Sometimes all it takes is one key phrase to spark an entire sermon. Christmas preaching is no different. This year, try looking at the phrases you might be tempted to skip over—there might be enough material to ignite all of your Christmas preaching in just one passage. Take Luke’s famous account of the annunciation: In…
Thanksgiving posts always seem to sound like such a scolding: we ought to give thanks. Think about all the things you have and all other people who have nothing. There, now: give thanks. Don’t concentrate on what is missing, be grateful for what you have. There, now: give thanks. Ungrateful people are losers. There,…
Doubt kept me from indigestion because I had to take things one bite at a time. Here are four things Thomas taught me about doubt.
Church Planting lessons can come from the least expected sources. For example, my 5th-grader. I asked her to clean her toy closet. What I gained was valuable insight into how to welcome people of all kinds. Like most children, she resists cleaning-up anything. And like most children, she has perfected the art of procrastination. No…
We began to see the issue was fruit, not knowledge: God was concerned with the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.
The Apostle Paul uttered the inspired phrase, “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom . . .” So why are we still obsessed with man’s wisdom?
“Repent” is the first word of the good news. That means preaching repentance is part of the good news! Faith and hope come as we rethink our way of life based upon what God has already done.
Teshuva is the Hebrew word for repent, or return. In its various forms the root of teshuva is used nearly a thousand times in the Old Testament.
The people of the city listened to the message. Really listened. From the city streets and among the storefront shops a grassroots response grew. People believed the message and took action: repentance.
What did friendship mean to me during my years as a pastor? What is your experience at the intersection of leadership and friendship?
