Threshold Church of Christ

09/06/2026

New sermon is up

Sermon: When Flaws Meet Grace: The Story of Jephthah 09.06.26Text...

09/06/2026

Long before the Word became flesh, the Word of God was already appearing to his people.

In the Old Testament, the Son appears as the Messenger of the LORD, the Wisdom of God, the Son of Man, the Commander of the LORD's hosts, and the Word of the LORD.

The Hebrew word davar (דָּבָר) usually means "word," but it can also mean "thing" or "matter." That double meaning becomes fascinating when Scripture describes the "word of the LORD" not merely being spoken, but actually appearing and acting.

In Genesis 15, "the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision" (15:1). This Word speaks with Abram, but then does something surprising: "he brought him outside" to look at the stars (15:5). The Word is not merely heard. He is seen, moving and interacting with Abram.

Something similar happens with Samuel. We are told that "the word of the LORD was rare" because "there was no frequent vision" (1 Sam. 3:1). Then Yahweh "came and stood" before Samuel (3:10). The chapter concludes that "the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD" (3:21).

Then consider Jeremiah. "The word of the LORD came" to him (Jer. 1:4), but this Word does more than speak. "The LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth" (1:9). The Word is heard, seen, and even touches Jeremiah.

These passages prepare us for what we read today in Bible in One Year: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14).

John's language did not come out of nowhere. He didn't invent it. John was a faithful student of the Torah and Prophets. He knew that long before the Word became flesh permanently in the incarnation, the Word had already appeared temporarily in human form to many believers in the OT.

As Christians in the Scottish Highlands used to say to David Murray, "Christ enjoyed trying on the clothes of his incarnation."

These OT appearances of the Son were dress rehearsals for Bethlehem.
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For more on the Old Testament appearances of the Son of God, see my book, The Christ Key, https://a.co/d/01NXZ282

09/05/2026

Rooted in Christ, Ready for Life 09.04.26

Theme: Following Jesus in every area of life, Union with Christ is the foundation of obedience.
Key texts: Matthew 4:19; Luke 9:23; Matthew 28:18–20; John 8:31–32; John 15:1–8; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:6–7; Philippians 2:12–13
Main point: A disciple is not merely a church attender or a person with religious knowledge. A disciple is a learner and follower of Jesus whose beliefs, character, relationships, and mission are increasingly shaped by Him. Christians do not obey in order to earn acceptance from God. They obey because they are united to Christ, loved by God, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

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09/02/2026

09/02/2026

Short video on Torah (1st five books of Bible)

“Torah” can refer to instruction and teaching, the first five books...

09/02/2026

The most "infamous" Psalm verse is this: "Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!" (137:9).

What? Why is this there?

What today would be classified as war crimes were often standard operating procedure in ancient warfare, like ripping open pregnant women or dashing in pieces their little ones (e.g., 2 Kings 8:12; Isa. 13:16). If just imagining that violence sickens us, try to fathom being forced to watch this nightmare happen to those you love.

Israel did. The Babylonian soldiers seized Israelite babies and smashed them against rocks, while their Edomite allies cheered on the mayhem and murder in the city, gloating over it all (Ps. 137:7, 9; Obadiah 10-14).

A ravenous pack of flesh-tearing hyenas had more humanity in it than did the destroyers of Jerusalem on that day of diabolical horror.

So, Israel cried out to the God who says, “Vengeance is mine” (Deut. 32:35), to avenge, to repay, an eye for an eye: “O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” (137:8-9).

Unless you have seen your child murdered before your very eyes, do not stand in judgment against those who prayed this red-hot prayer. It was written in agony, prayed in heartbreak, and handed over to the Judge to do with as he saw fit.

Some are troubled by prayers such as these. I am not.

I am grateful they are recorded, for there are times in life when we all want, and need, to pray them. We need volcanically to explode in molten petitions that capture emotions for which prim and proper verbiage would never suffice. We hand our pain, in the form of untamed prayers, to God. His are the only hands tough enough to hold such burning lines. He will hear. He will know what is best.

Revenge is taken from us, and judgment falls in the heavenly court, where it belongs, with our God and our Savior, who always knows and does what is best.

*For more thoughts on the Imprecatory Psalms, see my YouTube video, "Should Christians Pray the Imprecatory Psalms?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuDpfaezuJA

08/31/2026

New Sermon is up

Sermon: When Ambition Becomes Idolatry 08.30.26 Text: Judges 8:2...

08/29/2026

Dealing with Tough questions series:
Christians and Dealing with Their Horrible Past

Text: Ephesians 2:11–22
Topics: Unity, Racism, Culture, Compassion, Integrity
Big Idea of the Message: Paul’s message calls the churches to accept their responsibility to be unified as followers of Christ. The uniqueness of their new status allows no room for partiality.
Application Point: Followers of Christ are called to be willing to have hard conversations about who we are in Christ and what it means to treat others with the love of Christ.

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