Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts (Jeremiah 15:16, esv). It’s not enough to own a Bible. Or hold it. Or carry it. Or even respect it. You […]
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42, ESV). What is fellowship? We use the term loosely but often fail to think about what it means. Fellowship isn’t red punch and cookies in the church basement (though many of us grew up with […]
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7–8, esv). Imagine if your daughter came to you and said, “Dad? […]
This is the will of God, your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3a, esv). Often discussions about God’s will seem to revolve around answering life’s big questions like where we go to college, who we choose to marry, which job to take, which house to buy, what our kids’ lives will be like when they grow up […]
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6, esv). If you’re a follower of Jesus—if by faith you have turned from your sins and received His forgiveness—I have news for you. God is after you. He’s still pursuing […]
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4, ESV). In Philippians 4:4, Paul made his point quickly and clearly. “Rejoice . . . Rejoice!” Preachers can relate to using repetition. Sometimes while preaching we survey the congregation and wonder, Are they getting it? So we repeat ourselves to make sure they’re tracking. […]
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11, nasb). In sports, they call it “playing not to lose”—trying not to make mistakes, being hesitant to take risks or push the boundaries, doing just enough to win. Yet in almost every case, it’s a sure way […]
Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing (John 9:6, esv). The call to live for […]
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10, esv). God promises in His Word to bless the giver—He just comes right out and says it. Not once or twice but numerous times. Yet as […]
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths (Proverbs 5:21, esv). That’s right, God sees you. He “ponders all [your] paths”—He doesn’t miss a single detail of your life. He hears your conversations with your spouse. He sees your checkbook. He knows your unspoken fears. Your […]