Posts Tagged ‘Discipleship’
Growing Toward Maturity
Many elements helped contribute to the immaturity that is evident in the American church today. The accommodation with pop culture, an infatuation with self, an overemphasis on “reaching the youth,” and the adoption of a consumeristic mindset when it comes to the local church are just a few key aspects that have led to where…
Read MoreGod Made Boys and Girls, a review
“Mommy, let’s get this book!” My three-year-old daughter exclaimed as she pulled a sparkly pink book about drag queens off the library shelf. Visit the library these days, and you’ll quickly find that the children’s section is unashamedly promoting the youngest readers to accept an unbiblical worldview concerning gender and sexuality. Marty Machowski’s book, God…
Read MoreFace to Face
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend (Exodus 33:11). And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face (Deuteronomy 34:10). Coram Deo are two Latin words. The word coram means, before or in the presence of,…
Read MoreDon’t Follow Your Heart!
A man is not a murderer because he kills; he kills because he is a murderer. For out of the heart come murders (Matthew 15:19). A man is not an adulterer because he cheats on his wife; he cheats on his wife because he is an adulterer. For out of the heart comes adultery (Matthew…
Read MoreThe Christian Mission
Our Twofold Task for the Ages Productivity apps, gurus, journals, and training courses are in high demand because we live in a busy, distracted age. Our task lists are long, and even super-organized, but how many of our tasks are important or necessary? How many prevent us from doing what may be the most important…
Read MoreHow to Deal with Criticism
Criticism has a unique way of controlling us. One critical word and we want to rethink everything we believe or stand for. Ironically, I have been criticized for being overly critical at times. Unfortunately, I have passed this “gift” on to my children. Somehow over the past 11-16yrs of their lives, they have become genius…
Read MoreThe Correctives of Intentional Discipleship, Part III
The most well-known statement of the Great Commission is the one given in Matthew’s Gospel: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you…
Read MoreSeeking the Praises of Man
Are you a people-pleaser? Do you struggle with living more for the praise and approval of men, more than God? In my devotional reading this morning, in John 12, I read of highly respected religious leaders of Christ’s day struggling with this very problem. “Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in [Jesus], but because…
Read MoreThe Correctives of Intentional Discipleship (2)
Too often the discipleship that takes place in our churches comes only by osmosis – if one hangs around long enough she will catch on to the Bible’s story, important doctrines of the faith, and tenets of Christian living. This series has advocated that our discipleship be intentional (see here) and has suggested that a…
Read MoreThe Leadership Crisis: Searching for Answers (2)
Many are writing about the rapidly growing leadership crisis in America’s churches. In part one of this series, I suggested that there are two glaring omissions in many of our lives and churches that contribute significantly to this vacuum of leadership. These two omissions may even create or encourage other causes pointed out by other…
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