NUGGETS
Want to Be like Jesus? Be Gentle. – “As we picture what it means to man up and be a leader in the home and in the church, gentleness isn’t, for many of us, a defining element of that picture.”
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Category: Forgiveness/Bitterness
NUGGETS – Self-Forgiveness
“I can accept God’s forgiveness, but I just can’t forgive myself.” How often do we hear this in today’s world? Yet, is this a biblically correct way to think about forgiveness? This week, I helped a counselor-in-training think through this
Continue readingBitter Root, Rotten Fruit
Hebrews 12:15-17 warns, See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like
Continue readingWhat about Restitution?
In the past few weeks, we visited the book of Philemon twice. There we learned of what true, gospel-motivated forgiveness looks like in both heart and actions. One of the actions we saw modeled by the apostle is restitution. Restitution
Continue reading10 Aspects of Gospel-Centered Forgiveness
Matthew 6 records some of the most alarming words ever spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. In the portion of His teaching which has become known as the Lord’s Prayer, He instructed the disciples to regularly pray for forgiveness. He
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6 Qualities of the Posture of Forgiveness
The Holy Spirit was kind to include the very personal letter of Philemon in our Bible, as a case study in forgiveness practiced the way Jesus commanded. Three Main Characters There are three main characters in this true story of
Continue readingJesus Is Not Ashamed of You
Hebrews 2:11 contains one of the most surprising statements in the New Testament. It says Jesus is not ashamed to call us His siblings. Why does the Bible make this statement, and how can it possibly be true? Before we
Continue reading6 Truths about Forgiveness
“Over and over again in the New Testament, Christians are reminded that God has forgiven all their sins through Christ’s death. And time and again, too, Christians are commanded to forgive.” So writes Julia Marsden, author of the little 10
Continue readingSermon on Bitterness
A gentleman in our church recently told me that he has listened to this sermon many times and it has changed his life. It’s called Bitter Root, Rotten Fruit and has been downloaded over 10,000 times since it was first
Continue readingNUGGETS (January 28)
Here are some resources that blessed me this week: Financial Disciplines: Remember Your Marriage – “Leaving a good financial legacy behind is worth striving for, but it’s far less valuable than the legacy of lifelong faithfulness. So learn to be
Continue readingThe New Standard for Forgiveness
The refusal to forgive is a common problem among professing Christians and the #1 reason many conflicts remain unresolved. Therefore, it is essential for every believer to consider the most significant passage in the New Testament on this topic. Please
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10 Things That Are True When I Confess My Sin
What is sin? One definition is that sin is anything within me, or an action produced by me, which fails to bring glory to God (Romans 3:23). Whenever the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of your heart to see your
Continue readingFlashback Friday – Two Sides of Confession & Forgiveness
[Here’s a flashback from 2011.] Here at the blog we have been thinking much the past week about forgiveness and the root of bitterness that grows in its absence. Today, let’s think about what may be the two most important
Continue readingSeven A’s of Confession
My week has been pretty crazy as I prepare for a teaching trip to Ukraine. So, I trust you will pardon me for cutting and pasting from my class notes. The following is a bite-sized portion from the lesson entitled
Continue readingHow to Become a Citizen of Heaven
A passport is a powerful document. It certifies a person’s citizenship and carries authority to travel to foreign countries. While visiting other countries as a guest, your citizenship remains, along with a certain amount of protection that your country’s government
Continue readingFlashback Friday – 4 Fears that Block Forgiveness
Fear is a crippling form of unbelief that usually leads to many other sins, one of which is the unforgiving spirit that leads to resentment and deep-seated bitterness. How does sinful fear hinder the experience of true forgiveness? Answering this
Continue reading“Accept Jesus,” or “Be Accepted By God”?
Nothing is more important than understanding what the Bible teaches about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What we understand and personally believe about this historical and supremely spiritual event determines our eternal destiny. Therefore, there is no
Continue readingFatherhood of God: Forgiveness
“But You are a God of forgiveness,” the Levites prayed on behalf of the repentant people of God (Nehemiah 9:17). What a marvelous declaration! The spiritual leaders continued to describe their covenant-keeping God: “Gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and
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