Do this. Don’t do that.
Shop here. Don’t shop there.
This is acceptable. That is an abomination.
Is this really what following Jesus is all about?
Don’t get me wrong. Christianity does have a moral code. That’s undeniable.
And that moral code is not popular. Not by a long shot. The Bible is clear that the moral code is contrary to the flesh. By definition it goes against the grain of fallen human nature.
But Christianity isn’t moralism. Continue reading
That’s the truth.
The Scripture tells us how to find the strength to carry on. We need to consider Jesus so we won’t grow weary and lose heart.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3, Bold added)
As I consider Jesus and the hostility He endured it gives me strength to do the same. Three events stand out the most to me. I pray they will encourage your heart as you consider Jesus and run your race today. Continue reading
These are powerful concepts. Organizations that want to be successful need to skillfully employ them to get people to participate.
This same strategy is often used in local churches.
Many pastoral job descriptions include casting vision. Successful churches often have mission statements as a focal point of all their church ministries and literature.
Do you have a mission statement? Does your church?
Do you know God’s mission statement? Continue reading
If we’re going to let Jesus have His way in His church then we need to stop playing defense. We need to focus on playing offense.
Look carefully at what Jesus said about the nature of His church: “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).
Gates are defensive structures. They are built to protect their own territory. Jesus plainly said that He would build His church. This building would happen on the rock of people confessing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
As Jesus builds His church people will come out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light (1 Pet 2:9-10). The gates of Hades will not be able to stop the advance of Christ’s kingdom expansion. Continue reading
The question is about priorities.
Which takes precedence for you: your faith or your patriotism?
I’m not asking you to abandon one or the other. I am asking you to be honest with yourself and answer this question: Is your life more defined by your Christianity and the Lord you claim to serve, or by the American dream, and your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
How would your family answer this question about you? What about your coworkers? Your neighbors?
How would those who read your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any and every other aspect of your public life answer that question about you? Continue reading
(This post originally appeared on Fourth Year Ministries blog)
A question we must wrestle with is how do we measure success?
Perhaps you’re expecting me to diminish a focus on numbers and reaching the multitudes and emphasize spiritual factors that are harder to quantify. Things like spiritual maturity and growth in Christ’s likeness.
Actually, I’m not suggesting that we focus on or emphasize either to the neglect of the other.
If the Bible recorded your life story how would it describe you?
David is described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Joseph, Mary’s husband, is simply described as a righteous man (Matthew 1:19).
Nabal lived up to his name which simply means “fool” (1 Samuel 25:25).
So how would the Bible describe you if your life was recorded in its pages? Continue reading
Another Easter Sunday come and gone. Next Sunday almost everything will be back to normal. Attendance will shrink back. Extra services will be stored away until Mother’s Day and/or Christmas.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Maybe it won’t always be.
We can’t change our culture in an instant. We also can’t make other people’s choices for them. That’s a fool’s errand.
What we can do is examine our own choices, attitudes, and actions. We can – by the grace of God – be changed. With that in mind I want to invite you to celebrate Resurrection Monday.
No, it’s not a new holiday I invented. I won’t try to sell you candy, gifts, cards, decorations for your home, or any other such thing. Continue reading
One of my priorities as a Dad is to help my children learn to walk. I take this seriously. Our sixth child walked the earliest so far. She was walking one day before she was 9 months old.
We’ll see if I can have our seventh walking before that.
My wife doesn’t always share my enthusiasm. With so many young children in the house it can be nice to have a few that are limited in their mobility.
However, I figure they’ll never move out if they can’t walk on their own. Might as well get started as soon as we can. (I’m mostly kidding.)
I want my children to grow to maturity. I enjoy helping them take their first steps. I also enjoy watching the momentum build as they grow more and more into who God designed them to be.
This is true in my household. Also in the household of faith.
I don’t invite people to attend our church.
Does that seem strange to you?
It’s not because I don’t want people to come. I do. We don’t turn people away. We feel incredibly blessed whenever someone chooses to gather with us.
It’s also not because we want to keep our congregation as small as possible. I look forward to the day when people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people gather to worship our God together in unity. Worshiping among the multitude that no one can number is going to be awesome. Truly.
But inviting people to church is putting the cart before the horse. It has deep implications on our gatherings. I believe it’s harmful.
So, I don’t invite people to come to our church. I invite people to come to Christ.
Howell Bible Church 