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