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15Apr 202522 Apr 2025

Easter picture of Kendall, Jonathan, and Mj outside in front of plants and trees just beginning to bloom.

Easter 2025 Family Update

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with…

26Oct 202026 Oct 2020

“Why Worship?” series

Since most of my students use Instagram, I’ve been putting shortened ~7-8 minute versions of our youth lessons on that…

16Sep 202020 Sep 2020

9.16.20 Virtue- Temperance (Wednesday Night Bible Study)

This is an all church Wednesday Night Bible study I taught on 9.16.20 at 7th & James Baptist Church in…

The Costly Grace of the Cross: True. Sure. Freely Given. | 4.5.20

5 Apr 202019 Apr 2020

Contents (click to jump) Opening ReflectionScripture ReadingVideoPrayerDevotional Message (premieres on YouTube 4/5/20 at 6p.m. CDT).ResponseClosing BlessingGroup Questions Opening Reflection Illustration for Paradiso by Gustave Dore. “The uncreated Might [the Father]…

Expressing An Inexpressible joy | Youth Devotion | 3.29.20

29 Mar 202019 Apr 2020

Contents (click to jump) Opening ReflectionScripture ReadingPrayerDevotional Message (Premiering on YouTube at 6:00 p.m. on 3/29/2020)ResponseClosing Blessing Opening Reflection "Let the leper healed in Mark 1 speak for all the…

Called as resident aliens | Youth Devotion | 3.22.20

22 Mar 202029 Mar 2020

Contents (click to jump) Opening ReflectionScripture ReadingVideoPrayerDevotion (LIVE STREAM)ResponseClosing Blessing Opening Reflection “A sign hangs on the wall .... : 'Everyone wants a revolution. No one wants to do the…

An abundance of scarcity | Youth Devotion | 3.15.20

15 Mar 202021 Mar 2020

Because all church events have been cancelled for today, I wanted to provide an opportunity for students and families to have a time of devotion to the Lord, and a…

“God hasn’t retired”

19 Jan 202019 Mar 2020

Our story is not self-created, nor a mere matter of our past, our culture. It's something given from outside ourselves. Understanding the Old Testament stories like Exodus and how they…

Making Jesus the main attraction in Youth Ministry

3 Oct 20193 Oct 2019

Here is a link to the piece I wrote for the Baptist Standard: "Make Jesus Christ the main attraction in youth ministry" Quotation: This summer, I visited 16th Street Baptist…

“The Otherworldly Nearness of God”

4 Aug 201921 Sep 2019

7th & James Baptist Church * 8.4.19 * Hosea 11:1-11 * Jonathan Balmer Q: Why won’t God abandon His people who relentlessly run from God? A: God is not a…

Preaching for Special Occasions

15 Jun 20192 Aug 2019

Sometimes in Preaching class you pretend to officiate the wedding of two empty chairs. In Spring 2019, I took a class on Preaching for Special Occasions. I grew in love…

“Enduring Forever. Present Today.” Youth Sunday 2019 Sermon

30 Apr 201915 Aug 2019

“Enduring Forever. Present Today” | Psalm 118:14-29 | John 20:19-31 | Acts 5:27-32 | Revelation 1:4-8 This sermon tries to answer the questions: Why do the Gospels see Jesus in…

“Earth Shattering Good News”

13 Jan 20192 Aug 2019

All right, kids! It's time we had a talk about "Law and Gospel!" A MidWinter 2019 retreat sermon by Jonathan Balmer, delivered January 12th, 2019. Video of the sermon from…