Many college students treat their spiritual life like a compartmentalized doggie box. You know those types of boxes that have different compartments for the different types of food? Due to a fear of the food touching, it keeps these different items separate from one another. Many students I know do that with the different sections of their lives. You have …
How much does God know? Is God’s understanding increasing as the centuries progress? The attribute regarding God’s capacity for knowledge is foundationally important to how we approach Him. Incorrect Perception: The Undergraduate God As students begin their college careers, many are still unsure regarding their desired outcome. Beginning with general electives, they begin to sort through new information and slowly …
As Jesus proceeded towards the cross, the disciples argued about who was the greatest and about who should be included. Until we address our pride, we will always see everyone else as the problem. Mark 9:30-41 30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new [Lev. 26:10]. BOOK OF THE WEEK I read Thomas Nettle’s James Petigru Boyce: A Southern Baptist Statesman. This biography of an important Southern Baptist leader …
As we climbed the 204-steps required to make it to the top of the African Renaissance Monument, the wind began to pick up. At that high of an altitude and with the ocean breeze hitting us, I was attempting to maintain my footing so that I wouldn’t take the quick way back down the stairs into the belly of Dakar, …
After working for a few days in Senegal, I asked our translator if he wanted to go to his church on Sunday. The villages we were working in had no local church (yet), and I wanted our translator to have the opportunity to see his physical and spiritual family, while at the same time, I wanted our team to be …
When a man brought his son to Jesus for deliverance, he uttered three words that should never be used to address the Christ. When we approach Jesus in our need, He deserves complete faith in His ability. Mark 9:14-29 14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me [John 14:6]. BOOK OF THE WEEK Exalting Jesus in Mark. Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, this …
In our culture, too many people see marriage as the ol’ ball and chain. How shameful it is that we depict marriage like a burden. Like the rapper, KB has said, “If my wife’s a ball and chain, then I love being her slave.” Loving our wives is more than buying a few trinkets or working hard to provide for …
I once received a letter from an inmate in prison with a simple request: he wanted a study Bible. After sending him one, his response floored me.
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God [Lev. 18:4]. BOOK OF THE WEEK Confused, angry, and hurt after the death of his father, a young R. C. Sproul began his personal search …
A. W. Tozer was a pastor, theologian, and author that defied typical categories. His example is one to be studied for all those desirous to pursuing God.
The grace of God is foundational for our salvation and our sanctification. Without the grace of God, we have no basis for a relationship with Him. Incorrect Perception: The Chutes and Ladders God Chutes and Ladders is a game that seeks to defeat your opponents by being the first to reach the top square of the board. You move higher …
Jesus taught His disciples regarding the incompatible nature of following Him halfway. As He still calls us today, He is expecting us to abandon all this world has to offer for the greater treasure of knowing Him. Mark 8:34-9:1 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words [Ps. 119:57]. BOOK OF THE WEEK Newsweek called renowned minister Timothy Keller “a C.S. Lewis for the twenty-first century” in a feature on his first book, The Reason for God. In that book, he …
I’m currently writing a book on repairing bad theology. The concept is one I have been thinking about for fifteen years. I have studied on it, preached on sections of it, and thought about the content for a long time, but I have always pushed the project down the priority list. While the book still has a long way to …
What standards should worship leaders hold regarding personal dress and physical appearance? While I am sure there is no shortage of opinions on this topic, I wanted to wade into such an important topic. We each possess a certain amount of preferences on the issue, but is there anything we can agree upon? I hope so. For starters, we should …
While opinions of Jesus were rampant and varied, He desired to know whom His disciples believed Him to be. Peter’s initial response and subsequent reaction reveal our own desire to edit God when He doesn’t meet our expectations. Mark 8:27-33 27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel [Ezra 7:10]. BOOK OF THE WEEK Sing! has grown from Keith and Kristyn Getty’s passion for congregational singing; …
The tide is growing for family ministry in churches all over America. People see the need for a biblical approach to discipling all ages, but many are unsure of a path and fearful of initiating a change. Maybe you feel like the building blocks are there, but you don’t have the diagram to tell you where to start. As you …
As believers, we are called to be people committed to the Bible. If we want to grow in the Word, we must be devoted to the Word. Ezra 7:6-10 6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all …
