04/06/18 Knit Together
READING: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalm 59 “Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship.” 1 Samuel 18:1 It is difficult, if not impossible, to explain…
Read MoreREADING: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalm 59 “Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship.” 1 Samuel 18:1 It is difficult, if not impossible, to explain…
Read MoreAs a young pastor, I faced the unexpected wrath of a church member who couldn’t believe I used notes when I preached. “I want a pastor who only follows the Holy Spirit,” she told me—and then never returned to the church. Since then, I’ve debated pros and cons of using notes, and I’ve preached both ways.
Read MoreREADING: 1 Samuel 13-16 “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 Perhaps…
Read MoreTo be honest, I don’t know any leaders who don’t struggle at some point with ego. The problem is that ego is like a trickle of water—what starts out small erodes the surface a bit, grows in volume, and creates a problem before we ever recognize it happening.
Read MoreREADING: 1 Samuel 9-12 “Bring charges against me before the Lord and his anointed.” 1 Samuel 12:3 These past few weeks, I’ve been thinking much about life…
Read MoreI remember the excitement I felt when I started pastoring my first church. In no way could I have adequately explained the zeal of my calling. Too often, though, pastors start out like I did and then quickly lose their passion for the ministry task.
Read MoreREADING: 1 Samuel 4-8 “So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated.” 1 Samuel 4:10 I wonder if I ever treat God as if He…
Read MoreChildren and students are part of the church now, and we’ll lose them if we don’t minister well to them today. Here are eleven ways to strengthen your children’s ministry:
Read MoreREADING: 1 Samuel 1-3 “I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.” 1 Samuel 1:16 It’s hard to explain what it’s like…
Read MoreThis past Friday—Good Friday, 2018—we laid to rest my mission partners and friends, Randy and Kathy Arnett. Yesterday—Easter Sunday, 2018—Jeanette Harvey, my beloved mother-in-law,…
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