ARTICLES
Sweet Aroma or Pungent Odor?
Spring is supposed to bring flowers with their bright colors and pleasant aromas. A relationship with Christ is supposed to produce within His followers “the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Excited About Empty
I got into our car only to discover that the gas tank was nearly empty. I was not excited about empty. Recently I reached into a granola bar box only to realize that it was empty. I was not excited about empty. Empty is not usually exciting, but every year at this time, Christians are very excited about an empty tomb.
Mercy in a Me-First Generation
A Me-First mentality is incompatible with an awareness of the need for or an appreciation of mercy. The Bible paints a completely different picture of the human condition.
Resolution Responses
Good servants of Christ “train for the purpose of godliness.” Training is neither natural nor accidental, but deliberate and intentional. Let’s be intentionally spiritual in 2019!
Remember Joy
Christians should have a monopoly on joy because of what Christmas celebrates: The coming of a quite literal bundle of Joy, Jesus our Lord and Savior, bringing joy to the world.
Thanksgiving, Even in Tribulation
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul admonishes the believers… “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” “Everything” must include triumph as well as tribulation. Consider two ways that suffering profits God’s people.
The Dark Path of Covetousness
When we covet what our neighbor has it takes our focus off what we have and puts it on what we think is missing. The covetousness forbidden in the 10th commandment is basically a form of the idolatry forbidden in the first, where we ignore God’s provision to us and look to objects or status for our ultimate satisfaction and identity.
Humbly and Boldly Unashamed
It seems that the longer we have been a follower of Jesus, the less likely we are to speak up boldly about what He has done in our lives.
Live On Purpose
Psalm 90 gives us incentive to live purposefully, which begins with a right standing with God and continues with right living with God.
Prayer As A Priority
Our proclivity to participate in what we deem profitable reveals that gathering as a church family to pray is not very high on the priority list.
Set Free
Our celebration of Independence Day has come and gone, but I wonder if we know what it really means to be “set free” in our personal lives.
Don’t Just Come to Church…
BE the church. Here’s how.
Who We Are Instead: The Bible’s Antidote for Racism (and Other Bad Ideas)
In the Bible, we read about divisions of race and ethnicity, but none of this was part of God’s good creation. While Scripture describes racism, sexism, and supremacism, it prescribes a solution through understanding who we really are.
Doorways
Inevitably, death’s door opens for us, but Jesus’ resurrection means those who trust in Him will have their own resurrection and can enter without fear.
Easter Enthusiasm
Mid-way through Lent I wonder if any of us who profess to be Christians are “seasonally challenged”—a bit confused by what we are doing in this season. Confusion can dampen our enthusiasm, so as we approach Easter I want to clarify two possible areas of confusion.
Destination Sickness (and the Cure)
We are routinely dissatisfied with where we are, who we are, what we have, what we are doing, and where we are going. What is the cause and cure of our condition?
The Perfect Gift
The “perfect gift” is not one we give, but one that God has already given.
Come and See
Invitations can be simple yet powerful. Jesus’ first disciples encountered the Lord through the simple invitation to “come and see.”