And so do I… I have grown weary with myself and the meager prayers I pray. “Give me health,” “keep my family safe,” “fill this room.” Those are all fine prayers, but they lack the desperation of a man longing to see a city change…a culture shifted toward Christ. But[…]
All posts under Discipleship
Kill Sin Before it Kill’s You Part 2
But, with that said, I do want to offer you the only answer to killing sin that has served me in these last several years, and that answer is a question. Do you, moment by moment, in the midst of the sin that you are about to commit, avail yourself[…]
Kill Sin Before it Kill’s You Part 1
I was asked after the sermon a few weeks ago from Colossians 3:5-10, “How Do I Kill My Sin?” The inquirer said, “You gave me the ‘what’ and the ‘why,’ but how pastor, do I begin to put it to death, rather than simply manage it?” To answer this question,[…]
True Courage is Sacrifice Part 2
Courage Is Not Always Measured by the Ability to Win; It Is More Often Measured by the Ability to Sacrifice The gospel writer John says, “They took Jesus and flogged him (19:1)…And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head (v.2)… They…struck him with[…]
True Courage is Sacrifice Part 1
Courage Is Not Always Measured by the Ability to Win; It Is More Often Measured by the Ability to Sacrifice I was recently invited to participate in an event as the guest speaker, and I said these words to a group of young men there. The event was called Camp[…]
Victory
God has created us, all of us, to worship Him, love Him, glorify Him, have Him as our deepest affection and live for His glory. We are meant to glorify God in every conceivable way because it’s what we were made for, and it’s how we express our love and[…]
An “Other-Worldly” Love-God’s Adoption of Us [Part 2]
This is the lynch pin, because He chose us before the foundation of the world, and in love, He predestined us for adoption. So we are predestined, chosen, and adopted. Before time itself existed, before the Evil one turned in pride from God to his own works, before this world was[…]
An “Other-Worldly” Love-God’s Adoption of Us [Part 1]
In 1 John chapter 3 verse 1, the apostle John writes, “see what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.“ This phrase, what kind of love, literally translates “unearthly, foreign, other-worldly.” This love the Father gives[…]
True Spirituality
Last weekend at Renovation I preached a message called “spirituality” from Psalm 119, in which we concluded that true spirituality is a delight in God, his will, and His word. But, we determined, this is difficult. The religious among us will get the will and word part. They will obey, and tell everyone[…]
Being Filled With God’s Spirit
When God first called me to Himself and subsequently filled me with His Spirit it was all very experiential, passionate, and life-giving; but I lacked knowledge. Being wired the way I am I began to seek knowledge and came to grasp many of the beautiful truth’s of our faith. I[…]
Quieting the Noise So We Can Hear
We live in a fast paced world full with distractions, and every reason not to do as Jesus so often did…”And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.“[Mark 1:35] Most of us have[…]
Disconnected Faith
Have you felt a little disconnected lately? Like prayer is more difficult. Relationships in your church require more work and discipline, with very little joy? Faith in general feels like a burden and not a joyful privilege? You may feel that way because you are in fact disconnected in someway.[…]
Jesus-The Foundation of Prayer
Norwich offers these things in simplicity: Jesus is the foundation of all our praying We must want to not want anything that He does not want May we have a true desire in prayer and a longing of our will for Jesus above all things If our eyes are fixed[…]
A Praying Life
Lately I have been convicted of a reality that I am still unsure of my willingness to address…my life is not one of rich, intentional, and thoughtful prayer…at least not as much or as often as it should be. With the workload of leading and launching Renovation I have lost[…]
How Are they Sent of God?
…Men who bring no men to God? Prophets whose words are powerless Sowers who’s seed all whithers Fishers who take in no Fish Soldiers who give no wounds Are these God’s men?-C.H. Spurgeon This gripped me…thought I would share it. If you are a minster of the gospel, I hope[…]