Dan Lee
1 Timothy 1:8-11, The Blessings of God's Law

The law is good. With this declaration of truth, Scripture shows us that God’s law was meant to bless us. But how does the law do this? At least in three ways as they emerge from this text: 1) protection from evil of the fallen world, 2) conviction for sin which leads us to salvation, and 3) sanctification of the believer unto their conformity to Christ. The law was designed to lead us to the Savior to save us and then to train us that we may be like Him in His love for God and love for man.

Dan Lee
1 Timothy 1:1-7, Focused and Undistracted

The burden that drove Paul to write First Timothy was the distractions that could steer the church away from God’s purpose for her, namely, the administration of God which is by faith, the love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Paul opens his letter with a strong appeal to his authority to ensure that Timothy understood the gravity of the issues at hand and that the church would receive Timothy’s leadership in this matter. In this passage, we find four strong encouragements to guide us away from the thousand termites that can eat away at our own walk with the Lord and the maturation of God’s church: 1) avoid speculative ideas, 2) understand our stewardship, 3) pursue godliness, and 4) exude holy love.

Dan Lee
Deut. 30:11-14, Bibliology: The Clarity of ...

As one preacher once put it: “The main things in Scripture are the plain things, and the plain things in Scripture are the main things.” This is indeed Scripture’s claim about itself, that the word of God is understandable in its gospel call to the free gift of salvation through faith in Christ and repentance from sin. But this is a very nuanced doctrine. Four such nuances are explored here: progress, study, Spirit, and limitation. May we all continually grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).

Dan Lee
2 Tim. 3:14-4:5, Bibliology: The Sufficiency of ...

Scripture is sufficient for all the matters about which it speaks. This means the Bible is all we need to do all that God desires for us to do, i.e., what we must believe and how we are to live before God. No other source of special revelation for faith and life is needed in addition to the Bible. Whether it is for salvation, personal godliness, or the life and ministry of the church, Scripture is what God has chosen to give us and it is enough. Were we to ask what books make up these sufficient Scriptures, we heartily answer, the Old Testament Jesus affirmed and the New Testament Jesus authorized, these 39 and 27 books of the two testaments are the word of God, and no more.

Dan Lee
1 Cor. 15:20-26, 50-57, Our Victory in Christ

No man is a match for death and its sting, because we all descend from Adam. But God has provided another man, “the last Adam” who unlike the first gives life (v45), not takes away life. Indeed, all who are “Christ’s” will like Him be raised from the dead when He comes (v23). Christ is the firstfruits, and we the harvest after Him (v20). All who are one with Christ by faith share in His victory over death. This victory culminates when death itself is destroyed and the imperishable kingdom of God commences. It is for that eternal dwelling place that the Lord will fit us at glorification.

John 9:8-25, A Witness in the midst of Skeptics

Skeptics surround the man who was healed of his blindness. They question his identity, they question the healing, and they question the character of the Lord who healed him. But the man stands his ground and continues to testify of the truth. In this study, we examine the four tactics of skeptics, the ABCD of Skepticism: Alternate Narrative, Bogus Authority, Character Assassination, and Denial of Facts. May the Lord evermore strengthen our testimony before the skeptics around us to stand firm upon the undeniable truth of God.

John 9:1-7, The Anatomy of the Savior

Our Savior is Jesus, the Messiah, the God who sees (His eyes). He takes note of our plight and He takes action. He is also the Savior who speaks (His mouth). He speaks the truth and leads us to know God’s purposes and calls us to participate in calling sinners to repentance and faith. He is also the Savior who works (with His hands). He literally gets His hands dirty to bring sight to the blind beggar and to tip the first domino that’ll lead this man to a saving faith. Let’s learn of the Savior’s eyes, mouth and hands and learn from Him how we are to live a life that conforms to Him.

John 8:56-59, The Eternality of Christ

The Jews deny Jesus’ claims repeatedly. In response, the Lord clarifies who He truly is, not who He makes Himself out to be (v. 53). Jesus’ response is a stunning statement of the eternal God, who transcends over time, who has entered His world to rescue those who would trust in Him and become His disciples. Christ is the God of eternity. He calls us to trust in Him by following Him and keeping His word. We can find security in the precarious fallen world in which we live.

John 8:51, Faith and Grace in Discipleship

Jesus’ call to discipleship was always a call to faith and a call to grace. In this follow-up sermon on discipleship, we examine the broader scope of Scripture that paints the right picture of discipleship for the child of God. Discipleship is a means of dependence on Christ and a means of receiving His grace. Furthermore, we give some practical consideration as to how we can live as keepers of the word of Christ.

John 8:51, Never See Death

Jesus has come to give life. We all exist in spiritual death until our sins are forgiven and we enter into the joyful fellowship with God in holiness, righteousness and love. Jesus makes a universal invitation to all (“anyone”) to become His disciples and enter into this life in which we will never experience spiritual death, neither in this age or beyond. Those who are reconciled to God through Christ are never separated from God from here on out. What a blessing our God has given us through Christ.

Psalm 130, Depend on Grace

As we look ahead to the new year, let’s steer away from the common worldly attitude of self-dependence, self-sufficiency, and self-confidence and instead look humbly and with faith to the Lord for His grace. The psalmist in this precious psalm shows us how OT saints looked ahead to the Lord with faith and humility for His redemption promise to be fulfilled. May we also be men, women and children who drink richly from God’s grace each day by trust in Him and in His word with humble dependence. In His word do we also hope!

Matthew 2:1-12, The Challenge of Christmas

In this familiar Christmas story of the magi and king Herod, we see two diametrically opposed responses to the Messiah. They both had a knowledge of the Messiah by the providence of God, but one responded with worship and the other with suspicion and an attempt to exterminate the Messiah. Matthew presents to us the Messiah as the Savior and King whom people either humbly worship (as the magi did) or repudiate Him (as Herod did). How will you respond to the Lord this Christmas season, as you are also bombarded with the knowledge of the Son of God who has come to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21)? This is the challenge of Christmas.