Don The Testing of Your Faith Produces Patience — James 1:2-4 Read the text carefully. Joy is not in suffering trials. Joy is in knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Patience is a steadfast spirit that enables one to keep going and going, even when it is difficult: strong persistence. To acquire such character would be … Read more
Confession part 2 — What’s it mean to confess Christ? Remember that the word confess means to openly admit, declare or assert one’s own conviction. What does it mean to confess Christ? Quite literally it means that you declare what you believe about Him, openly. Of course to properly and accurately confess Christ one … Read more
Confession — its Part in the Gospel The word confess means to admit, declare or assert one’s own conviction, openly. Note first that confession is personal. If it is true confession it is the declaring of things personally known or believed, one’s own conviction. Secondly, notice that confession is an open declaration. How open, … Read more
How Do YOU Read the Bible? There is a difference in reading the Bible to stimulate one’s own thinking and reading the Bible learn God’s will. The first one makes us feel better. The second makes us better. Our world is teaching us that the path to truth is inward — discover your self! That is … Read more
WoW! Things are a little crazy right now. The uncertainty of life and the fragile nature of our world has slapped us in the face! We are not in control of our own personal or collective destiny. However, the most important things of all have not changed. Consider Psalms 16. It closes with these … Read more
Nobody likes to be corrected, right? “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1). Ouch! I think I just got “corrected!” The beauty of the Proverbs is in the indisputable lessons they teach. Proverbs are written in a way that forces us to see things as they are. Try … Read more
Why Does God Allow Sin to be in this World? I do not know of a specific statement in scripture that gives a reason. So, I cannot give you a definite answer. What the Bible does say may give us an indication of possibilities. Please understand, I must be careful not to presume too … Read more
What Does God Require of YOU? There are various statements scattered throughout the Bible that so capture the essence of our relationship with God, that they stand significantly and timelessly, representing the whole of our duty to Him. Hear these words from Micah, a prophet in Israel: “And what does the Lord require of you … Read more
I’m getting some help in lesson prep! When should children begin to learn God’s Word? Children should begin to learn the Word and Way of the Lord as soon as they are able to learn anything. An understanding of God is not one more thing among many that children need to know. God’s truth must be … Read more
Another Peaceful Protest When Jesus began His ministry, he launched His own “peaceful protest.” It was called preaching the kingdom of God. He called for change. He called for love of one’s enemies. He called for forgiveness. He called for kindness toward strangers. He called for a uniting of all people in one body. … Read more
