elijah, faced off with 400 prophets who served the god, Baal. And their conflict teaches us some powerful lessons about God's eternal nature, whether we choose to trust him or not.
2022-10-1334 min
Hold Up The BookLet Yes Be YesGod's people are called to be honest in all of our dealings — the big stuff and the small stuff. We are supposed to be people who keep our commitments; who do what we say we will do. We shouldn't need large piles of legal documents and ultra-serious-sounding language to hold us to our agreements; we should just be trustworthy in all of our dealings. This lesson reminds us why that's important for Christians and gives some practical advice on doing it well.
2022-10-0933 minHold Up The BookTBT | Diving Into God's LightIn this message, we talk about why it's important to take deep dives into the Bible. It can be intimidating, and it will always challenge us... but it is always worth it. The treasures to be found in it are wonderful—whether old or new.PS — Click here to read a recent article that I wrote from Matt. 13:52 along these same lines of thought.
2022-10-0629 min
Hold Up The BookI CAN Give Generously To OthersGenerosity is a defining hallmark of God's people throughout our history, all the way back to the first century, when The Apostle Paul organized an effort for Christians from all over the Mediterrenean to give generously to their brothers in Judea to buy them food in a time of famine. In this message, we learn these lesson from a straightforward textual study of 2 Corinthians 8-9.
2022-10-0331 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | The Faith of Their FathersThis message, preached on Father's Day 2015, discusses the importance of passing our faith down on to our children. Obviously, they don't just inherit that faith—they must choose to make it their own. But, there is so much that we can do encourage them to do just that: to lay hold of the truth about Christ and develop their own lasting convictions in that.Note: This sermon was heavily inspired by a sermon that a friend of mine—Don Truex—wrote. Outline used with permission.
2022-09-2936 min
Hold Up The BookParenting Thru the ProverbsSometimes, trying to raise godly kids can feel like trying to build something with no blueprints; we're never quite sure what the next move should be. But, God hasn't left us to completely wing it — he's taught us some wisdom for thinking about how to train our kids to maturity. In this lesson, we look to the book of Proverbs for four parenting concepts that will help Christian moms & dads as we guide our kids to become saints who give glory to God.
2022-09-2536 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Exalted Above the HillsThis message talks about the unity of believers, based on a prophecy about the city of Jerusalem from back in Isaiah. The prophecies of the Old Testament were already teaching God's people so much of the grand truth about the church; we would do well to look back and see that once in awhile for the clarity it can add to our understanding the present.
2022-09-2233 min
Hold Up The BookAll Things Made NewIt is God's nature, as revealed through the whole Bible, to be creative. That is, he often creates new things, bringing life again and again. This message highlights that element of his nature and shows why we can have the hope of salvation by seeing that nature at work and trusting in him to create new spiritual life in us.God creates. God resurrects. And God redeems.
2022-09-1834 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | In His Presence; Glory & HolinessThe most important determining factor for our effectiveness in worship is this: Do we understand who GOD is? If we can tune our hearts to that reality, then our ability to worship will take a qualitative leap forward. This message reminds us of his nature as it pertains to how we worship him.
2022-09-1531 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | Clarifying Christian JoyIn the years that I have spent teaching and preaching, a few subjects have garnered a good deal of pushback from Christians. One of those subjects is the virtue of Christian joy.This message was one lesson in a series on basic Christian character traits that I and several other men participated in. The goal was to give some clarity on the subject and to help people who genuinely struggle with the practice. I hope that it does the same thing for you!
2022-09-0839 minHold Up The BookWhy Call It "Communion"? (Communion Meditation)Some believers are more accustomed to the term "The Lord's Supper" than to the designation, "Communion." But both terms are biblical, and they both describe an element of this worship activity that is important for us to consider. In this message, we talk about the fellowship aspect of communion—that it's something we share with Christ and with our fellow believers.This was my message spoken on the last time I will have the mic before my preaching predecessor moved away. He and his wife are beloved by this church and by me, so it was particularly im...
2022-09-0409 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | The Integrity Factor (The Story of Jehoiada the Priest)Jehoiada the High Priest is not a particularly well-known Bible character, but his story of integrity serves as a powerful example for us if we take the time to notice it. This message shines a light on his life and his interactions with the kings of God's people.
2022-09-0140 minHold Up The BookBrilliant Glory (Communion Meditation)In John 17:1-5, Jesus begins offering a long prayer to God on the night of his betrayal and crucifixion. He begins the whole thing with a prayer that God's splendor and glory will shine through him, and for those who have the faith to see it, that's exactly what happened.
2022-08-2811 min
Hold Up The BookTBT | I Can Teach Someone About JesusThis Throwback Thursday message covers some basic, empowering reminders about evangelism:1) That it's a responsibility for all Christians—not just those employed as ministers.2) That it's something we can all contribute to, just by the ways that we handle ourselves in our church assemblies.3) That it works!This is part of Northside's 2022 preachings theme from Phil. 4:13, "I Can Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Me."
2022-08-2536 min
Hold Up The BookHold Up The BookHere's the sermon that inspired the podcast's title — four lessons from the people's behavior when they gathered to hear Ezra read from the God's law. Their behavior serves as an example for groups of God's people everywhere in how we think about and approach the Bible when we are assembled together. There are also a few reminders here for preachers about how we prepare sermons and how we approach the word in our teaching.
2022-08-2138 min
Hold Up The BookHe Is Your LifeSomeone asked me, "In 10 years of preaching, what have you learned that you think is the most important message for God's people?" This is what I came up with. It's a reminder that our beliefs about God—our theology—is the most important element of how we hold to our faith. If individuals and churches are going to hold fast to our convictions, then we'd better make sure that those convictions are based on a true understanding of God himself.
2022-08-1753 min
Hold Up The BookPass Over Us (Communion Meditation)In this short message for communion, we talk about when God passed over the Israelites' homes during the 10th plague on Egypt, about the feast that God gave them to commemorate that event, and about the profound connections between that episode from Hebrew history and the crucifixion of Jesus.
2022-08-1509 min
Hold Up The BookNow To HimAfter a two-year break from ministry, this is my first message as I'm stepping back into full-time preaching. In this message, we explore the enormous, world-shaping concepts that are preloaded into the apostle Paul's words from Ephesians 3:20-21."Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."It's my hope that seeing the vastness of these ideas creates a sense...
2022-08-1439 min
The Way Home PodcastThe Way Home: Sen. James Lankford on maintaining spiritual disciplinesHe was trained for the ministry, but he serves in another kind of public role: United States Senator. What prompted Senator James Lankford to pursue a life of government service and how does he maintain his spiritual disciplines in a demanding, public life? Sen. Lankford discusses his unique calling, what issues drives him, and why he’s […]
The post The Way Home: Sen. James Lankford on maintaining spiritual disciplines appeared first on Daniel Darling.
2018-02-0126 min