Discipleship
Building A Life of Stewardship
What do you own that you did not receive? You might respond, “But I have worked hard to gain what I now possess!” Where did you get the ability to learn what you now know that allows you to work hard? Where did you get the health and strength to carry out the tasks?…
Read MoreThe Prerequisite for Spiritual Passion
The Prerequisite of Spiritual Passion Text: 2 Kings 4:1-7 Since we have arrived in Zambia, I have heard several people make comment about wanting to experience a spiritual breakthrough. It seems to be a common expression here and around the world, but what do people mean by it? Well, there are many things, but here…
Read MoreAccomplishing The Mission of Jesus
Do we really understand the desperate needs that exist around us? Late one afternoon staff at Faith Children’s Village brought a lone visitor to see out Administrator. The young visitor was a little girl, 11 years old. She had walked all day, crossing the Kafue River to find this place where she heard that people cared for…
Read MoreThe Calling of the Church
Back in 2010 I received an envelope in the mail from our local courthouse. Inside was a letter stating I was being summoned to appear at the courthouse on a specific date for a specific purpose – to serve as a member of the jury of fellow citizens who would decide the guilt or innocence…
Read MoreThe Beginnings of Despair
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. The way down to despair is always predictable and preventable. Just as there is a way down, there is also a way out!! We don’t have…
Read MoreThe Church is a Field: The Goal is Quantity
We have all seen the signs along the road saying, “Have you eaten today? Thank a farmer.” There is a lot of truth to that sign. We all need food to survive, to stay healthy, and to grow. As a boy, I grew up on a family farm. I remember the year my Dad told…
Read MoreFinding Freedom Through Forgiveness
How do you react when you are wronged? Do you feel sorry for yourself? Perhaps you become angry? Maybe you don’t blow up but you become critical and judgmental of the one who offended you? Do you develop a complaining spirit? Perhaps your personality is to bottle it all up inside? Do you replay the…
Read MoreFinding Freedom That Lasts
Have you ever felt trapped? Perhaps you reached a low point in a particular inner spiritual struggle where you said to yourself: “I’m tired of reacting/saying/thinking/doing _______ and I’m going to make a change in my life!” But before you knew it, you were repeating the same cycle all over again! If Satan can get…
Read MoreOvercoming Discouragement
Have you ever felt discouraged, perhaps to the point of bordering on depression? It may surprise you to know that you are not alone. At one time or another we all face this problem. William Ward graphically described discouragement when he wrote: “Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust…
Read MoreThe Attack Continues…
The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” Why does John keep talking about the opposition to Christ? By the time you get to Chapter 8 this continued attacks on Jesus seems monotonous until you realize what the Pharisees are doing. When a guilty party (Pharisees) wants…
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