Dependence: Acknowledging Your Desperate Need
In our discipleship efforts, we never reach the point where we can depend upon our own strength. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.
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Discipline: Training Your Soul’s Habits
God has created us for and called us to unique tasks. As particularly gifted and positioned disciples, we each should pursue the needed maturity to do what God has called us to accomplish.
Development: Cultivating Your Needed Maturity
God has created us for and called us to unique tasks. As particularly gifted and positioned disciples, we each should pursue the needed maturity to do what God has called us to accomplish.
Doctrine: Strengthening Your Uncertain Beliefs
While we all know some degree of biblical knowledge, we each should probably know a little bit more by now. Committed disciples need to strengthen any uncertain beliefs by targeted study.
Disobedience: Confronting Your Sinful Leanings
While we all struggle with sin, we are each prone to wander in different ways. For those confronting disobedience in their own lives, God provides a path of escape through every temptation.
Delight: Finding Your Necessary Motive
If unhealthy expectations fuel our reasoning for spiritual growth, we will eventually stall out. Our growth must be motivated by delight rather than obligation.
Help for the Uniquely Stagnate Christian
If you feel like you are stuck in your Christian walk, then it is time to start moving again. The solution for spiritual stagnation is distinctive discipleship.
Pursuing Personal Integrity
David desired to see holiness restored among God’s people, and so he decided to start it by focusing on himself. If we long to see revival, we must pursue our own personal integrity first. Psalm 101 101 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me?I will walk …
Worship Is a Lifestyle
David had experienced God’s deliverance repeatedly during his life, and so have we. Such a constant help deserves more than an occasional offering. Psalm 34 34 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he …
If We Got What We Deserved
While we honestly hope that others receive what they deserve, do we really want that for ourselves? David cried out to God because he was fully aware of his own need for mercy. Psalm 28 28 To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me,lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.2 Hear the …
If We Would Just Listen to God
As we rejoice in who God is and remember what He has done, it should often call us to repent of the sins we have committed. Many of our personal struggles could be avoided if we would just listen to God. Psalm 81 81 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the …
Denying God Leads to Redefining Good
David dismayed the effects that atheism has on a person and on a society. People often deny the reality of God so that they can redefine the commandments of God. Atheist– believes there is “no God” Agnostic– believes there is “no knowledge” to determine if God exists Practical Atheist– denies God with a careless lifestyle Psalm 14 14 The fool says in …
No Shortcuts for the Righteous
David warned worshipers not to envy evildoers when their lives seemed prosperous. We must learn to trust God for His provision and forsake any unrighteous shortcuts during challenging times. Don’t Envy the Unrighteous [Ps. 37:1-11] Don’t envy unrighteous people, because while their present might seem pleasurable, their future is painful (37:2, 8-10). When you delight yourself in the LORD, He gives you the desires …
Restored Strategy
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Closing Celebration Matthew 28:16-20 As Jesus sent His original followers out with the task to make more disciples, He sends us out the same way today. Our restored strategy must involve a lifelong pursuit of discipleship. As Jesus sent His original followers out with the task to make more disciples, He sends us out …
God’s Grand Plan to Restore
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Day 4 Worship Luke 24:13-35 The sacrifice of Jesus was never a Plan B to God’s redemptive work. The entire message of the Bible and the complete history of the world is working towards God’s grand conclusion of restoration. The sacrifice of Jesus was never a Plan B to God’s redemptive work. The Bible …
Why Was This Wasted?
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Day 4 Morning Celebration Mark 14:1:1-11 Jesus is restoring His Creation, and He has invited us to be a part. Any offering given for Jesus should ever be counted as wasteful. Too many believers are giving their best away to lesser pursuits. You will never give Jesus an adequate response if you are worried …
The Turn That Will Decide Your Life
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Day 3 Worship John 3:1-18 In our efforts to find restoration, there are many possible paths we could travel. While many voices will entice you to follow, only turning to Jesus will give you the life you were intended to live. There is only one turn that can save your life. You can’t follow …
Who Do You Think Jesus Is?
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Day 3 Morning Celebration Matthew 16:13-23 While everyone has an opinion of Jesus, we need God’s truth more than we need our opinions. Instead of trying to edit the God of the Bible, we must learn to embrace the God of the Bible. Our culture worships the Wiki God. We want ever so desperately …
The Most Broken Part of Your Life
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Day 2 Worship Mark 2:1-12 Living in light of the letdowns of this world, we desperately want Jesus to fix the broken parts of our lives. While we focus on specific areas we want Jesus to address, He is fully aware of the source of our greatest brokenness. More than you need God to …
Why Do You Call Me Lord?
