Darryl Dash's Blog, page 8

Lessons From a 147-year-old Church Plant

I'm not too far into Caleb Morell’s excellent new book, A Light on the Hill, the story of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., but I can tell you that I like it. I've listened to many podcasts about the book and the founding of this church. It's like a biography, but instead of a person, it's about a church.

If God can use ordinary people, he can also use ordinary churches to make a big impact for his glory. Having been part of a new church, I'm especially interested in how Capitol Hi...

The Completion of God’s Wrath (Revelation 16)

Big Idea: God's judgment against sin is certain, but those who trust in Jesus need not fear it — their sins were already judged when Christ died on the cross.

I bet you did not expect to read this text on Easter Sunday!

There are two words that bracket the passage that we looked at last week and the passage we just read.

The first of these words is a troubling one. It’s the word wrath. It’s central to the text we just read. In fact, you could say it’s the overall theme of the middle part of Revelat...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

When Did Christians Start Celebrating Easter?

Its origin is apostolic, tied to the Passover and rooted in the Gospel.

Is It Wrong for Christians To Choose Cremation?

How should Christians think about this trend? Is this a question of faith? Is it wrong to cremate a body?

The Rule of 3

One of the best prioritization rituals is defining three priorities every day, week, and year.

The Problem With Habits (and Why We Still Need Them)

Spiritual disciplines, while neces...

Expository Preaching: More Than Verse-by-Verse

Many people claim to believe in expository preaching, but they often have different interpretations of what it means.

Some people think that expository preaching means going verse-by-verse through a passage and explaining the details of the text. Some people call this the continuous exposition or the running commentary method. To be sure, this is a form of expository preaching, but it's not the only way.

This method of preaching has its strengths. “Verse-by-verse preaching possesses a long, storie...

Joy and Judgment (Revelation 15)

Big Idea: Our salvation is characterized by both joy and judgment.

We’re about to enter what some call Holy Week. We are about to walk through some of the most significant events of Jesus’ life and ministry this week:

his triumphal entry into Jerusalem;his final evening with his disciples, in which he washed the feet of his disciples and instituted the Last Supper;Good Friday, in which Jesus was crucified, dying as a sacrifice in the place of sinners, offering redemption and reconciliation with Go...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Read Old Books More Than New Books

For many people, it seems almost impossible to read old books, even though I have found they are much better for the soul.

The Missing Heart in AI-Generated Sermons

Robots cannot worship. Therefore, relying on a robot to prepare your sermon is to excise an indispensable element of good preaching—the heart.

Handling Praise and Criticism in Worship

Not all feedback is equal. Consider three categories of feedback: decisions, votes...

It Only Gets Better

I was 23 years old and newly engaged. A man in his 50s spotted me after church and congratulated me. He also said something I've always remembered. You think you're in love now, he said, but you really don't know what love is. Wait until you've been married 30 years, then you will begin to understand what love is.

I felt unexpectedly encouraged. Being young and in love is amazing, but I didn't mind being told that it only gets better. He was right, by the way. I've now been married 34 years, and ...

The Story You Tell Yourself (Revelation 14)

Big Idea: The stories of Christ’s victory, the spread of the gospel, and final judgment should shape how you live today.

One of the most important ideas that we need to grasp is that we tell stories to ourselves about our lives and the world. Humans not only observe events but also give them meaning through the stories we tell about ourselves, others, and the world. These stories are subjective interpretations that help us understand our experiences, not objective reflections of reality. We creat...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Don't Apply the Bible to Your Life. Do This Instead.

The Bible calls us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This is a better framework for thinking about the Bible than "applying" its principles to our lives.

Rebuilding for Renewal: The Importance of Sacred Spaces in Our Cities

The world needs sacred spaces—places where the kingdom is embodied, our worship shapes our imaginations, the weary find rest.

4 Causes of Division in the Church

The New Testame...

Random Thoughts on Preaching

In no particular order, here are some random thoughts on preaching.

First, one of the most important areas of focus for a preacher must be his own soul. I agree with George Müller, who said that our first and greatest priority must be to make our souls happy in God. There's a world of difference between a preacher who is walking with God and one who isn't. A sermon can be impressive, and God can work through any pastor, even an ungodly one. However, nothing compares to the preaching of someone wh...