Posts with the category “weekly-updates”

Good afternoon,There's no debate. Hebrews 1 has convincingly argued that the Son of God––the promised King of Psalm 110––is better than the angels. Chapter 2 will build on that premise, shifting somewhat from the exposition of Christ's person to a quick exhortation for Christ's people. I pray you've been encouraged by your Bible intake in recent days, whether from Hebrews, Matthew, or in your pers...  Read More

I trust you were encouraged by Mitch Kimbrell's update on Sunday. It's clear that the Lord is continuing to do much through NETS and Christ Memorial in Vermont. Let's continue holding those believers before the Lord. I trust that you were encouraged by  Read More

Maybe you remember the unreached people group we prayed for Sunday morning: the Assyrians in Turkey. As I was thinking about that people group this past weekend, I recalled fondly one of the highlights of my life, that is, getting to visit with dear friends the part of that country where many of those Assyrians live.   Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,In my mind, the only acceptable frozen precipitation is that which cancels nothing, causes no accidents, freezes no pipes, and doesn't threaten a loss of power. Also, the frozen precipitation can't be cold.Now that you know the vital information that I don't approve of today's weather, you should know that we're hopeful tomorrow's temps will get above freezing so that n...  Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,On Sunday, Chris reminded us that "from the compost of our weakest prayers offered up with even fragile faith, God can grow an orchard for His glory." Most of us have heard James 1 more than a few times. Maybe you've heard his admonition to pray for wisdom in isolation from the context: trials. Chris rightly showed us both the connection and the context. And I trust you...  Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,George Herbert called the Lord's Day, "the next world's bud." As in, every seven days we get to experience something of that which will blossom and bear fruit in the New Heavens and Earth. This past Sunday was yet another example of the Lord's previewing mercies toward us, His people. From the hearing, reading, and submitting to God's Word, to the exaltation of Christ t...  Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,After the holiday hiatus, I really enjoyed seeing our Bible Study Groups/Sunday School back together this weekend. Just last week I was telling someone how the Sunday School class we attended in 2007 was unlike any Bible Study we'd ever been a part of. The in–depth, honest, and informed discussion of the Scriptures was one of the main reasons we decided to join South Wo...  Read More

What a gift to begin 2023 considering Christ––and the birth of peace––from Isaiah 9. If you missed Chris's clear exposition of that inexhaustible text, you can catch up here: https://subspla.sh/rwppjbqA few months back, when the elders were discussing what should follow Ecclesiastes (I mean, what could?) it was suggested that a New Testament wisdom book might work nicely. We also thought through w...  Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,Incarnation-truth overload? Impossible! Are our minds stretched beyond a full comprehension of what God has done in sending His Son to bear our deserved condemnation? Perhaps eternally so. What was preached from John 1 this past Sunday and from Colossians/Luke on Christmas Eve night were stirring and God-honoring treatments of the eternal Word Himself, in whom the fulln...  Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,O for a thousand ears to hear what we heard Sunday night. As I've said prior, there is no higher art form––no greater sound––on the planet than a room full of voices glorying in the coming of Christ. How great our joy! I told Jim afterward how much I appreciated both the approach––a commitment to excellence––and the clear purpose: worship. That commitment to excellence ...  Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,What a joy to read and think together upon the Preacher's conclusion to Ecclesiastes on Sunday. After thinking through where he landed, I pray the rest of the book came into clearer focus. Thanks be to the Lord for the clarity and simplicity of His conclusion. If you missed that sermon, you can read/watch it here: (The Conclusion Is This, Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 I mentione...  Read More

Weekly UpdateGood afternoon,As I said on Sunday, it was clear when you walked in the building that December had arrived. Again I deeply appreciate those with an eye for that kind of thing––coupled with a servant's spirit––taking the time to beautify the building for this Christmas season. Speaking of Christmas, here is the sermon schedule for the final weeks of the year. Chris and I will consider ...  Read More

Weekly UpdateAs I mentioned Sunday at the close of the service, pastors are sheep before they are shepherds. And Chris's sermon deeply ministered to me personally. In the section on contentment, he aptly noted, "Wisdom is contenting ourselves with things we simply can't change. . . . We can't change the truth that we'll never get at life's whole picture––that belongs to God alone. . ." And then Ch...  Read More

Good afternoon,Though it was a bit chilly after the service Sunday, I was thrilled to see folks spending time together out front on our new walkway. I'm grateful for the Lord's provisions throughout this process. And I'm thankful to see those provisions being used week in and week out.I told Chris last week that Ecclesiastes 9 is an underrated and underutilized Lord's Supper text. I do hope the tr...  Read More

