The church often mistakes Christian obedience as the first step in the Christian life. As a result, for many people the Christian faith becomes a rule-based religion. Instead, the Scriptures reveal that Jesus’ initial invitation is to follow him. He invites us to follow him until we begin believing that He is indeed who he … Continue reading "Simple, part 3: Obey"

Jesus’ initial invitation to his disciples was a simple one: Follow me. He invited them to watch and listen to his interactions with his heavenly Father and with others. In time, however, those who followed Jesus began to discover God’s character through Jesus Christ. And in that discovery they found themselves drawn to take a … Continue reading "Simple, part 2: Believe"

There is a common misconception that the church is a gathering place for saintly, perfect people. Moreover, some think that being a Christian means observing a set of rules or commandments. The reality is that the Christian life is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. And at the heart of that relationship is an invitation … Continue reading "Simple, part 1: Follow"

It can be easy to see someone else self-destruct and think to ourselves, I would never do that. But truth be told, we’re all capable of ending up where we don’t want to be. Even Solomon’s son—the heir to the throne of Israel—blatantly ignored a principle that we should all pay close attention to. October … Continue reading "How Not To Be Your Own Worst Enemy, part 3: Listen"

We can talk ourselves into anything. Our internal narratives justify our beliefs as well as our actions. But when those narratives are not true, they lead to destructive thoughts and behaviors. We can choose to carry around false but comfortable narratives—or we can look to destroy them. October 24, 2021

We all face dilemmas in which circumstances point us in one direction, but our consciences point us in a different direction. At times, we ignore the tug of our consciences and sell ourselves on a questionable decision. King David found himself in such a position, and his example can help us navigate our own dilemmas. … Continue reading "How Not To Be Your Own Worst Enemy, part 1: Pay Attention!"

We all have a picture of who we think God is. These pictures and beliefs have been shaped by things we have learned and experienced along the way. But what if you have been given an inaccurate picture of who God really is? October 10, 2021

“God, what do you want me to do next? God, am I following your plan?” These can be frequent prayers for people who want to know God’s will and fulfill it. But what happens when life throws a wrench in our plans? What happens when we throw a wrench of our own into what we … Continue reading "Three Questions Everyone Has About God, part 2: What’s His plan?"

We all have a picture of who we think God is. These pictures and beliefs have been shaped by things we have learned and experienced along the way. But what if you have been given an inaccurate picture of who God really is? September 26, 2021

We all have hopes and dreams, but what are we supposed to do when our hearts are broken and our dreams can’t come true? It’s tempting to take matters into our own hands, but is there a better way? September 19, 2021