The Monday after Easter is filled with joy for pastors. We had the opportunity to preach to packed sanctuaries and auditoriums and to see people we have not seen in a while. There were grandchildren and friends from out of town. There were new clothes and pictures. And, there were several people in most congregations …
You are responsible for your own spiritual fitness and maturity. That is a pretty direct statement, but after several weeks working through the beatitudes, it has become increasingly clear that Jesus demands a degree of personal responsibility. You are not responsible for your own salvation. You are not responsible even for the conviction of sin …
I was recently asked to provide a reading list for a young pastor. I should begin by saying that, even though I am an avid reader and lover of books, some important aspects of ministry will only be learned through experience. Also, as a lover of books, I want to remind everyone that nothing can …
The second Friday in January is called Quitter’s Day. Why? It is the day each year by which most Americans have given up on their New Year’s Resolutions. So, I’m writing to you on the second Monday in January and urging you to keep going. I’m hoping the that many of you committed to reading …
What is a Christian? Maybe in your culture, you have been led to believe that a Christian is someone who was born into a Christian family. Perhaps you think a Christian is someone who attends church. If you watch enough news, you might even believe that a Christian is someone who lives in a particular …
Note: This is a Bible Study you do on your own, or you can use in your small group, with a friend, or with your family. There are discussion questions and even some family application included at the end. Introduction Maybe you’re not old yet, but your body regularly reminds you that you aren’t young …
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Those words of Jesus have haunted me for the last week. Parents, where your treasure is, there your heart will be. But we can also say, “Parents, where your treasure is, there your children’s hearts will be also.” What do you treasure, parents? I remember …
Over the last several months, several teenagers in our church have made difficult decisions to prioritize their commitment to Christ and his church over other opportunities in their lives. Some have chosen to prioritize church over special sports opportunities. Others have missed out on social commitments to choose Christ’s church. A few chose to not …
Are you a Christian? If so, do me a favor and work diligently to be a good Christian. This isn’t some sort of works-based theology. In this scenario, I am much more concerned about how you represent Christ to the world around you. If you claim to be a follower of Jesus, then for the …
“Do you know we haven’t had biscuits in four weeks?” That question was posed by my oldest son last week. Angela (my wife) has spoiled our children. She has them on a regular Saturday morning rotation of biscuits and pancakes. One week she bakes homemade biscuits, the next week she makes pancakes. Every Saturday. Everyone …