Make the Most of Every Evangelistic Opportunity

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Colossians 4:2-6 Make the Most of Every Evangelistic Opportunity Instead of waiting for unbelievers to come to the church, the church is meant to go to the unbelievers out in the world.  By making the most of every evangelistic opportunity, disciples engage in Kingdom work by the way they pray, walk, and talk. Pray for Opportunity (Col. 4:2-4) Be devoted …

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Weekly Wisdom [03.16.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works [James 2:22]. Book of the Week Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney Drawn from a rich heritage, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will …

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3 Important Recurring Events for Your Marriage

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Marriage takes time. Unfortunately, time is one of those things that we feel as if we simply don’t have anymore.  As we give our minutes, hours, days, months, years, and lives away to different pursuits, we can never take back the time invested.  The tragedy of how we spend our time is that often our marriages suffer. The one who …

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3 Vital Components of a Staff Member

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An effective job has so much to do with what we do, how we do it, and who we do it with. While we are much more than what we do, a significant portion of our lives will be spent in the 9-5 realm.  That’s why how we approach work is so vital to our overall outlook in life.  Most …

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Silence, Solitude, and Sabbath

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In our fast-paced society and our continuously-loud distractions, our eyes, ears, bodies, minds, hearts, and souls need margin.

The disciplines of silence, solitude, and Sabbath are meant to provide renewal for the disciple.

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Disciples in the Workplace

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Colossians 3:22-4:1 Disciples in the Workplace A disciple can never clock out of Kingdom work.  Even in the workplace, Christian bosses and workers must display a different level of intentionality and productivity for the sake of discipleship. Instructions for Employees (Col. 3:22) Since you claim to follow a faithful Savior, be a faithful worker. Four Types of Employees: Justified Rebel …

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Weekly Wisdom [03.09.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week  and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also [2 Tim. 2:2]. Book of the Week Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne A. Mack For better or for worse? Whichever …

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13 Ways to Exasperate Your Children

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Children are a blessing as long as you don’t lead them to be a burden. Part of the role of parents is to shape children to be all that God has called them to be.  That takes time.  Growing weeds doesn’t take effort – growing gardens demands patience and care.  If you want your children to be successful, you have …

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Disciples in the Home

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Colossians 3:18-21 Disciples in the Home Authentic discipleship moves from the church and should eventually change the home.  Disciples obey God’s commands for how families are to treat one another particularly in the relationship between husband and wife and between parent and child. Submissive Wives (Col. 3:18) Since men need significance, God calls wives to submit to their husbands. If …

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Stand Firm

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“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  1 Cor. 15:58 I had the privilege to preach for the DNOW event at Edwards Road Baptist Church this weekend.  Thankful for this church and their partnership …

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Weekly Wisdom [03.02.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for …

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Marriage Needs Mutual Motivation

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For a marriage to succeed, a couple must possess mutual motivation.   Determine what is the mutual motivation for your marriage to succeed. What is the desired result? What is the common goal for the marriage? What is the win for the home? If you look to the pages of Scripture, a worthy goal is not to get along peacefully, raise …

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6 Common Components in a Growing Disciple

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I love hearing people’s testimonies.  Celebrating the uniqueness of each powerful story encourages my faith in who God is and what he can do. One thing I have noticed about those who grow in Christ is that even though their stories are different, common components emerge in almost every story.  In fact, the more stories I hear, the more often …

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Fasting and Discipleship

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Fasting is an important and yet overlooked spiritual discipline.  While most disciplines encourage people to do something, fasting encourages people to do without something.

Fasting is the voluntary denial of physical food for spiritual purposes. 

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Weekly Wisdom [02.23.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. [Colossians 3:5]. Book of the Week Mentor by Chuck Lawless Mentor Bible Study Book includes six small-group sessions, applicable Scripture, “How to Use This Study,” …

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Why Did God Use Billy Graham?

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At 99 years old, Billy Graham finally reached home. He passed away at his home in Montreat on Feb. 21, 2018. In his lifetime, this evangelist is believed to have preached to over 210 million people. While much will be covered in the days to come regarding his life, I am thankful for a man who finished strong loving Jesus …

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Prayer and Discipleship

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A personal prayer habit is vitally important in the life of a disciple maker.  Not only does it remind us of our dependence upon God for sanctification, but we must also model healthy prayer disciplines in our discipleship of others.

We learn how to pray by praying.

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Seeking Heaven While Still on Earth

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Colossians 3:1-11 Seeking Heaven While Still on Earth While the place of heaven is our destination, the way of heaven should be our pursuit.  As disciples, we are to put to death the deeds of this world and to put on the new self as we seek the things above. After Paul addresses the Colossians’ doctrinal integrity (1-2), he instructs their …

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Weekly Wisdom [02.16.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!     Then your peace would have been like a river,     and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;. [Isaiah 48:18]. Book of the Week Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches That Make Disciples by Jim Putman “Real-Life …

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“I Married the Wrong Person”

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When your spouse fails to meet your expectations, you begin to question if you married the wrong person. Many people claim that is the problem with their marriage.  If they could go back and press rewind, if they knew back then what they know now, they would have made different decisions.  Due to rising conflict in marriages, people just think that …

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66 Themes [Memory Verse from Every Book in the Bible]

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The lost of art of meditating and memorizing Scripture is a key discipline in the life of the disciple.  Most believers know that Scripture memory is a good discipline but just don’t know where to start.  If no one has ever trained you in this work, here is a workable method that might help. One Scripture memory collection that I …

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Scripture Memory and Discipleship

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While reading Scripture is vitally important, oftentimes, we forget what we have read as soon as we have closed our Bibles.  The lost of art of meditating and memorizing Scripture is a key discipline in the life of the disciple.

