Who should a Christian be? What should a Christian do? We often wrestle over these questions, but the answer should be pretty clear because Jesus was once asked about the greatest commandment. His answer:
Your pastor needs your prayers. I’ve taken a prayer from The Valley of Vision and edited it so that it is not a prayer for a pastor to pray for himself, but rather for church members to pray for their pastor. I pray that this prayer is beneficial for you and I know that it …
There. I said it. I finally got it off of my chest. Parents, be warned. Jesus warns that anyone who “causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” Jesus’ …
Mark 9:42-50
The reality and evil of sin are often lost on our modern culture that focuses on pain and therapy instead of sin and redemption. Sin is a problem because God is holy.
TBQ: Why is sin such a big deal?
Mark 9:38-41
We don’t have the market cornered on ministry. We do mission and ministry in ways that are dictated by our particular theology and our preferences. Just because some choose to minister in ways that are different than ours doesn’t mean that they are wrong.
The Big Question: What is ministry?
The medium is the message. No one wants to hear you stand up and give a Billy Graham impression. You’re not Billy Graham. But, you can preach God’s word. He has called you and gifted you. He’s set you apart for this sacred task. You don’t have to be anyone else, just be you, the man that God has called. Trust that he knew what he was doing when he gave you this task, and go preach his word with your voice.
Dirty? God’s not worried about dirt. He loves you, dirty as you are, and cleans you up. See, this is the love of God, the love that you and I are called to give. Not wedding day kind of love. That’s fun and pretty. God loves us with hospice kind of love. He loves us enough to clean us when we can’t clean ourselves. He loves us enough to spoon feed us when we can’t lift the spoon. God loves you enough to love you even when you don’t love him.