“When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to … Continue reading Persistently Pleading to a Gentle Jesus who Delights to Answer Prayer
Faith
The Danger of Worldliness & Becoming What You Worship
Worldliness is whatever any culture does to make sin seem normal and righteousness to be strange. When we embrace the Zeitgeist (the spirit of the age) of worldliness, it feels strange to think like a Christian. Acting according to the Bible’s mandates becomes difficult. When we think the world’s thoughts after it, our actions align … Continue reading The Danger of Worldliness & Becoming What You Worship
All Saints’ Weekend
Your church may not use the church calendar throughout the year and that is perfectly fine. Therefore, you may not know that this past Friday was All Saints’ Day. This day is a very special day for me because it reminds me to give thanks to the Lord regularly for those whom God used to lead … Continue reading All Saints’ Weekend
The Dark Night of the Soul (Psalm 42-43)
The dark night of the soul. This phenomenon describes a malady that the greatest of Christians have suffered from time to time. It was the malady that provoked David to soak his pillow with tears. It was the malady that earned for Jeremiah the name, “The Weeping Prophet.” It was the malady that so afflicted … Continue reading The Dark Night of the Soul (Psalm 42-43)
Strategies for Our War Against Temptation
If you are facing temptation today, these words of challenge from John Piper which I have edited just a bit are sound, biblical counsel. Your temptation may be to grasp for power when you feel vulnerable, or to succumb to lust, or to despair when something doesn’t work out like you had hoped: Here is … Continue reading Strategies for Our War Against Temptation
Praying Scripture | 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
At the beginning of 2023, I am beginning a sermon series on "What Matters Most." The first thing that matters most is that we possess true, saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. According to the below passage, the possession of true, saving faith in Jesus not only transforms our ultimate destiny but also how … Continue reading Praying Scripture | 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Transforming the Fearful into the Faithful – A Prayer Guide for John 20:19-23
Praying Scripture | John 20:19–23 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his … Continue reading Transforming the Fearful into the Faithful – A Prayer Guide for John 20:19-23
Do Not Forsake Me Until I…
Recently I led a group of men through a study of Psalm 71 on "What do you hope for and what do you live for?" The Psalmist prays: "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those … Continue reading Do Not Forsake Me Until I…
Psalm 14 and the Miracle of Your Salvation
This morning devotional reading took our small group through Psalm 14. It starts like this: The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who … Continue reading Psalm 14 and the Miracle of Your Salvation
How Jesus Followers Face Injustice
The crescendo of voices crying out for justice in our land reminds me of Jesus' parable of the persistent widow against whom a great injustice had been committed and the unjust judge. Widows back in Jesus' day were very vulnerable and often taken advantage of. The Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge Jesus says, in … Continue reading How Jesus Followers Face Injustice
2Cherish2Commend 