Weekly UpdateJim, Chris, Debbie, and I spent some time this morning reflecting on the mercies of the Lord over the weekend. One thing I told them is that, though I always know what hymns we're going to sing, I don't always remember the particulars of each verse. But after immersing myself in Ecclesiastes 7 all week, I was overwhelmed by the connections in the third verse: "Each strand of sorrow ha...  Read More

Good afternoon,We've quoted Derek Kidner multiple times to say that the author of Ecclesiastes demolishes in order to build. Finally, three weeks in, we caught a brief glimpse of the message the Preacher intends to share through this book. He disillusions us, in part, to show us reality. And he does so for our joy. I read a brief article yesterday where J. I. Packer called Ecclesiastes his favorit...  Read More

Good afternoon,On Sunday we talked through both those rhythms that exhaust us (see Ecclesiastes 1:4-8) and participated in a rhythm that renews us (see the Lord's Supper). As always, sharing that meal both nourished and encouraged. Once again we proclaimed Christ's death to one another. If you missed Sunday's sermon from Ecclesiastes, you can catch up here: https://subspla.sh/r2n7d37Much of Sunday...  Read More

Good afternoon,On Sunday, I laid out something of a vision for our study through the book of Ecclesiastes. It's not that the pulpit would necessarily settle once and for all every nuance within this notoriously complex book. Instead it's that we'd walk through it together, be open to its hard truths together, and would help one another understand what it means to live with hope under the sun toget...  Read More

Good afternoon,As I mentioned this weekend, when we gathered Sunday it was as if Phil described to us a trip we'd all been on together. And as he pointed out this landmark, or reminded us of that turn, the Spirit fed us. I appreciated in particular the way Phil highlighted Luke's theology that underpinned the book. If you missed that sermon, you can watch it here: (“Getting Our Heads Around the Bo...  Read More

Good afternoon,As Phil wrote in the note we sent out earlier, it's hard to squeeze 35 years in a couple hours. It's also hard––nah, impossible––to capture decades of gratitude for his faithful labors over a lunch. Yet, I'm thankful we as a body attempted to communicate it on Sunday. Some of you worked for hours and hours on desserts. Some of you worked for hours on moving chairs. Some of you worke...  Read More

Greetings!Having done a few of these updates over the years (formerly on paper via USPS and now via email), I’ve mulled over many details of church life experienced and anticipated. I shall not use this space to reminisce today but to anticipate the week and weeks ahead.Tomorrow night we continue the study in R. C. Sproul’s book The Mystery of the Trinity. What a helpful study! There’s ample negle...  Read More

Good afternoon,In Acts 21, when Paul gathered with the church at Jerusalem––recounting what the Lord had done among the Gentiles––they all glorified God together. If you missed Sunday's sermon on that text, you can read/watch it here: (Christ, the Church, and the World, Acts 21:15-26)I hope that you've been as edified as I have over the past few weeks by what the Lord is doing at South Woods. I me...  Read More

Greetings!What a joy to gather to worship the Risen Lord this past Sunday! Easter Sunday is always a wonderful time to meet up with those who’ve been affected by the cross and resurrection of Jesus. I felt that strongly on Sunday. Thank you for your attentiveness to the preaching of the Word.Mercy for Memphis is coming up Sunday afternoon at Shelby Farms. We’ve waited a long time for warmer weathe...  Read More

Greetings!Wow! What a wonderful time we had at the restart of Bible Study Groups this past Sunday! The new space looked lovely and functioned well. I’m grateful for the thought that went into reimagining the space so that we might have better space to keep doing disciple making. Thanks for being part of this new phase in our church’s life. We look forward to Easter Sunday when we gather for Bible ...  Read More

Greetings!What a crew! So many folks turned out on Saturday to work on the grounds and the building! We’re grateful for the participation, and as Matt mentioned Sunday, the joyful interaction as we worked side-by-side. I loved seeing so many smiling faces and busy hands at work. What an encouragement! Thank you for contributing in such a tangible way to help us have a lovely place for disciple mak...  Read More

Greetings!We’re excited about Saturday’s workday! We get started at 8:30 and end up around noon, with lunch provided. As we’ve mentioned before, we’ll be moving things that are stored all over the building and off the church campus, to the right spot to get set for beginning our Bible Study Groups on April 10th. We hope that we have a big group to team up for the inside and work on the grounds, to...  Read More

Greetings!Matt, Chris, Butch, Andy, and I joined designer and builders this afternoon to do the final “punch list” for our building renovation and expansion. With blue tape handy, various little details (all small) were noted to put the finishing touches on this project so that we can start using it soon. We are really pleased with the roominess of the spaces, as we’ve been making space for making...  Read More

