In our world today, it often seems like everything has been turned upside down. The idea of truth or morality can change like the wind. Our culture has become a place where anything goes—and it usually does. We have even changed the way we speak about these changes. At first, it was tolerance, then acceptance, and…
“His mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’” 1 Chronicles 4:9 In 2000, Bruce Wilkinson came out with a book, “The Prayer of Jabez” It was subtitled Breaking Through to the Blessed Life. The actual prayer that Jabez prayed was, “…’Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!…
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. We live in a world that often encourages us to focus on what we don’t have. So, it’s easy to overlook the blessings we do have. As Christ followers, gratitude isn’t just an attitude—it’s a spiritual practice…
In Luke 5, it says that Jesus would withdraw to desolate places and pray. We are encouraged to enter our prayer closets to pray. I believe that means that we are to seek to be present with God and not be distracted when it comes to spending time with God. Why is this so hard?…
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:14–15 I believe the goal of every church is to see its congregation united by love and ruled by…
As I prepare my sermon each week, I spend time in prayer and wrestling with what God is saying to me and what I believe He wants me to say to you. Often, this leads to a lot of material. Since I am immersed in the text, the points seem obvious to me. However, I…
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2 As we continue our study of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we came to this verse about the importance of prayer. Prayer is one of the primary means by which we communicate with God, both bringing to Him our thanks,…
I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) Philemon 10-11 In the letter that Paul wrote to Philemon, both he and a man named Onesimus were in prison together. Onesimus was…
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” Colossians 2:9 Sunday we looked at how the church in Colossae was using a mash-up of Christianity, bad Judaism, and paganism in their church. They believed in what Jesus did for salvation, but added to it rules (Judaism) and strange rituals (paganism) to “help” God…
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7 I believe that we have all heard of the Energizer Bunny – that pink bunny drumming on and on. The message is that because of those batteries, he doesn’t…