Author Archives: salooper57

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About salooper57

Husband, father, pastor, follower. I am a disciple of Jesus, learning how to do life from him. I read, write, walk, play a little guitar, enjoy my family.

Praying for The Knowledge of God’s Will (Colossians 1:9-12)

Posted on September 4, 2022 by salooper57

We want to know God’s will. God wants us to know his will. So, why is it so difficult to know his will? This sermon on prayer and the knowledge of God’s will is rooted in the Apostle Paul’s great … Continue reading →

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News Consumption May Be Affecting You Adversely

Posted on September 3, 2022 by salooper57

During the last few years, I have seen people break off relationships with family and church because they had been transported into pandemic-related stories, election stories, and war stories. This has happened among both liberal and conservative media consumers.

A critic might contend that something similar occurs among consumers of the Christian gospel. Continue reading →

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Following Christ Today: The Heart of the Matter

Posted on August 31, 2022 by salooper57

Jesus understood how humans were designed and how they thrive and his teaching reflects this. Understanding what he teaches about the human heart is imperative for anyone who longs for spiritual transformation in Christlikeness. The foundational text for today’s class … Continue reading →

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Intercession: How to Pray for Others

Posted on August 28, 2022 by salooper57

This sermon looks at how to pray for others and is based on Philippians 1:3-11. This remarkable passage offers great insights into how we can pray effectively for the people in our lives. How to Pray for Others (Philippians 1:3-11) … Continue reading →

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Hope Is Not Pollyanna Positivity

Posted on August 27, 2022 by salooper57

Occasionally, I read or hear someone say something like, “Christians believe some really strange things.” They usually mean that Christians believe in miracles like a six-day creation, a man who was swallowed by a great fish (and spit out days … Continue reading →

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Come Follow Me (Following Christ Today)

Posted on August 21, 2022 by salooper57

What does it mean to follow Jesus? What is required? This class begins where following Jesus began: on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Seeing what discipleship meant for those first followers of Jesus will help us understand what … Continue reading →

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How to See the World Differently

Posted on August 20, 2022 by salooper57

I am currently co-teaching a class titled, “Following Christ Today.” Some may consider the “Today” in the title unnecessary for surely following Christ was not much different yesterday than it is today. They would be right in thinking that the … Continue reading →

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Following Christ Today (1): The Smartest Man Who Ever Lived

Posted on August 17, 2022 by salooper57

Kevin Looper and I have begun a class on real discipleship in the 21st century – what it looks like and what it takes. This introductory class reveals what we must believe about Jesus to actually follow him. (The video … Continue reading →

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Why Wait: A Message on Prayer

Posted on August 15, 2022 by salooper57

This sermon, based on Abraham’s experience as detailed in Hebrews 11:8-13, helps us understand why we need to wait on God in our prayers, and how we can wait well. The key is to wait for God, not for things and to wait with God, not alone. Come and join us in the waiting room. God is already there.

The text of the sermon is included below the video. Continue reading →

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Are People Basically Good?

Posted on August 13, 2022 by salooper57

Lewis’s reasoning was, as usual, spot on. But I, who have quoted Lewis more often than any other source, save the Bible itself, am forced to admit that the premise on which he founds his argument is faulty. He is assuming that total depravity means absolute depravity, which is not what most theologians mean by the term. Continue reading →

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