Darryl Dash's Blog, page 29

The Gospel According to Isaiah (Isaiah 40:1-11)

Big Idea: There’s hope for us despite our sins because God will come, and you can count on it.

Something one of my teachers said has haunted me for years.

The teacher’s name was Haddon Robinson. He literally wrote the book on preaching. He was once named one of the twelve most effective preachers in the English-speaking world. He taught hundreds of students how to preach. On top of that, he was a man of integrity.

I once heard him say that out of all the sermons he’d heard preached, he had only hea...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

9 Biblical Methods for Encouraging One Another

The best way to learn how to encourage is to watch others do it. The Bible models this for us in a variety of ways. Let’s look at the examples and learn how we can we use this powerful tool.

Dead Orthodoxy

There is a certain type of right thinking that is wrong.

DeYoung, Rigney, and the Moscow Mood

Let me begin by stating up front that DeYoung and Rigney are two of my favorite authors and thinkers, and so it should ...

Introducing Early Church History

When I first attended seminary, I had little knowledge of church history, and little understanding of why it might matter.

My church history professor, Dr. Michael Haykin, changed that. Nobody can listen to Dr. Haykin talk about church history without feeling his excitement about this field of study. I began to learn more, but I still felt like I was only beginning to understand the subject.

More recently, we’ve seen an explosion of books that make the subject of church history more accessible. Bu...

Longing and Lament (Isaiah 63:15-64:9)

Big Idea: Longing and lament points us to our need for God to come.

I want to talk about something that I don’t think I’ve ever talked about before in a sermon. I want to talk about the hiddenness of God.

I don’t know if you’e thought about this either. Sometimes God seems distant and hidden, often when we need him the most.

For instance, consider Dr. Helen Roseveare, a famous English missionary to the Congo. As a young woman, Roseveare told God, “I’ll go anywhere God wants me to, whatever the cost...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Hearing the Heart in Bad Theology

We can be wise and faithful counselors by recognizing that bad theology can reveal our counselee’s heart and then ask questions to better understand.

How to Get Ahead on Sermon Planning for the New Year

As you prepare for the new year, here are a few sermon planning ideas that may help you get a head start on sermon preparation.

It’s About What’s in the Text

We are aiming to understanding this text, seeking to understanding what...

The Pastor’s Reward

Pastoring is a privilege. One of the greatest privileges is the reward that awaits those who serve as pastors.

The Crown of Righteousness

Paul describes one reward in 2 Timothy 4:8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

As Paul approached his death, he looked forward to the crown of righteousness he would receive from the Lord himself. His fr...

Your Representative in Heaven (Hebrews 4:14-5:10)

Big Idea: Jesus is the representative we need, so hold fast and draw near to him.

I had a terrifying experience a few years ago.

I got a traffic ticket. No problem, right? Most of us have had one of those. I decided to fight the charge. And so I went to court. It can’t be that hard. It’s not a criminal court. It’s just a traffic one.

So I got there a little early. I waited for my name to be called. While I waited, they called other people up. Most of them were boring. But then they called one guy u...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

That Bible Verse You Don’t Like and What to Do About It

When I come across a Bible verse I might not immediately like, here are three reminders I give myself to keep things in proper perspective.

Why the Church of England’s Same-Sex Marriage Vote Breaks My Heart

The Church of England’s vote to bless same-sex relationships will ultimately harm those it means to help: people like me who experience same-sex attraction.

Bring Order to the Chaos: The Calming Force o...

Know Your Work

It’s a relief to know that God has given us certain work. I’m responsible to get that work done, but I can then ignore a lot of things that aren’t my work.

I’m responsible to know and love God. It’s my daily work and joy to cultivate my love for God and to know him and serve him better. He’s given me resources that I want to use for his glory.I’m responsible to my family. I’ve promised to love my wife, and God has given me children (and now a grandson) to love and serve.I’m part of a church. We h...

Don’t Miss Out (Hebrews 3:1-4:13)

Big Idea: Israel only got a sample of what we get to enjoy, so don’t miss out on Jesus and all that he's given us.

I feel like I know you well enough to share a fairy advanced Bible reading technique for the Hebrew Scriptures. It goes by the acronym HCTBSS. Sound complicated? Here’s what it means: How could they be so stupid?

Here’s how it works. We read a story in the Old Testament. For instance, we read in Numbers 13 about the time that Israel approached the land that God had promised them from ...