'bible' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
Spiritual Amnesia
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give you–a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, wells dug that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant–and when you eat and are satisfied, be careful not to forget the Lord who brought…
Suffering for Doing Good
Why do we struggle? Does it mean we did something wrong? Not exactly! 1 Peter 3:13-14 says, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed” [NIV]. We struggle to be like Christ, carrying our own cross. Matthew 16:24-25 says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.…
Charles Stanley – Favorite Pastors Series
While coming up with a list of favorite pastors for this series, there was always one who was a “shoo-in,” one who I never had to debate on whether or not I would include on this list. The man to whom I’m referring passed away today at the age of 90 to be in the presence of Jesus. Of course, I’m talking about none other than the legendary Charles Stanley. Dr. Charles Frazier Stanley was a renowned pastor, theologian, and…
Wisdom & Folly – The Need for Discernment
“‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’ To him who lacks sense, she says,” – Proverbs 9:4 [ESV] In this chapter of Proverbs, the wise man provides us believers with a beautiful contrast to aid us in our life’s journey. Here he depicts Wisdom at the city’s highest point, beckoning to the passersby, mainly the simple saying, “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!” To the one who lacks sense, she invites into her chambers to receive knowledge and instruction. At…
Don’t Overthink What Could Go Wrong
I just finished watching the 1997 movie “Good Will Hunting,” where a young math genius is a troubled man with a history of criminal activities and abuse from his foster families. Matt Damon’s title character (Will) meets a psychologist named Sean (played by the late great Robin Williams) to help Will find direction in his life. The plan was made to help Will find a career that can showcase his mathematical ability, but Will doesn’t go that route. Sean was…
Larry Rice – Favorite Pastors Series
PHOTO BY NICK SCHNELLE Next in my series of favorite and influential pastors might be a surprising one for many: Larry Rice. The Reverend Larry Rice is a well-known figure in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, where he has put his faith into practice by spending over four decades advocating for the homeless and marginalized. As the founder and director of the New Life Evangelistic Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, food, and other services to those…
Voddie Baucham – Favorite Pastors Series
This begins my series on my favorite pastors, where I will feature important, influential, and trustworthy Bible teachers and preachers who have lived in my lifetime. To kick things off, here is a bit about Voddie Baucham. Dr. Voddie T. Baucham, Jr. is a prominent pastor, theologian, and author who has gained a reputation for his uncompromising stance on biblical truth and his ability to communicate complex theological concepts in a clear and understandable way. He was born on October…
For the Joy That Lay Before Him
“Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” – Hebrews 12:2 [HCSB] I believe many within Christendom are owed an apology. Somebody, somewhere at a certain time, drastically transformed the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and gave it a makeover, removing all its unwanted experiences. Somehow, they got…
It’s Okay to Doubt and Wonder About God. But Don’t Dwell In It.
Doubting the existence or power of God is a natural occurrence that many individuals experience at some point in their lives. Some people may find themselves questioning the validity of their beliefs due to personal experiences or events happening around them. Doubt can be a healthy part of spiritual growth, but it is important not to remain in doubt indefinitely. The Bible encourages believers to seek answers and reassurance rather than letting doubt have a tight control of their faith.…
Favorite Pastors Series
I’m really excited about an upcoming blog series that will showcase, post by post, who many of my favorite pastors and Bible teachers are. This collection of articles aims to tell you about many men of God who have not only been encouraging and edifying to me personally but ones whom just about all Christians should take a strong listen to. Of course, I want everyone reading this who is a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to be…
Why Aren’t More Men Involved in Men’s Ministry?
In the 5+ years that I’ve been directly involved with men’s ministry leadership, it’s often disheartening to see a general lack of interest from Christian men in any type of spiritual focus on them. Books have been written on it (Pastoring Men by Patrick Morley is an excellent read), and men’s ministry proponents are regularly confounded about why men aren’t engaged more. Often, the average Christian man sees that attending a Sunday service is adequate…that is if he even makes…
God’s Way Of Peace
In the book of Philippians 4:7, the apostle Paul writes about a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that can only be found in God. This peace differs from the temporary peace that the world can offer us. It is a peace that is grounded in the knowledge and trust of God’s character and promises. God’s version of peace is not the absence of conflict or hardship but rather the presence of calmness, assurance, and trust, even in the…
2 Kings Chapter 23 – A Picture of Revival
This chapter details the reforms Josiah, King of Judah, made in response to the finding, reading, and rededicating himself to the Book of the Covenant. What immediately sticks out is that this adequately depicts what revival looks like. One revivalist said, “revival is nothing more than a recommitment to God in obeying Him in all things He has revealed.” In other words, revival starts in the heart of a man or woman who commits to doing things God’s way. It’s…
How Can a Husband Forgive His Wife
Marriage is a sacred bond that God designed to be a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman. However, marriages are not perfect, and couples will inevitably face challenges and conflicts. When these challenges arise, forgiveness becomes an essential ingredient for a healthy and thriving marriage relationship. Forgiveness is the foundation of reconciliation and restoration. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how a husband can forgive his wife from a biblical, Christian perspective. First and foremost, it is essential…
How To Be Sexually Pure As A Man
Sexual purity is an essential aspect of any man’s life, and it is a concept that is emphasized throughout the Bible. God has created sexual intercourse to be a wonderful, holy, and precious thing in a marriage between one man and one woman. But anything that deviates from that is outside of what God intended and fits in the broad category of sexual immorality. Sexual immorality includes any sexual activity outside of marriage, including pornography, premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality, and…
Invited To Be Ignored
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” – Luke 10:38-40 [ESV] Luke, the…
How to Hear the Voice of God and Learn to Obey Him
In Isaiah 30:21, the Bible states, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” This verse serves as a reminder of God’s guidance and encouragement for us to take action in our lives. God wants us to be active and proactive in our faith, for us not to sit back and wait for things to happen. He desires us to trust Him,…
Small Groups – How to Start and Run a Discipleship Group
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” – Matthew 28:19a [ESV] Jesus’ call to make disciples wasn’t merely to do a quick, one-time job of evangelizing and making converts. It was a full-fledged directive to build up lifelong followers of Himself, who love Him, listen for Him, and obey His every command. One of the best ways for us as believers is to get together into smaller groups where we can learn and grow together by studying God’s Word,…
Our Forgetfulness; His Faithfulness
“Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember?” – Mark 8:18 [HCSB] There is a distinct contrast between God’s faithfulness and man’s forgetfulness. I believe it’s easy for us to be forgetful because we don’t have the benefit of eternity. God knows the end from the beginning, but not so with us. We occupy time and space in a limited format, where the past to us is the…
Lord, I Hate Buttermilk!
Here’s a famous tale of a pastor visiting some of his church members, who happened to be a young family of simple farmers, along with some other congregants, for a big Saturday morning breakfast. The pastor asked the farmer man, who was decked out in well-worn bib overalls, to say grace for the meal. “Lord, I hate buttermilk,” the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer…