Kids want to be rock stars because they want to hear applause and screams about how great they are. They have to think up silly poems to sing so they have something to sing. Real artists have worked long and hard to gain the skills needed to be able to speak through music or paint or ink or clay or […]
Regarding being awesome today, May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.(2 Thessalonians 3:5 HCSB ©®)
The Spirit of Jesus is at work convincing some people they are guilty of sin. Other people, He is at work convincing that His sacrifice paid for their sin. Others, He is working to convince He can free from their sin and foolishness. Your preaching needs to line up with His when you approach someone. If you are preaching that […]
When the sun is shining into your window and brightly lighting up your room, you cannot close the blinds and trap the light in the room with you. If you close off the source, you close off the benefit. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you; […]
Stanley Jones once said that the future is in the hands of those who care. Solomon once said that a good man leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren (Proverbs 13:22). Focusing only on today has benefits, and Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow. The prayer He taught His disciples included prayer for today’s bread. Not worrying about tomorrow is […]
Jesus considers you when He considers Himself. He taught Paul to understand something of the mystery. When Jesus introduced Himself to Saul, Saul was on his way to Damascus, with letters of authority from the chiefs of Israel to imprison and/or kill followers of “The Way” of Jesus. In effect, Jesus introduced Himself and His people in the same statement […]
Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those […]
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, in order to know what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.(1 Corinthians 2:12-13 HCSB ©®) Show […]
When Peter stood before the huge crowd of people who heard the Spirit fall on believers on Pentecost morning AD 1, he quoted a prophet and then told them who Yeshua was. Some of them responded, “Brothers, what must we do?” (Acts 2) Peter’s answer was not “Come down front,” nor “Join the seekers’ class,” nor “Be ready to be […]
Jesus chose the cross. He chose miserable death over glorious life. After He partook of the lamb at the Passover meal, He stepped in line behind millions of lambs who had been sacrificed by Israeli families through the centuries. As He went forth from the table to the sacrifice, the weight of the cost became more clear than ever. When […]