Len Hoppe was in his early 40s when he died in 1996. Tonight the family is gathering in Memphis for a ten-year service of remembrance. I first met Len when I came to Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park as pastor in 1989. In the kindness of God, we became very close friends. During our service together on the elder board, I …
I can’t remember the first time I met him. I know it must have happened the first time I visited […]
Sermon Series: Special DocumentsI just recorded a new podcast with Stacy Harp on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.
It is now about 6:30 a.m. on Good Friday. The six trials of Jesus are coming to an end. Soon he will be scourged, beaten, bloodied, and crowned with a wreath of thorns. Slowly he will lead the procession through the narrow streets of Jerusalem. When he falls under the load, Simon of Cyrene will be summoned from the crowd to …
Like approximately 100 million other Americans, Marlene and I have gotten hooked on NBC’s hit show Deal or No Deal. If you haven’t seen the show, I really can’t explain it to you, but it has to with opening suitcases that contain various amounts of money, ranging from 1 cent to $1 million. Contestants have …
This morning I recorded my first podcast with Stacy Lynn Harp, the president of Active Christian Media in Orange, CA. For those who don’t know, podcasting is the latest technological innovation that allows anyone to become an Internet broadcaster. The neat thing about podcasting is that it is really “media on demand.” …
Lately the so-called “Gospel of Judas” has made headlines because it presents an alternative picture of Judas that transforms him from a traitor into a hero. Instead of betraying Christ, he turns him in because Jesus supposedly asks him to. If that sounds like so much “jailhouse lawyering,” that’s exactly what it is. …
Here are five Good Friday/Easter sermons from the series on the Apostles’ Creed. Please feel free to use these sermons in any way that may be helpful in your own sermon preparation or to prepare your own heart for this weekend.The Man Who Killed Jesus
The Day God Died
God’s Scapegoat
The Strangest Part of the Cr …
Here is a five-part sermon series called Faces Around the Cross. Please feel free to use this material in any way that might be helpful as you prepare to preach and teach this week or simply to strengthen your own heart as we walk with Christ to the cross. The Man Who Would Be King
Doubters Welcome
A Man Called Pilate
Befor …
Here are fourteen Easter sermons. You are welcome to use this material in any way that might be helpful to you as you prepare your heart for the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. Christ and the Problem of Death
The Apostle Who Would Not Believe
A Tale of Two Men
The Incorruptible Christ
Why Are You …