Have you ever heard someone described as a ‘Strong Christian’? Are you like me and you wonder what that’s like to be a ‘Strong Christian’? When I look at The Cross and I see what was necessary for my salvation, I hesitate to think of myself as ‘strong’. Up against the reality of our lives, we are needy, we don’t measure up, we fail the test. But the good news is ...
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Experts have said that walking can help keep you in good shape physically. Now, you won’t move as quickly as you would if you were running. But it’s a regulated motion that moves you forward gradually; slowly but surely. That is a picture the Bible often uses to describe the Christian life. It’s walking with God. And if we want to walk with God, then we must stay in harmony with Him. ...
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No matter how much positivity you have in your life these days, if you turn on the news, you're bound to feel stress and negative emotions rise. That's why it's more important than ever to cultivate positive emotion daily with simple choices that trigger happiness.
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In the last verse of Psalm 23, David declares, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life …” (v. 6). He’s reminding himself of the truth that our Shepherd is always behind us, weaving goodness and mercy into our misery and mess. We’re accustomed to talking about the importance of us following Jesus, but equally important is that he follows us.
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We live in a world that’s often full of anger, confusion and frustration, sometimes seasoned with moments of hope, love, and joy, and often both at once. Yet we hold on to this idea of perfection. Why? I believe that in the core of us is the DNA of the Cosmic Lover, pulling us toward that hope. Pulling us toward love without limits.
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The idea that any family is just one generation away from decline needs no other example than the children of Israel. When Deborah rose to prominence as a prophetess and judge, the rebellious generation of Israelites that fled Egypt had died in the wilderness.
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Joshua knew what it meant to stand his ground against the surrounding culture. Today, we need an entire generation of Joshuas—men and women who will stand boldly on the Lord's promises and teach their children to know, honor, and trust Him.
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The Bible says, “The righteous man walks in his integrity,” and in this passage, we see Abram doing just that. He believed the Lord and lived out the claims of his faith. How do we come by such a virtue? Integrity should certainly be taught in the home, but it becomes solidified through experience.
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Many teach the importance of a second blessing from God or the need for a special anointing. However, this is inconsistent with the Gospel. When we believe in Jesus, we are given everything we need for life and godliness including the fullness of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:3-4; Ephesians 1:3, 13-14).
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One frequently overlooked benefit of consistent Bible exposition is that the preacher’s faith and practice is tested by every text. Over the long haul, everything I have ever taught has had to survive the scrutiny of the Scriptures. By God’s grace, I’ve been able to teach through every verse of the New Testament (using the Old Testament for support and examples)
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