The Incomplete Counsel of “Keep Your Hands Off of Money and Women”
When I first went into a leadership role in church ministry, several wise, older men gave me words of caution like “Keep your hands off of money and women, son” or “Be careful with women and money.” They were not being sexist as if women were bad, nor were they advocating poverty as if money […]
3 Simple Steps to Self-Destruction
We get the term narcissism from the Greek mythological figure Narcissus, who fell in love with himself, with his own image. He was a hunter and was well known for his beauty. His arch-nemesis was named, well, he was named Nemesis, and he attracted Narcissus to a pool where Narcissus saw his own reflection. Narcissus […]
3 Ways We Hate Sin in Others More Than in Ourselves
After David committed adultery and murder and the Lord regarded all of it as evil, the Lord sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David in his sin (2 Samuel 12). Like any good preacher, Nathan set up David with a killer illustration: “David, there were two men in a certain city. One was filthy […]
Who We Are
In Unfolded, the men’s Bible study I was honored to write, we walk through the Story of the Bible in eight weeks. Each week there are daily devotions, along the storyline of Scripture, that dive into different passages. Here is one of the devotions from week seven. Persecution of Christians was very intense during the […]
Six Ways Jesus Led His Disciples After the Resurrection
Jesus’ teaching and ministry began with a small group of unlearned, ordinary men and then turned into a movement that rapidly spread and is still spreading across the world. After rising from the dead, Jesus handed over the ministry to the disciples He invested in. I have written before about how Jesus developed His disciples […]
The Cure for Drifting
1 “Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact […]
How Boredom Destroys
When David wrote Psalm 27 he was in awe of the Lord, happy in Him, and found nothing more beautiful than God to capture his heart. I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty […]
He Is Still Alive
Yesterday was awesome. People gathered in churches to celebrate that Jesus is alive, that sin and death no longer claim us. He has saved us, freed us, and one day He will raise us to everlasting life. Many churches saw an increase in attendance yesterday, and though there were a lot of guests, most major […]
Increasing Humility
A clear indication of maturing in Christ is increasing humility. The closer we draw to Him the more we see our need for Him, because the closer we draw to Him the more we grasp His holiness and our sinfulness. Notice the progression of increasing humility in the apostle Paul’s life. For I am the […]
A Pursued and Purchased Prostitute
The story of Hosea and Gomer is a shocking one, but one that reminds us of our sinfulness and God’s enduring love for His people, His bride. Hosea was a prophet who ministered during a very rebellious period in Israel’s history. The people were pursuing other gods, and to confront His people with their idolatry, […]