prayer

Living for God’s Glory

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Note: This blog post is based on a sermon originally preached on June 15th, 2025.

🎧 Listen to the full sermon audio here

Lessons from Jesus’ Prayer in John 17

Introduction

On Father’s Day, we explored one of Scripture’s most intimate passages—Jesus’ prayer in John 17. Known as the High Priestly Prayer, this chapter reveals Christ’s heart as He prepared for the cross. In a culture that often diminishes fathers and challenges biblical manhood, this passage offers profound encouragement about purpose, identity, and God’s love for His people.

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Empowered Evangelism

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When the Spirit Opens Doors

Have you ever wondered why 95% of Christians have never led anyone to Christ? This statistic hasn’t changed in 20 years, and it grieves me every time I teach on evangelism. But what if the problem isn’t that we don’t know enough or aren’t bold enough? What if we’ve been missing a crucial biblical pattern that connects the Holy Spirit, prayer, and effective witnessing?

In week three of our “Out of the Fire” evangelism class, we explored this vital connection. What emerged was both convicting and encouraging: God wants to open doors for His word, and He’s already equipped us with everything we need to walk through them. Continue reading →

Hallowed Be Thy Name

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Growing up, I said the Our Father prayer a lot.

A lot. Multiple times a day.

It was part of my religious tradition. Most of the time, I mumbled it as quickly as I could.

For what it’s worth, my Dad tried to help me understand that mumbling the prayer without understanding what it really meant wasn’t the goal. He wanted me to understand it. He wanted me to mean it.

I remember sitting with him in the car one afternoon while we went through every phrase. He did his best to explain to me what the terms meant. Why we would say these things. Why it mattered.

It didn’t take. Continue reading →

Show Me Your Glory!

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Show Me Your Glory

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 →

Praying For You

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hypocritesI don’t want to be a hypocrite. Do you?

Merriam-Webster gives a simple definition: “a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs.”

The full definition?

Full Definition of hypocrite

adjective

  1.   a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

  2.   a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

If I say I am praying for you but I don’t actually take the time to pray for you then I am putting on a false appearance of religion. I am acting in contradiction to my stated belief by stating that prayer for you is important then not following through.

If this is true for me then it is also true for you.

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Different Pursuits

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two points of view

Earlier this week I attended a prayer rally with one of the elders of our local church and two of my children. It was a great event at the capitol of our state. There were thousands of people there. We all prayed for our nation. Our prayer followed the pattern Nehemiah prayed in Nehemiah 1.

We started by confessing the sins of our nation. There are many.

We then moved to a time of confessing our own sins. These, too, are many.

Then we confessed the sins of our fathers. You guessed it. Many.

We were seeking the grace and favor of the living God in obedience to His commandment to His people to pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NET)

In the midst of praying for this it struck me that while many of us were praying the same things we were not necessarily praying in unity. Our prayers were on the same topic. They were not necessarily for the same pursuit. Continue reading →

Worthy of the Lord

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Blessed road

Jesus is not a supplement. He is not an additive. He did not come to enhance or improve your life.

Jesus came to give you a new life.

When we get this confused we may offer a version of Jesus to people that will make them comfortable. Happy. Satisfied. Sometimes people try to convince others that Jesus is worthy of being included in their current life.

Jesus is much, much more than a life-enhancer. He is the life-giver.

Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father. Our sin separates us from our Creator. Jesus willingly gave His sinless life as a substitute on the cross to endure the wrath we deserve and give us the gift of His perfect righteousness.

He makes those who receive Him worthy by His life. He qualifies us to receive an inheritance in the kingdom of God. As a result we are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.

Many people don’t truly understand grace. They think grace is primarily permissive. They think it allows us to sin and be forgiven. This is only partially true. Continue reading →

The Power of Unbelief

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Mr. Skeptic

Unbelief is one of the most powerful forces on earth.

That may seem odd. But it’s true. There is a section in Mark’s Gospel that makes this so clear. Read it for yourself in Mark 4:35-6:6.

Mark records Jesus calming the wind and sea with a word. The disciples respond to this display of power with fear. They ask one another,

“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4:41)

It’s a good question. The demonstration of Jesus’ power is just beginning. The answer will become more and more clear to them. Continue reading →

Will Jesus Find Faith?

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I’m not the first person to ask this question.

Jesus asked it Himself.

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8b, NET)

Jesus wasn’t having a crisis of faith. He wasn’t experiencing doubt in His identity or mission. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8b, NET)

Jesus wasn’t asking if He would find faith internally. Jesus asked if He will find faith objectively and externally to Himself on earth. So, will He?

What exactly is Jesus looking for? Continue reading →

Politics & Religion

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SHHH

When I was growing up I was taught that you don’t talk politics or religion. At least, not with strangers. Better to keep these topics “in-house.” Only bring either of these up when you know the people you are conversing with already agree with you.

If you’re not careful these two topics can be polarizing. It can get heated pretty quickly.

After becoming a Christian, I found out that followers of Christ are commanded to talk religion. It’s the Great Commission. We are supposed to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.

We can’t do that without opening our mouths. We have to talk about it. We have to tell people about Jesus. Who He is. What He taught. Why it matters.

I also found that when followers of Christ are humble and loving in their evangelism that many people – even strangers – don’t mind the conversation. Surely, some people still get pretty upset whenever someone talks about Jesus. But this isn’t new.

Experience has taught me that politics can sometimes be much more treacherous territory than religious talk. That’s not what concerns me. Continue reading →