Articles
Abandoned for Our Sake
Abandoned for Our Sake by Steven Furtick I was talking to someone who grew up largely without a father. His father was abusive to him in his early years, and then the father died. I asked him, “How do you think it affected you to be abandoned by your father?” He...
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit . . . You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last” (John 15:8, 16) The meaning of the Greek word for glory (“doxazo”) here is “to be revealed...
“For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (BLB). God has written an epic poem – you. The word “workmanship” in this passage is the Greek word “poiema” from which we get...
PASTORS AND PIETISM: KEY TO SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, Part 6
Copyright © 2018 Roger Helland The Influence of Pietism Pietism as a late 17-18th century renewal movement was a powerful tributary that unleashed a torrent of church renewal that flowed into an ever-widening missional river. It helped incite and irrigate the great...
“Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness.” – Psalm 29:2b & 96:9 (KJV) Holiness is beautiful to God for the same reason rainbows are beautiful to us – the refraction of light. Holiness in us is the refraction of the glory of God’s character through the prism...
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls. (Psalm 42:7a NIV) Tourists standing inches apart on the platform overlooking Niagara Falls have to shout to be heard. Lovers, however, can be yards apart and understand each other instantly with but a meeting of the...
Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be lightly esteemed. (1Samuel 2:30b NIV) Honor in this passage is the idea of weightiness – who or what holds the weight of influence in ours lives. We honor God by honoring His word (Lk. 6:46-47). Here’s...
“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves . . . but our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5) Confidence comes from competence. But, there’s the rub; God never calls us to a task for which we’re...
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27 NASB) When Jesus spoke the word, “peace,” storms stopped and seas stilled. This is the peace He offers us....
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Change is inevitable but growth is optional. Gas and grocery prices change daily. Our jobs, health, and finances can change without warning. Of course, there’s the...
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion . . . and everlasting joy will be yours.” Isaiah 61:7 (NIV) Guilt and shame are the natural responses of our inner justice system that demands that wrongdoing (sin) be punished. The problem is that we don’t want...
Forgive
“Forgive one another . . . Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col 3:13 (NIV) We receive all of the blessings of God’s grace when we receive Jesus (Eph. 1:3). However, in God’s economy, our personal experience of those blessings is proportional to our giving them away....
Why Worship Matters by Louie Giglio
Why Worship Matters by Louie Giglio When the subject is worship, the stakes are high—because worship is what God is all about. Worship should matter to you simply because it matters to God. And worship matters to God because He knows He’s worthy. I know that doesn’t...
BattleGround
‘“This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.’ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 3:17-4:1 NIV) Here’s a biblical pattern; battleground follows holy ground. This is because God measures our maturity, not by...
Service
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1Peter 4:10 NIV) In God’s economy what we give away comes back to us in increasing measure. When we use our spiritual gifts to serve others...
Resisting Conflict
By Darlene Franklin, who wrote prayers for, A 12-Month Guide to Better Prayer for Women (Barbour Books), is scheduled for a February 1st release. Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12, NIV Like a church, life inside the...
Purpose
Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. (Psalm 25:12-14...
Vision
“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, so he may run that reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV) Have you ever noticed that there are some people who accomplish more in a year than many people do in a lifetime? We often rationalize that these high achievers are...
Commit
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3) The Hebrew word translated “commit” in this passage literally means, “to roll out.” When a Hebrew in ancient times wanted to present a gift to someone they would roll it up in cloth or...
Courageous
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9b NIV) Nothing hinders our efforts as much as fear and discouragement. Most of the time our fear is the paralysis of analysis. We...