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Day 2 Morning Celebration Luke 6:46-49 Referring to Jesus as Lord is not the same as obeying Him as Lord. Our lives crumble when we fail to apply the truth from His Word. Referring to Jesus as Lord is not the same as obeying Him as Lord. All of us go through storms, but …
God’s Design for Your Life
Fuge Camp at Liberty University – Opening Night Matthew 22:15-22 Cultural forces and religious traditions war for our allegiance. Above all of our manmade expectations, God designed each of us to reflect something very specific. Above all of our manmade expectations, God designed each of us to reflect something very specific. The religious Pharisees and the political Herodians couldn’t stand …
The Greatest Is the Nearest
While God’s transcendence is amazing, His immanence is astonishing. The most surprising thing about our exalted God is how close He comes to ones like us. The transcendence of God means that He greatly surpasses our human worth and experience. The immanence of God means that he is intimately close to us. Psalm 113 113 Praise the Lord!Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise …
Rediscovering Joy
As David encountered testing trials, he confessed that his sure hope in this life and the next was in none other than the LORD. If we desire to rediscover joy, we must reorient our focus upon the only one who can provide it. Psalm 16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.2 I say to the Lord, “You are my …
The Proper Perspective for the Troubled Life
Psalm 39:1-13 – When David was overwhelmed with God’s discipline in his life, he maintained a proper perspective and took it to God through prayer. Don’t talk to everyone else about your troubles while neglecting the one who can fix them.
How Should We Handle Unfaithful Members?
As we commit to a local church, what happens when we fail to represent Jesus? The Bible is clear on expectations of how we are to confront one another to avoid drifting spiritually. Current Trend Every believer has an unspoken list of sins that is acceptable and a pronounced list that is unacceptable. Christians tend to protest the sins outside …
Why Do I Feel Disconnected at Church?
As a church grows larger, how do you avoid getting lost in the crowd? Our relationships in the church will only grow according to how intentional we are. Current Trend The larger a church becomes, the easier it is to remain anonymous. People expect to make instant relationships with a church without the patient intentionality that is necessary. Discipleship doesn’t …
Is Church Membership Even Biblical?
While the phrase, “church membership” is not in the Bible, the concept grounds the New Testament message and methods. Devoting yourself to a local church is essential for your soul and helpful for your congregation. Current Trend We have sold an incomplete gospel if we advertise the potential of avoiding hell while giving permission to ignore the church. Many people …
How Much Should I Prioritize Church?
With so many expectations on us, what does committing to a church realistically look like? As we study the early church, we will see God’s intention that the church is to be more than a service you casually attend. Current Trend Devaluing the priority and the purpose of the church has dramatically decreased our expectations and effectiveness. Worldly standards have …
It’s News Too Good to Keep to Ourselves
In the concluding comments of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus commissioned the disciples to take the gospel into all the world. If we continue to follow Jesus, He will lead us to people and places that need to hear the gospel. Options for Mark’s Ending Why is the ending of Mark so uncommon from the rest of his book and missing in …
The Tomb Is [Still] Empty
As the women came on Sunday morning to anoint the deceased body of Jesus, they were shocked to realize that the tomb was empty. All of our faith and purpose in life is wrapped up in the belief that the tomb is still empty today. Our lives will be determined based upon what we believe about the resurrection of Jesus. …
Why Jesus Died
When followers of Jesus sought to care for the body of Jesus, Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus died so early in the process. Â Scripture teaches us not only why He died so early but also why He died so willingly. Mark 15:40-47 40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary …
The One Jesus Didn’t Save
As Jesus hung upon the sinner’s cross, people ridiculed His inability to perform one more miracle and escape His death. The greatest miracle of Jesus’ ministry was His commitment to forsake salvation from the cross so that we could experience salvation by the cross. Mark 15:21-39 21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the …
I Am Barabbas
Intending to rid himself of the responsibility of Jesus’ death, Pilate assumed the people would choose Jesus over Barabbas to be the one prisoner released at that year’s Passover. Instead, the people chose to free a sinful criminal and condemn the sinless Messiah. Mark 15:1-20 15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the …
Why People Abandon Jesus
Judas betrayed, the disciples fled, the people accused, and Peter denied. After all Jesus had done for this world, the world abandoned Him. Mark 14:43-72 43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.44 Now the betrayer had …
Gospel-Centered Parenting
What a privilege to serve New Prospect Baptist Church in Inman, SC at their Gospel-Centered Parenting Event. Here are the notes for the 3 sessions on parenting with purpose. #1. Faith of a Child [Deut. 6:4-9] – How do you create your home to be an environment to help nurture the faith of your children? In this session, learn practical …
A Passover Table in the Presence of His Enemies
Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate the Passover and to institute the Lord’s Supper. The head of the table not only recalled the Passover sacrifice, but He showed them that He was the true Passover sacrifice. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5). Mark …
Were the Whole Realm of Nature Mine
As Jesus prepares for His sacrificial offering on the cross, Mary prepared a sacrificial offering for Him through an alabaster jar. As followers of Jesus, there is no gift too extravagant to lay before our Savior. Mark 14:1-11 14:1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were …
No One Has Jesus’ Return Date on the Calendar
People have attempted to predict the end times, but Jesus assured that no one will know the precise time. While we don’t have the exact details of Christ’s return, we can hold the certain reality of His return by faith. Mark 13:24-37 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give …
It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Providing the people with signs of the times, Jesus prepared them for coming persecution. Jesus taught on the coming end times, not to increase our anxiety in the future, but to increase our activity in the present. Mark 13:1-23 13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and …
Giving Much Doesn’t Require Having Much
The rich and distinguished people in Jesus’ day believed that their worldly affluence provided them with divine acceptance. When Jesus praised a poor widow’s offering, He revealed that the heart of giving is more important than the amount of giving. Mark 12:35-44 35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the …