THE SPIRIT OF SELF-CONTROL
Is self-control a work of the flesh or the Spirit? How much control should we have over our behavior?
WHO ARE YOU?
When all that defines you as a unique individual comes tumbling down, what’s left? Is there something better to rest our identity upon?
TOUCH NOT THE LORD’S ANOINTED
If you get tired of your pastor or frustrated with his leadership, should you try to run him off? Few would answer “yes”, but, in essence, that is what many church folks do to their man of God.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS FIGHT?
With a secular culture’s demand for Christians to capitulate or be quiet, there is a church culture demanding Christian niceness. But is that really the calling of the hour? Is there a time for Christians to fight for the truth?
THE PROMISE OF PLEASURES
It is not wrong for Christians to seek pleasure. God Himself is a God of pleasure! He feels it. He desires for His people to feel it, both now and forever.
A PASSOVER PATH TO DELIVERANCE
When we are in slavery to some besetting sin our natural tendency is to shy away from God, go cold, and avoid His disappointment, but the Passover event shows us another way.
JESUS, OUR KING, BOTH LOVES AND HATES
Do we throw the word “hate” out of our language too quickly? Does Jesus ever have hate in His heart? The answer might surprise.
ZEAL FOR THE LORD
When confronting evil with the zeal of the Lord we must be confident in our beliefs and calling.
REALITY REORDERED
When we are faced with the reality of a dire situation in our lives it smacks us in the face. That is reality! But it is not the final reality! The story of Esther teaches us that God is able to reorder our reality.
REVELATION LEADS TO LIFE
The false beliefs that we embrace move us to automatic action that results in bad habits and addictions. How can we clean our minds up from the mess inside? It is a process, and we have Divine help.
REDEEMING AND OPPOSING THE WICKED
Is it conflicting goals to attempt to redeem the wicked while at the same time opposing them? The Bible gives, and Jesus models, the answer.
NEGOTIATING WITH GOD
Lot and his family were in danger of being caught in the destruction of Sodom. When angels told him to leave he kept hesitating and asking questions, yet God in His patience reasoned with him. Might He sometimes do the same with us?
COURAGE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
What do we do when when intense resistance comes against our work for the Lord? Do we quit or try to compromise? Do we assume God’s not in it? Not Nehemiah. He has courage for the glory of God.
DRIFTING TOWARD DEAD ORTHODOXY
The danger of a Christianity without a vibrant relationship with Jesus is that we drift toward a lifeless religion of rules and doctrines that have little power to keep us, and our children, interested in what really matters.
DRIFTING TOWARD LEGALISM AND LIBERALISM
As Christians we can drift in two dangerous and seemingly opposite directions - legalism or liberalism. Both can be devastating to a vibrant relationship with Jesus.
HOW TO KEEP FROM DRIFTING: The Application of Focus
We easily drift away from God, but there is something we can do to keep this from happening. The answer might surprise and will probably seem too simple.
COMPROMISED OR STRENGTHENED
Part of discipling the nations is to point out evil, which comes across a bit intolerant and creates enemies who give us significant opposition. While we are told to love them, we are not to let them stop our mission.
BETTER THAN ANGELS
It is so easy to focus on many aspects related to the spiritual and miss the Greatest One behind it all.
THE GENEROSITY OF GOD
What is Christmas really about? Here is an angle you may or may not have considered.
A TIME TO BUILD: OUR ASSIGNMENT
There is a time to build in the Kingdom of God, but when resistance comes and pressures mount, we are tempted to quit. Why? Nehemiah gives us a hint.