Posts by Todd Cravens

Posts by Todd Cravens

Bible Reading Plans

In the Bible’s most extended mediation on the benefits of reading and meditating on God’s word, Psalm 119, the psalmist writes, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (v.18). The assumption is that there are wonderful things to be seen in God’s word. Thus, if wonders are to be seen and beheld, then one be in God’s word. There’s no better way to be in God’s word than having a plan to do so.…

Peace is Not Found in Princes or Presidents

The calls and texts over the past few days, have stirred my heart.  Election stress. Vote counting chaos. It appears that for many there is a tsunami of despair about to sweep us away.  Are we really approaching “the end of democracy,” as so many national headlines proclaim?  If one fills one’s mind with cable news, one will certainly be unable to sleep at night.  I invite you to fill your heart and mind with the eternal words of God…

Is There Hope for the Future?

As I watch the world, sometimes I wonder if it will survive.  The stress points of society seem to continue to increase.  The virus was stressful enough by itself.  Then came the financial fallout as a result.  These were uncharted waters; a global pandemic and a recession worse than 1929.  Then the little boat of our country was pummeled by hurricane Racism.  We reeled in its terrible winds.  It seems to me that one more national crisis will be the…

Drive-in Resurrection Morning Service

We have sought and been granted permission from the Town of Winchester and Winchester Police Department to host a Resurrection morning worship service outside in the parking lot of Hope Church.  Why would we seek to do such a thing given the current COVID-19 moment in which we live?   First, because Resurrection Sunday is the holiest and happiest day on the Christian calendar.  It is right to worship together every Lord’s Day, however, Resurrection Sunday is the highest Sunday of…

Is Jesus in Heaven or in My Heart?

23 March 2018 If Jesus is right now seated at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33), presumably “upholding the universe by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3), then how can he possibly care about the comparatively small issues of my unimportant life?  How can the Governor of the universe possibly care that my aging parents require more and more of my time, which is already in short supply?  How does the Chief Executive of Creation have time to…

We Who Have Believed Enter His Rest

March 6, 2018 The author of Hebrews makes a breathtaking claim.  He writes, “For we who have believed enter [God’s] rest” (Heb. 4:3).  This means there is some sense in which those who have believed in Jesus for salvation presently enter into his rest.  Believers enter his rest today, but how and in what way? In the March 4 sermon, I suggested that part of the meaning of this sentence is that believers enter the rest of God, here and now, by confidently trusting…

Will I Keep the Faith Through Physical Persecution?

She came to me after the sermon with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for that message. I know that saving faith is an enduring faith, but what worries me is the fear that if I were physically persecuted for my faith in Jesus, I might deny him.” She had rightly gotten the main point of last week’s sermon. The point was that Jesus is the builder of our faith and the only kind of faith that he builds in…

A Lenten Call to Prayer

15 February 2018 This past Wednesday evening 40 of us gathered in the sanctuary to kickoff a unique season of prayer.  It was Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent, the forty-day period (not counting Sunday’s) prior to Easter.  The Lenten season focuses our attention forward to the time-altering, soul-saving, Satan-defeating, death-destroying victory that Jesus accomplished at Easter. If the Lenten season for you brings with it the bad baggage of painful penance and the denial of things that bring you joy, then…

Think Carefully About the Songs You Sing

There’s a fairly new worship song we have begun to sing entitled “What A Beautiful Name,” put out by Hillsong Worship.  It’s a beautiful song and evidently Christians love it.  The song has over 100 million views on YouTube.  We sang the song for about the fourth time last Sunday.  I love the song.  It praises the power of the name of Jesus.  It declares Jesus as the Word who was present at the beginning of Creation.  It proclaims the power of…

Bible Study Tools

Tools for Memorizing Scripture 2018 Memory Verses Here are 50 scriptures to memorize during the 2018 year.  Memorize a scripture each week from the new or old testament and let God’s word guide you through the new year.   Click Here to See the 2018 Memory Verses   Fighter Verses If you need some help and encouragement for memorizing Scripture, then let me encourage you to check out the Fighter Verses memorization app created by Children Desiring God Ministries.  It offers 5…