Posts by Matt Recker
Who Should You Marry & Why? (Part 2)
Matt Recker I am sharing three answers from Malachi 2:10-12 to this question: who should you marry and why? In Part One I gave the first answer: we should marry someone with whom you can seek the person of God. The second answer to this question is this: marry someone with whom you can keep…
Read MoreWho Should You Marry & Why? (Part 1)
Matt Recker Getting married is one of life’s most revealing, most character making (or breaking) decisions. In Malachi’s day God’s people were dealing “treacherously” against God and one another. (This word appears five times in Malachi 2:10-16 and means to betray) How? By marrying unbelievers or those who worshiped “strange gods” (Malachi 2:11), and divorcing…
Read MoreSix Thanksgiving Principles from President Washington’s Proclamation
Matt Recker On October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation full of faith and wisdom, designating Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a national day of thanks for our new nation. I would like to note six thanksgiving principles from this first thanksgiving proclamation of our fledgling nation.
Read MoreThe Best Questions to Ask in Terrible Times of Terror
Matt Recker I have been asked many times in these terrible days of terror, “Why would God allow this if He is all-powerful and good? Or, “What is God doing?” Others question, “Where is God when that awful terror is happening? How can He let that happen?" These are the natural questions to ask, but…
Read MoreNever Be Shamed from Prayer
Matt Recker A term called “prayer shaming” arose after the terrorist shooting in San Bernardino in 2015. Its users intend it as a rebuke to those who offer prayers after a massacre but will not take any political steps, such as new gun laws, to stop future attacks. One paper blared the headline: “God Isn’t…
Read MorePaul’s Amazing Statement on Christian Suffering
Matt Recker Colossians 1:24: Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church. Paul’s statement on suffering is amazing on a number of levels. First, it is amazing that Paul rejoices in suffering.…
Read MoreTempted to Quit? Do You Know Why You Shouldn’t?
Matt Recker Church attendance is dropping nationwide. Many think they are perfectly justified. They offer many excuses, but here are some common ones: “Someone said or did something to hurt me deeply.” “I’ve got new interests.” “I don’t like how the church treats people.” “I’m not being fed” or “the church is not meeting my…
Read MoreGod’s Love: Generally Believed but Personally Denied
Matt Recker God’s message through Malachi to a disillusioned nation begins with this comforting declaration: “I have loved you, saith the LORD.” Nevertheless, the people childishly argue back to God saying, “How have you loved us?” (Mal 1.2) This interaction causes one to wonder whether God’s love may be the attribute of God most generally…
Read MoreDung on the Face?
Matt Recker Malachi 2:3 “I will… spread dung upon your faces…” We might think this is a bit “over the top!” I have never preached about God spreading dung on the faces of the priests, and, on the surface, it seems a coarse tactic to use. In preaching through Malachi recently, this troubling passage confronted…
Read MoreThe Ten Commandments of James for Times of Despair, Death & Devastation
Matt Recker James 4:7-10 In such a time as this, as our hearts mourn the destruction of hurricanes throughout our land and the horror of the murderous rampage in Las Vegas, we may wonder how to respond. One Bible passage that gives a wonderful heart response are the “Ten Commandments” of James 4:7-10. 7 Submit…
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