As a pastor, I am a mandated reporter if I discover that abuse or neglect is transpiring within a home. Many people falsely assume that if something is confessed in a ministry counseling situation, the pastor is safe not to report it. That’s simply untrue. I am liable to the American government if I know about a situation and fail …
In a world that is constantly changing, is there anything that remains consistent? How are we to view God in a rapidly shifting world? Incorrect Perception: The Upgraded God We live in a world of constant updates and revisions. The groundbreaking technological gadget is obsolete in mere months due to ever-changing upgrades. What once seemed sufficient becomes obsolete quickly. Books …
For a second time, Jesus leads a faithless group of disciples to help feed a great crowd of hungry people. Failing to remember Jesus’ power in the past can cause us to question His ability in the present for our physical and spiritual needs. Mark 8:1-26 8 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, …
God has never lied. God is not lying. God will not lie. As people, we are commanded not to lie (Ex. 20:16), but a hallmark of our identity is that we are liars (Num. 23:19). We are proned to resist truth-telling. We are called not to lie to one another (Col. 3:9), but our deceitful tongues plot destruction in our …
Even if you are in a bad marriage, I have often said that there is never a completely one-sided divorce. Even if one party contributed 99% of the conflict, the other spouse hasn’t been perfect. While I have counseled that logic for years, I have changed my mind recently regarding that claim. After years of teaching, writing, and counseling, …
The omnipresence of God means that God is everywhere at the same time. While such an infinite concept is difficult for finite minds to comprehend, is it true? How does that change our perception of God? Incorrect Perception: The Overbooked God Have you ever tried to get an appointment with that really busy person? You keep trying to get on …
Jesus broke the status quo as He ministered to those who were on the fringes of society. Through His example, Jesus reminds us that no one is beyond deliverance. Mark 7:24-37 24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food [Job 23:12]. BOOK OF THE WEEK The Life of A. W. Tozer: In Pursuit of God by James L. Snyder …
Many men start strong but fail to finish well. Every person has stories of those men who became derailed overtime. In losing their integrity, their family, or their commitments, many of them have no one to blame for the crash other than themselves for walking dangerously upon the tracks. Why do men fail to finish well? The graphic story …
Studying the attributes of God, it is critical to address the issue of God’s holiness. What does the holiness of God really mean? Incorrect Perception: The Grade-on-a-Curve God After every test taken within the halls of academia, there is at least one student praying that the teacher will grade on a curve. Due to a lack of preparation or a …
The legalists of Jesus’ day appeared godly on the outside but were actually ungodly on the inside. Jesus taught the importance of addressing one’s heart which is the root cause for all of our actions. Mark 7:14-23 14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness [Ps. 84:10]. BOOK OF THE WEEK The Attributes of God: Volume 1 by A. …
Marriage is bound to have some troubles. You must address conflict with your spouse wisely, and many things need to be addressed. But I believe there are some things of which you simply need to let your spouse off the hook. Don’t get me wrong: some things need to be addressed! But you need to address that which the spouse …
Can you sin so many times that God refuses to extend His grace any longer? Many of us struggle to follow God because of our previous shortcomings. You mishandle your past when you fail to deal with it. Even though it is painful to go back through failures and frustrations, you must address yesterday’s hurts if you are to experience …
Studying the attributes of God, it is critical to address the issue of God’s wisdom. Can God be trusted to make the right decisions? Incorrect Perception: The Pollster God A pollster is someone who organizes, conducts, and analyzes opinion polls. Due to their research, they are able to take a cross-section of society, ask some pertinent questions, and provide the …
The religious leaders valued their preferential traditions over God’s doctrinal truth. As followers of Jesus, we must ensure that we hold the Word of God as superior to the traditions of man. Mark 7:1-13 7 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples …
Over the last few weeks, the United States of America hasn’t seemed so united. After President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court, numerous opponents have risen to the challenge to find a kink in his armor. With what started as an anonymous accusation, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was eventually encouraged to come forward to accuse …
Need some Weekly Wisdom? Here are my favorite resources of the week. VERSE OF THE WEEK Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth [Hosea 6:3]. BOOK OF THE WEEK The Pursuit of …
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