Dive In Dig Deep

We were talking about our spouses’s idols in our marriage small group. The prompt was that we were supposed to state what we think, or what we perceive, what we’ve seen to be our spouses’s idols — and also if and how they have been fighting off these idols. Specifically for this small group question, I wanted to define an idol as anything that gets in the way of loving God and loving others.Jess was the first to share and her answer came quickly. She said that my iPhone was my idol. This is not news to me haha. I know this is true, and I’m quick to confess it. It goes with me everywhere. It serves not only the work that I do but I also use it for entertainment. I give a lot of time, attention, and energy to it. And I feel actual anxiety when I don’t know where my phone is! One of our small group members actually wanted to know what sin we could tie to its use — and I said that it’s probably selfishness that drives me most to it. Prioritizing my own work and relaxation over loving God and others. When I shared about iPhone idolatry in my most recent sermon, I did have some personal weight behind it.In Part 2, I’ll share what Jess said about how I have been fighting my idolatry.

What are your spouse’s idols? This was the discussion question for our marriage small group this past weekend. Here are several reasons why I wanted to talk about it:

1. Idolatry is insidious, so it’s good for us to examine our lives and name our idols.

2. Our spouses know us best. I’m generalizing here, but we likely spend the most time with them, and they see us at our most sinful.

3. That kind of honesty builds humility. Getting used to plainly naming our sin reminds us that we don’t always see ourselves clearly and that we need each other.

4. It also strengthens trust and intimacy. Honest, grace-filled conversations about struggles can deepen a relationship rather than weaken it.

5. In a marriage group setting, we can better understand what each couple is facing and encourage and support one another as we grow more like Christ.

Jess said it took one of our kids 10 minutes to tell her a simple story. Too much filler, aimless tangents, and no sense of urgency.

If we want to mature as communicators, writers, teachers, and preachers — let’s learn how to get to the point!

One common error is mistaking what is new for what is good. Some will say that a sermon was good simply because they learned something new.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing. Preachers should do their due diligence in studying and preparing, and this does and should lead to new and fresh insight.

But learning something new isn’t helpful unless it actually does something for the hearer. Otherwise, it risks being simply “nice to know.”

Does it move their heart to love the Lord more? Does it cause them to cry out over their sin? Does it lead them to make a change in their life?

When we encounter something new in Scripture, let’s thank God that His Word is so rich. But let’s also ask what it means and how it moves us.

I was thinking about AI and the Christian, sermon preparation, the books that we use to study, the sermons we see online — and a question I find myself coming back to as a preacher is if I have truly heard from God? Did I hear from him myself?

On one level, I can say that I heard from God simply because I read my Bible. It’s not wrong to say that. But on a deeper level, and what I’m aiming for as a preacher and teacher and proclaimer and herald of God’s word — is if I truly heard it myself, firsthand.

I believe that God speaks directly to us from his word. It’s not an audible voice, but it’s more than just words on a page. It’s a touching of the heart. The type of hearing I want is to feel his words. To let them sink and set inside my soul. This is what I ask for when I pray as I prepare my messages.

I had a quick conversation with a 1st grade student at Awana on Friday night, sort of on the side, and it all happened really fast:

Student: I can do 4th grade math.

Me: 4th grade math, wow! How did you learn that?

Student: My parents want me to learn. They said that they want me to get ahead. They said that it will be hard now so it can be easier later. They said if I don’t want to work at McDonalds, and if I want to be the owner of 10 companies, then I will need to work hard now.

Me: Wow, how does that make you feel?

Student: I wonder what’s so bad about being in the middle.

Me: That’s a good question. You should ask your parents that. Do your parents go to our church?

Student: My parents are Buddhist. I only come on Friday nights. On Sundays I have piano and tennis lessons.

Me: Are you a Christian? Do you believe in Jesus?

Student: I don’t know if I believe in Jesus or if I believe in the Chinese Jade Emperor.

Me: We’re going to learn more about Jesus tonight. I hope that you come to trust and believe in Jesus.

And then our conversation was cut short. I hope to follow up with this student. In many ways, this student fits our target demographic. The children’s ministry mission field harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Would you please say a quick prayer for this student and our children’s ministry workers?

I was having lunch with some coworkers earlier this week, sharing stories, hanging out. My friend was telling us about some of his past and I was so shocked that I said out loud we had very different childhoods growing up! Our work at the hospital is a very weak common denominator amongst us all.

My church is very monocultural. Don’t get me wrong — I’m grateful for our church. But if you go out into the surrounding cities, you’ll meet different people.

I pray and long for the day when we will sit together at the marriage supper of the lamb, sharing stories, hanging out. And no doubt, there we will have different childhoods — but the strong and saving blood of Christ will connect us all together forever.

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1)

Previously, I wrote about James and Jesus, and today I want to share some related thoughts about this famous passage from James. He writes that not many of you should become teachers. This is a general warning addressed to everyone, but especially to those who seek to elevate themselves to this important position in the church.

What interests me is the weight this carries coming from James. James was a prominent figure in the faith, working alongside Paul, Peter, and John. He would have known the apostles’ teaching firsthand, and he was careful to make clarifications, distinctions, and nuances in his own writing concerning the relationship between faith and works.

The Savior’s Standard

Related to this theme of faith and works, what fascinates me most is that James didn’t just write about lived-out faith—he witnessed it firsthand. He grew up with Jesus and saw Him even before His ministry. He knew how Jesus lived His life—holy and pure, blameless before God.

For teachers today, the message is clear: the standard to both teach sound doctrine and live out the faith is high, in public and in private. The standard is Christ Himself. James knew this firsthand, and he wanted to make sure that we follow in step with the Savior.

One of my biggest problems is feeling like I always need to be productive. And by productive, I mean doing things that lead to making money.

I was playing with my daughter, building a house out of cardboard boxes.

And I realized that, by monetary standards, I wasn’t being productive, but I was happy. I felt full and satisfied.

On a deeper level, it felt like an eternal investment, tending the home of my daughter’s heart.

For the Christian, money is not the measure of a rich and rewarding life. That kind of life isn’t earned—it’s given: a life spent loving God and others.

Three reasons why I carve out the time to answer questions from the children at my church:

1. Kids are curious — and I think that’s a good thing. Allowing them to ask questions normalizes curious minds and I think this is one way to cultivate good habits for future and more mature Bible study.

2. I want them to remember that God has answers to their questions. This is more of a long play, but when they grow up I hope it somehow gets into their minds that they were allowed to ask questions and we were able to give answers.

3. It’s fun and challenging for me! I genuinely have a good time hearing what is on their minds, especially immediately after the message. It’s helpful and encouraging for me to interact and engage with them and just talk to them directly about what they want to know about God and the Bible.