Greetings!From snow to spring, we’re just glad that we can enjoy it all together! Sunday was lovely, with the snow lingering and the warm temperatures and blue skies brightening our day.The finishing touches continue to take place on the building renovation and the new addition. There are a number of small things that will put us into action soon on making use of this beautiful new space for disci...  Read More

Greetings!Even though Spring can’t make its mind up if it’s spring or winter, we’ve made our mind up . It’s time (nearly) to start back our Bible Study Groups (a.k.a. Sunday School)! We talked with the construction company today and it seems clear, Lord willing, that we’ll be able to start back with what we’ve missed for 2 years, meeting to study the Word together before our worship services. Be r...  Read More

Good afternoon,I've loved having South Woodsians filling parts of the building prior to the worship service for the past month or so. At 9:00 this past Sunday morning, we had a room full of preschool volunteers going through training and a room of Bible Study Group leaders prepping to re–begin Romans shortly. Things we haven't done in a while are hinting at their upcoming return.Speaking of that, ...  Read More

Greetings!I know that Sunday’s announcement (see below) about my resignation as pastor at South Woods to accept a new position as Director of Pastoral Mentoring and Care for the Pillar Network came as a surprise. It’s something that Karen and I have sought the Lord on for some time and know the peace of the Lord in this decision. While it’s difficult to step down from what I’ve loved doing for 44 ...  Read More

Greetings!It’s good to be back in Memphis and back into the swing of life together at South Woods. I loved being back in the pulpit on Sunday and getting to see folks that I have prayed for throughout the time away. Thank you for the sabbatical. It is a wonderful investment that you make in your pastors and our wives to give us those times of focus, study, prayer, writing, catching up on discussio...  Read More

Good afternoon,In what has likely been an upside–down week for many of us, Sunday morning helped to reorient, turning things right side up. I appreciate Chris stepping in and ably leading us in both praying and singing. I sincerely hope the sermon from Acts 18 helped to stir a vision for how both being a disciple (being taught) and making disciples (teaching others) fits within God's aim for our l...  Read More

Good afternoon,Chris reminded us Sunday that "trouble takes on a different hue when we hold it up to the light of a sinless Savior dying in our place." If you missed that helpful sermon from Acts 18, and its reorienting of troubles, you can read or watch it here: (https://subspla.sh/v6s66qh)This coming Sunday we'll pick up with the story of Apollos, an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, who n...  Read More

Afternoon,In preparing for Sunday, I read Chris' sermon on Acts 18 over the weekend. I found it to be faithful, clear, persuasive, and applicable. A few hours later, unfortunately, inches of slush ensured that none of us would hear that sermon until this coming Sunday. Do be praying for Chris as he continues to meditate upon Acts 18 and Corinth.We'll also be observing the Lord's Supper together th...  Read More

Good afternoon,I hope the two weeks we spent in Athens proved to aid your thinking concerning who God is (week 1) and how we might tell others about Him (week 2). If you missed Sunday's sermon on how Paul's evangelism might help to shape our own, you can watch/read that sermon here or, as always, on the South Woods app.Speaking of evangelism, tomorrow night Pastor Phil will introduce Andy Johnson'...  Read More

Greetings! Happy New Year!With the first Update in 2022, I’m excited about the year ahead. We’ve journeyed through some rather interesting days the past couple of years. Throughout, we’ve seen the Lord’s faithfulness in sustaining us in the faith, enriching worship, teaching us to trust Him, deepening devotion lives, and serving one another. We’ve learned some things the hard way through the adver...  Read More

Greetings!2022 is upon us! I’m so thankful for the last Sunday of the year’s time of worship. We sang, prayed, confessed sins, confessed our faith together, and heard an exceptional exposition from the Word. Pastor Chris expounded a difficult text, that of the killing of the baby boys around Bethlehem by a raging, maniacal Herod. Yet throughout, as Chris helped us to see, even in the tragedies abo...  Read More

Good afternoon,What a joy Sunday was, considering Immanuel––God with us––through song, sermon, and Scripture readings. If you missed Sunday's sermon from Matthew 1:18–25, you can watch or read that here: (God With Us, Matthew 1:18-25)Thank you to Jim, Nancy, the choir, children's choir, parents of the children's choir, sound geniuses, and instrumentalists for helping us to consider Christ Sunday n...  Read More

Greetings!We had a beautiful day to worship on Sunday. Those attending got a look at the new carpet and new paint in our worship area. They’re still working on the trim but the bright look is certainly welcomed.I love to help believers see how important their time in God’s Word is for the whole of their Christian lives. On Sunday, we spent time considering the example of the Bereans who welcomed t...  Read More