Follow One Master
To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, we must willingly leave behind all that this earthly life may promise, and choose to follow Jesus as our Lord and Master. This requires both a recognition of who Jesus is, and who
Continue reading“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24
Shepherds Gone Astray
The book of Jeremiah is essentially a long essay on apostasy. What is of particular interest is its evidence of the incredible power of leaders to influence people for good or for ill. The prophet begins with a pathetic description
Continue reading8 Books that Helped Me in 2018
My reading goal for 2018 was 34 books, but I did not make it. But from the 27 that I was able to finish, here are eight that impacted me. They are listed in no particular order. Psalms By the
Continue readingStrength Equal to 2019
This brief post is from C. H. Spurgeon’s devotional Checkbook of Faith. I was encouraged. I hope you will be, too. “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25). Here
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Four Gospel Truths You Must Believe and Teach to Your Kids
When thinking and speaking of the good news, always keep the following four truths in mind: God is holy and righteous; we are sinful and rebellious; Jesus is the answer; but we must respond. God is holy and righteous. Understanding
Continue readingYour Child’s Greatest Need
Your child’s greatest need is the one you are powerless to meet. The sooner you come to grips with this reality the better. Sometimes parents think of salvation from sin as God throwing a life preserver to people who are
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Is Everyone Awesome?
From almost every angle (movies, TV, YouTube, school) our kids are receiving the same basic message. They hear that every child is his or her own independent, self-sufficient, self-directed, self-governing person. Like a scratched vinyl record, the world expresses related
Continue readingNUGGETS
Legalism Is Easier, the Gospel Is Better – ” Legalism allows us many of the benefits of Christianity like community, acceptance, and even grace, but it stops short of true salvation. It doesn’t truly penetrate your heart and change your
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Gunpowder Stored Up in Your Heart
“The source of harsh speech is a harsh heart.” So writes John Crotts in his very helpful book, Graciousness: Tempering Truth with Love. Biblically speaking, all of our speech originates in our heart (Prov. 4:23; Matt. 12:34). Therefore, we must
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The King Is Coming
The past three Sundays, we’ve been in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke learning from God’s gracious plan for Zacharias and Elizabeth, and their promised son, John. Perhaps you may find a use for these messages, as you
Continue readingNUGGETS (12/14/2018)
Hard Times at Harvest – This is a long, sad article. Let it be a warning to all pastors and elders as to the destructive power of bullying and financial mismanagement. The Power of Christ-Centered Joy – a recent preaching
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The 50% Lie – “You’ve heard it repeatedly on radio, podcasts, and TV. You’ve read it in various books and articles. You’ve even heard it in your pastor’s sermon. The problem: it’s a lie.” A Hidden Epidemic God Hates –
Continue readingChoosing Biblical Subjects for Meditation
Psalm 1 testifies of the immeasurable value of mediating on Scripture. The person who habitually ponders the truths of God will be like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf
Continue readingResponding to the King of Kings
The last book of the Bible reveals what it will be like when Jesus returns (Rev. 19:11-16). Though containing details not previously revealed, this vision of the future, which John received from the Spirit of Jesus, is not new. Moses
Continue readingNUGGETS (11/26/2018)
How Do Pastor’s Pick Their Fights? – “We need pastors and elders who have enough self-control to avoid needless controversy, and enough courage to move gently and steadily toward conflict.” 5 Discipleship Dont’s – “In the church, discipleship is key
Continue reading25% off ALL Shepherd Press Publications Until November 30th
Just thought I’d pass on some good news. Shepherd Press, publisher of the LifeLine mini-books and several of my books, just announced a Black Friday WEEK of savings: 25% off everything. Print this entry
Continue readingEvery Pastor, Counselor, and Ministry Leader (and every Christian) Should Read this Little Book
This past May, at the Basics Conference at Parkside Church, I picked up a copy of a new book from Reformation Heritage Books. The book’s simple, one-word title caught my eye. Nothing in my memory indicated that I’d ever seen
Continue reading4 Ways to Return to the Word
In Nehemiah 8, we see the beginnings of spiritual revival, which comes as the people return to the Word of God. At this point, the Jewish people have been in exile for many years, but they have begun to return
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