“I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” —Philippians 3:8 Spiritual knowledge of Christ will be personal knowledge. I cannot know Jesus through another person’s acquaintance with him. No, I must know him myself; I must know him on my own account. It will be an … Continue reading Do You Know Jesus Christ Personally?
“Godly sorrow works repentance.”
—2 Corinthians 7:10 Genuine, spiritual mourning for sin is the work of the Spirit of God. Repentance is too choice a flower to grow in nature’s garden. Pearls grow naturally in oysters, but penitence never shows itself in sinners except divine grace works it in them. If you have one particle of real hatred for … Continue reading “Godly sorrow works repentance.”
Why do we pray the Lord’s Prayer regularly?
The Lord’s Prayer serves as a regular component of corporate worship. Why do we regularly use this prayer? Simply put, Jesus taught his followers to pray this prayer. We avail ourselves regularly of the Lord’s Prayer because it instructs us: That prayer should always begin with adoration before it moves to petition. That prayer must … Continue reading Why do we pray the Lord’s Prayer regularly?
Praying for Your Church: A Flourishing Community of Grace
Click here: A Prayer Guide through Colossians 3:12-17 It is very sad and unfortunate that many view Christianity primarily as a moral code instead of the grace-filled relationship that it is. I, for one, grew up thinking that becoming a Christ-follower involved keeping rules with clenched fists. However, I have come to learn that … Continue reading Praying for Your Church: A Flourishing Community of Grace
Praying Scripture | Matthew 25:31–46
Preparation: Pray and Read Through Your Passage Record your prayer for God’s help. King Jesus, we desire to be those who are eternally blessed by your Father. So, we ask that the door into your everlasting kingdom be opened for us. Give us the grace to hear your Spirit speaking to us through your Word … Continue reading Praying Scripture | Matthew 25:31–46
The Power of God in a Manger and God on a Cross
When sin entered the world, alienation and hostility began to characterize mankind’s relationship with God. Left to our natural selves, our eyes are blind to true beauty, our minds are hostile to God, and we are dead in our trespasses and sins. This succinctly describes our desperate condition before our hearts are opened to believe. … Continue reading The Power of God in a Manger and God on a Cross
The Fear of the Lord
How do we navigate life well and all of its decisions with God’s wisdom? Many will say: “Listen to your heart.” Just a few verses earlier in Proverbs 14 we read: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Our hearts can and often deceive us … Continue reading The Fear of the Lord
Do You Believe the Bible is God’s Word?
There are forces afoot today that would cause you and me to doubt the veracity, authority, and sufficiency of the Bible as God’s Word. This phenomenon is not unique to our time. Recall the tactics of the ancient serpent in his temptation of Eve in Genesis 3: “Did God really say?...” Therefore, it behooves us … Continue reading Do You Believe the Bible is God’s Word?
The King’s Cure for Hypocrisy – A Prayer Guide through Matthew 23
Here is a tool to pray through the dangers, the burden, the root, and the cure for hypocrisy. It is a challenge we all face! https://app.box.com/s/im3x6koeuucwqyqqhqqhf6xxuqgy4n8l
A Burden-bearing God!
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens" (Psalm 68:19). How wonderful it is to know that our God is a burden-bearing God. What is the burden you are carrying today? By prayer, you can cast it upon the Lord who promises to sustain you (Psalm 55:22). Jesus invites … Continue reading A Burden-bearing God!