One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Romans 6. I particularly love the beautiful portrait it paints of baptism. There, the apostle Paul presents baptism (immersion in water, as defined by the Greek term that’s used in Romans 6, for the purification from sin) as… Participation in the Gospel of Christ – just […]
Last week I was in a Discovery Bible Study with a couple of people, discussing a portion of the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4. The story presents a beautiful portrait of Jesus as he pays no attention to the cultural, ethnic, gender, and social biases that govern too many of […]
Do Christians today still have to follow the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament? That may seem like a ridiculous question to ask, but popular mega-church preacher and author Andy Stanley answers with an emphatic “no!” And he is completely wrong. Over the years, I have learned some helpful things about leadership, organization, communication, and […]
Colossians 3:1-17 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, […]
Our congregation is making a major push to inspire and equip our members to read the Bible with each other and with others who might be interested in reading Scripture. There are many reasons why we’re doing this, but I was recently reminded of an important reason that often goes unnoticed when I read a […]
On Monday I wrote about a man who read a passage of Scripture during a worship service this past Sunday. Now, that may not seem like a big deal to you – but it was a huge deal for this man! Like many people, this man is very uncomfortable standing in front of a large […]
Psalm 103:1-5 says… “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and […]
Last week my daughter attended church camp and came back wearing this shirt: I love it! Isaiah 41:10 is such an inspiring Bible verse, especially to those who are enduring the kind of struggles that breed fear. That verse says… “…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; […]
My dog Henry loves to mow the lawn with me. Every time he sees me put on my mowing hat, he starts jumping up and down and yelping excitedly because he knows that we’re going to his favorite place – outside! When he was a puppy Henry couldn’t seem to figure out that, when it […]
