Sometimes we look for happiness in people, position, possessions, or our overall prosperity. We might never get these things the way we want them, or we can easily lose them when we have them. Either way, if they become our joy, our joy can be quickly lost. We should find contentment in the Lord Jesus…
We are always making an impression whether we realize it or not. Over thirty years ago I experienced this truth when a man visited the church at which I was on staff for several weeks during which he heard announcements for an upcoming men’s retreat, at which there would be golf for those interested. In…
The Ideal What kind of men and women does the Lord use mightily in ministry? In answer to this question, we tend to think of individuals who seem very different from us. We might envision a strong, gifted evangelist who boldly preaches Christ to the masses. Perhaps we think of a rugged, pioneer missionary who…
In addition to the prayers of our Savior, the prayers of the apostle Paul offer excellent material for the Christian to study if he seeks to grow in his prayer life. Paul’s prayer for the Philippian believers is one such example. Found in Philippians 1:9-11, it is full of theological material for any Christian to…
“Are those wild camels?” Our questions must sound ridiculous to the native tour guides. As we ascended the heights of Mount Nebo in our tour bus, the guide patiently answered. “There are no wild camels in Jordan. Camels are very valuable. One camel costs 5000 US dollars. They all belong to someone.” As I…
Jude’s purpose for his letter his clear: “I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). What is “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints,” what does it mean to “contend” for it, and why…
One of the reasons that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth was to address the sexual sin that was tolerated by the fellowship. He wrote “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. …
Rick Warren is making a splash in recent days over something his church, Saddleback Church, did last year, ordaining women to the pastoral ministry. That happened on May 6, 2021. Subsequently, Rick Warren retired as pastor, installing Andy Wood as the new senior pastor with Wood’s wife, Stacie listed as a “teaching pastor” at the…
The Fall in the garden seriously marred the image of God in man and made man an object of God’s just wrath (Eph. 2:2, 3). But from eternity past God has had a mission. He is on a mission to redeem and restore fallen people to the likeness of His Son to the praise of…
In Romans 3, the Apostle Paul confronts the logic games that he knows that the Jews would make regarding the nature of their Jewish privilege. The contention of the Jews is that they inherit the promises of God by blood. He argues it is by faith and that unbelief does not mean that God is…