On January 13, 2020, Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow led the LSU Tigers to defeat the Clemson Tigers for the National Championship. As a Clemson fan, it was a disappointing loss but one that provided plenty of respect for the solid LSU team. They figured out how to get it done on both sides of the ball and had a …
If you don’t make a plan for how you use your finances, someone or something else will make a plan for you. Preparing a budget shows you are a responsible steward with what God has entrusted to you. The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin (Prov. 10:16). A good man leaves an …
While laziness seems to be an accepted cultural disposition, it significantly lessens an individual’s overall opportunities. God’s Word highlights both the blessings and the benefits of hard work. Excuses When you blame laziness on your personality, you covertly attempt to blame God for your lack of effort. Laziness is not a disease or a dysfunction but a decision. Laziness leads …
As a pastor, I have been asked this question numerous times during my time in ministry: how do mentally ill people get to heaven? While it is often worded in different ways, it normally comes from a concerned person who has watched a family member suffer from mental illness. While nearing or following a death, people want relief regarding the …
Proverbs is an incredible book in the Bible, but it is unique among them. Out of the 66 books compiling the Old and New Testament, none is exactly like the Book of Proverbs. #1. Proverbs are more scattered than sequential. There are some sections that go together, but the majority of the book is one verse detached from the ones …
Plenty of people associate with Jesus, but very few keep their steps at a pace where they can truly follow him. He is not someone that you want to follow halfway with mediocre attempts. If you’ve been following Jesus at a distance, it’s time to go the 2nd mile in your spiritual journey.
Whenever we refuse to handle our finances God’s way, we invite unnecessary chaos into our lives. In the Book of Proverbs, God provides practical wisdom that is as relevant today as when it was first written. Discover God’s will for your money, and you will experience God’s best for your life.
We tend to polarize financial convictions, but the Bible provides surprising wisdom to obtain balance. If we learn God’s financial perspective, we will benefit from obeying biblical practices. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. -Prov. 8:10-11 Better is …
Both the rich and the poor are in danger of neglecting God’s wisdom regarding finances. No matter how much you possess, you must be careful to prioritize biblical perspectives and biblical practices. Reminders About Proverbs Proverbs are more scattered than sequential. Proverbs are more principles than promises. Proverbs are more expressive than exhaustive. Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I ask of …
In 2019, our preaching team worked through Mark, Membership Matters, Psalms [Vol. 1], Distinctive Discipleship, Malachi, and He Shall Be Called. Out of those sermons, the list below reveals the sermons that were viewed online more than any others. It is such a revealing and interesting list to see which sermons trended more than others. I pray that our church’s …
If you want to start reading the Bible, you might be unsure of where to begin. Let me introduce you to a feasible plan that can help you get started.
I started TravisAgnew.org in 2007 as an online opportunity to share what God was teaching me with whoever would engage. I have been so thankful to those who have encouraged me along the way regarding its content. 1,091,830 visitors 1,779,749 views As I look back over the last decade, I wanted to share with you the top 10 trending posts …
Join us this coming Sunday at Rocky Creek as we start 2020 by addressing our finances biblically. We will start a 5-week sermon series called Financial Proverbs. Whenever we refuse to handle our finances God’s way, we invite unnecessary chaos into our lives. In the Book of Proverbs, God provides practical wisdom that is as relevant today as when it …
In a world where chaos abounds, where are we to find peace? Following Jesus provides the only path to experiencing unshakable peace. On a scale of 1 to 10, how peaceful is your life right now? John 14:25-31 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father …
For all those who read weekly articles I post, I want to say thank you! Some posts connect more than others. Below are the top 10 posts from TravisAgnew.org for 2019. If you would like to subscribe to my weekly newsletter so you never have to miss an article, you can sign up for the Weekly Wrapup. I send out …
If every Christian is in a unique place surrounded by specific challenges, why do we think that a broad approach will work for every single one of us? In this 11-chapter book, you can learn the biblical framework for discipleship and a practical guide to getting started with your own growth or in helping to disciple another. Like me, you …
Due to the frailties of earthly fathers, many people struggle to embrace God as a Heavenly Father. If you have ever wanted to know what God the Father is like, look no further than His Son. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name …
The lights are hung, the presents are wrapped, the food is prepared, and the sweaters are laid out. What could be missing? Jesus. Jesus might be missing. If you are worried about missing Christ this Christmas, it is time to go the 2nd mile in your Christmas celebration.