We must discipline our minds to have the words of the Bible accessible even when a copy of the Bible is not available.

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Three Dangerous Self-Made Religions

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Colossians 2:16-23 Three Dangerous Self-Made Religions The Apostle Paul saw three dangerous heresies present in the church at Colossae and we experience them today.  Biblical discipleship is sufficient and doesn’t need any alteration.   When we are dissatisfied with the finished product of the gospel, we can easily become subtle heretics. As disciples, we must acknowledge the dangers of altering …

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Weekly Wisdom [02.09.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for …

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The Danger of Praying for Patience

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In my life, I have prayed for patience in two ways: Lord, will you help me be patient? Lord, give me patience and will you give it to me now? The danger of the first request always comes from how God usually answers that prayer.  He usually responds to that prayer by sending people and circumstances in your life to …

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Doing the Right Thing in the Wrong Way

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Is it possible to do the right thing but do it in the wrong way?   No one would doubt that.  Many a valid steps have been made for invalid reasons.  Doing the right thing in the wrong way could actually be the wrong thing.  Sinful motivations can cloud our actions. What about the motivation of joy?  What if you …

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Bible Study and Discipleship

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A key component in personal discipleship is the practice of spiritual disciplines.  Spiritual disciplines are not meant to make you more liked by Jesus but more like Jesus.  We discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7).

No discipline is more important than regular Bible study because it encourages every other spiritual discipline.

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Disciples Have Deep Roots

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Colossians 2:6-2:15 Disciples Have Deep Roots Satan will use deceitful doctrine to distract disciples from being established in the faith.  Disciples must be rooted in Christ and established in biblical doctrine to persevere. Mature Growth (Col. 2:6-7) A disciple must have deep roots to experience mature growth. Walking with Christ is characterized by steady progress in discipleship. Biblical Doctrine (Col. 2:8-10) …

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Weekly Wisdom [02.02.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. [Philippians 4:9]. Book of the Week Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul “The Bible is the written Word of God, and it is …

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What Billy Graham Would Have Done if He Served as a Local Pastor

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Billy Graham has preached to over 215 million people in more than 185 countries in his lifetime.  His impact for Kingdom work is significant.  Have you ever wondered what he would have done if he served as a local pastor instead of an evangelist?  He was asked that question years ago and his response was recorded in Robert Coleman’s masterpiece, The …

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Discipleship in the New Testament

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[Guest Post by Bryce Staggs – Rocky Creek Pastoral Resident]

The writers of the New Testament show an importance in discipleship using the word “disciple” over 260 times and the word “Christian” only 3 times. We echo that discipleship is important, but do we know why it’s important, what we should teach, or how to do it?

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Disciples Don’t Quit Until They Reach Maturity

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Colossians 1:24-2:5 Disciples Don’t Quit Until They Reach Maturity The goal of the Church is to present every disciple as complete in Christ.  Working with the power God provides, we are to disciple one another with the goal of spiritual maturity. Christian suffering means that you are receiving the attacks that the world would give Jesus if He was still …

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Weekly Wisdom [01.26.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. [Colossians 1:29]. Book of the Week MultiChurch: Exploring the Future of Multisite I was given this book by a great friend.  It is a great read on where this …

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Coming Down the Mountain

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Preached at North Greenville University Chapel 1 Kings 18-19 After Elijah experienced God move mightily upon the mountaintop, his joy was short-lived due to following opposition.  God’s instruction to Elijah during his depressed state provides direction for our own troubled souls. Main Points Anyone can follow God during the revival, but only mature believers can follow Him during the routine. …

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When We All Get to Heaven

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I love studying the stories behind hymns. The story behind “When We All Get to Heaven” gave even more depth to the text. Eliza Hewitt was born on June 28, 1851 in Philadelphia.  Her exemplary grades gave her the opportunity to teach school.  After a few years, her life was changed by a normal day on the playground with her …

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Discipleship in the Old Testament

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While the word, “discipleship,” is not found in the Old Testament, the concept is embedded from the very beginning.  God’s people were to pass on a legacy of faith to the following generations.

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Jesus Holds All Things Together

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Colossians 1:15-23 Jesus Holds All Things Together Not only were we created through Jesus, but we were also created for Jesus.  As he holds all things together, even our spiritual growth is kept from shifting when it is placed in his hands.    “What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you.” …

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Weekly Wisdom [01.19.18]

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Need some Weekly Wisdom?  Here are my favorite resources of the week. Verse of the Week Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise [Proverbs 6:6]. Book of the Week Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches by Mark Clifton This book was a resource I heard from NAMB.  I have been talking with friends about what it would …

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Do They Believe You Believe It?

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I’ve often heard: It’s not what you say but how you say it. Well, yes and no.  It’s most important what you say.  But if you have something good to say – something true to say – shouldn’t it alter the way you say it? David Hume, a well-known Scottish philosopher and historian in the 18th Century, who was also …

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