A Faithful and Helpful Friend
on April 11th, 2024
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13  I have a distinct memory of going to church camp when I was about 11 or 12 years old. Whenever I went to church camp, I always took my fishing pole. When in doubt, fish; that was my philosophy as a kid. During some free time at this particular camp, I had the privilege and the freedom to fish.   My bes...  Read More
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A Desire To Serve
on April 10th, 2024
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)  Years ago, I was studying today’s key Scripture passage. In the middle of preparing a sermon message, I prayed this prayer, “Lord, ...  Read More
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A Defining Encounter
on April 9th, 2024
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)  He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)  One thing that is true for every follower of Jesus is that there has been a...  Read More
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Praying with Power
on April 8th, 2024
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. – John 16:23-24  Yesterday, we started a discussion about what it looks like to pray in alignment with the will and heart of God. If you missed yesterday’s devotiona...  Read More
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Aligned Prayers
on April 7th, 2024
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. – John 14:13-14  My job as a pastor is to make sure that God's people are equipped to do the work of ministry. One of the things that I am charged with doing is teaching people how to pray. With many of us, we wonder why our prayers don't get answered...  Read More
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Fighting Self-Sufficiency With Prayer
on April 6th, 2024
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24.  One of the things that keeps us from getting through to God is prayerful inactivity. We think things like, “I got myself into this mess and it's my r...  Read More
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Are You Confessed Up To Date?
on April 5th, 2024
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5:16  When I was in my first year of seminary, a missionary named Bertha Smith spoke to a class I was in. She was a godly woman who had given her life for ministry. As she stood before our class, she looked through her glasses at u...  Read More
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Sharing Your Story
on April 4th, 2024
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. – Acts 14:26-27  I firmly believe that every believer needs to be in the habit of sharing how God is working in the...  Read More
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Committing Others To Christ
on April 3rd, 2024
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. – Acts 14:26-27  As I was praying this morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the people who have kids or family m...  Read More
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Are You Encouraging Others?
on April 2nd, 2024
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11  William Barclay, a devotional commentator, once said, “One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement. It is easy to pour cold water on enthusiasm. It is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another.”   This is ...  Read More
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Don’t Stop Sharing The Good News
on April 1st, 2024
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20Have you ever wondered why you exist? Have you found yourself questioning why God put you on this earth? Well, the Bible tells us th...  Read More
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What Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?
on March 31st, 2024
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! – Psalm 96:3Several years ago, I came across a statement from Penn Gillette. He is a magician, comedian, and an atheist. He said, “I've always said that I don't respect people who don't evangelize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe there is a heaven and a hell and people could be going to hell, and not gettin...  Read More
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