For all those who feel stuck in their spiritual life, you don’t have to accept stagnation as the norm any longer. In this 8-week Bible study, I want to walk you through a model called Distinctive Discipleship. It attempts to encourage individual people with particular needs to develop a unique plan for a given season. You can use this model …
If you still want to be with your spouse at the end of your life, you must be heading in the same direction now. So many marriages struggle due to misalignment. The two partners simply pointed themselves in different directions. In reality, the danger is in the subtlety of it all. Rarely do people marry another who has an entirely …
Since we could not make it to God, God came for us. Jesus was more than a godly man, but the God-Man who provided redemption. Many people believe Jesus was good but struggle to accept Him as God. John 8:31-59 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and …
I released two books on discipleship last week. They are the product of a 2-year attempt to help our church have a tangible and accessible guide to engage in personal discipleship. As I finished the emphasis in our church, I had some people ask me to help share what we were doing. In particular, two groups served as the catalysts …
The Great Commission calls us to make disciples – not converts. As he ascended into the skies, Jesus clarified our purpose of discipleship when he delivered the Great Commission. The job is incomplete when someone comes to faith in Christ. Discipleship – and not conversion – is the goal. Evangelism is necessary, but it is not ultimate.
The destination of discipleship is the same for every individual, but each spiritual journey demands specific directions. Think of it like you would a Sunday morning. As people leave their homes to gather for worship, they all arrived at the same place yet traveled by different paths. Some took a left out of their driveways while others turned right. The …
esus was prophesied to be the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and the Prince of Peace. Are you experiencing Jesus to be all these things to you?
If left unchecked, stress has a way of hindering the essential parts of your life. God’s Word provides powerful yet practical ways to address mounting pressure. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be …
In a world full of conflicting advice, Jesus eagerly points us in wise directions. Not only are we blessed by hearing His guidance but by obeying His counsel. Isaiah’s Prophecy Our hearts gravitate towards neglecting Christ while we celebrate Christmas. Jesus is the fulfillment of ancient prophecy and the answer for current unrest. For to us a child is born, …
Most Christians can easily communicate the importance of making disciples, but few can articulate how they are personally engaging in the process. Proclaiming the need for discipleship in theory is not the same as prioritizing its implementation in life. Most churches and ministries are very busy with numerous activities, yet many regularly lament the lack of tangible success despite extensive …
I am so thrilled to share with you that two discipleship resources I’ve been working on are finally finished and available. The Distinctive Discipleship book and Distinctive Discipleship Bible Study workbook are now available in print or digital formats. The content of these two resources comes from a 2-year time of focus on developing how to give a tangible guide …
For December 2019, I am preaching through a series entitled, “He Shall Be Called.” We will study the four names prophesied in Isaiah concerning the coming Messiah. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 This prophecy answers four of society’s critical …
When wrongs have been done, it is very difficult to move on to a place of healing. Through forgiveness, you can navigate the future by addressing the past. Forgiveness is a defining characteristic of Christianity – we receive it from Christ and offer it to others. God desires for us to become masters of forgiveness and reconciliation. While freedom for …
When God arrives, everything changes in a moment. For the people of the world, His coming promises judgment, but for the people of the Word, His coming guarantees joy. Malachi 4:1-6 4 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, …
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be the most frantic. As you prepare for Christmas, you may feel many expectations that can cause you to make some poor financial decisions. You don’t have to go broke during the holidays. It’s time to go the 2nd mile on Black Friday.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Not only were you created by someone, but you were created for something. To understand your purpose, you must pursue the one who created you in the first place. God designed you distinct, and that is …
How well do you know your Bible? I imagine you know it better than you think you do, but you probably also should know it better than you currently do. If you make the church a priority, study the Bible on your own, or engage with Christian resources, you probably know a considerable amount. Do you know what you should …
You are entirely unique. God didn’t use a template to form you. Your Creator designed every part of your good desires and every one of your noble opportunities. As you read Psalm 139 below, make a mental note of words or phrases that speak to the uniqueness of how God created you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together …
Discontentment will lead to justifying debt. When your finances get overwhelming, it drastically alters every other aspect of your life. What Does the Bible Say About Debt? Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Romans 13:7-8 – Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes …
When we interpret God’s blessings as our accomplishments, we are prone to stinginess over generosity. The people of God are given the blessings of God to use for the purposes of God. Malachi 3:6-12 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes …
For all the sermons you have heard, for all the studies you have completed, for all the events you have attended, for all the books you have read, and for all the lessons you have learned, you are desperately in need of someone a little ahead of you to show you the way. The missing component in most of our …
