God’s Word calls us to seek His Kingdom and Righteousness first (Matthew 6:33) and to focus on that which is eternal rather than temporal (2 Corinthians 4:18).  These commands prompt us to explore what The Holy Spirit means in His Word when He speaks of eternal or Kingdom things to ensure that we understand where we are to invest our lives.  After a thorough search I could find only three things that exist on this temporal earth that are Kingdom in nature.  They are: 1)… Read More

Relationships…What We Were Created For The answer lies in a personal relationship to Jesus Christ…We can ever remain powerless, as were the disciples, by trying to do God’s work not in concentration on His power, but by ideas drawn from our own temperament. We slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him… This is your line of service — to see that there is nothing between Jesus and yourself. Is there? Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest  Read More

Building on last week’s post, we find ourselves in a culture that is wrestling with how to deal with and as best we can delete (or at least diminish) social injustice and inequalities in an imperfect world.  I talked about the need to be sure as Christ followers that we not get caught up in the heat or emotion of the moment, practicing a compassion that does not align with God’s Truth.  And by the way, there is a place for proper anger…”Be angry and...Read More

Social injustice and bigotry…How do we know what’s true and what to do?  Compassion without Truth only gives short term, self-centered facades posing as solutions with long-term destruction.  We as Christians have to be alert to practice compassion that fully aligns with God’s Truth!  His Word is always our foundation and first priority to find the answers to our personal, cultural and social problems. What I’m going to share will likely ruffle some feathers but I pray and ask that you test it against the...Read More

As we grow and mature as Christ’s disciples individually, His Word is very clear that we are also to be growing and maturing in our relationships with other believers.  Here are three more spiritual disciplines (See Practical Discipleship – Part 1) that help us grow in relationship with other Christ followers, together as His disciples: 1) Worship – God alone is worthy of our personal and corporate worship and praise: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself… Read More

God’s Word, living in Christ and written for us in Scripture, make it very clear what we are called to be as Christ’s disciples.  It is also obvious in His Word that this can only be done by His changing our hearts as we accept Him as Savior AND LORD.  So what does it look like?  If our hearts are truly changed and The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, then how will we (and others) know?  How do we apply the Scriptural principles of... Read More

Discipleship is not only knowing Christ as Lord and exalting Him, it is putting ourselves in a position with our Savior, Creator, and Lord for Him to reveal to us who we truly are in Him!  As we make disciples we help others understand who they are in Christ and help them fulfill all He has created and called them to be—in life, in relationships, in community, and in culture. How then can we make discipleship not only a priority but also a reality in...Read More

"Without liberty, law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without law, liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness." —James Wilson (1790) We must be willing to stand for what is right and best and against what is unjust and harmful and not allow anyone to create a situation or culture that will destroy what we are working toward.  All three of the following issues must be given attention as we move forward.  We must be diligent, vigilant, compassionate... Read More

Systemic problem or other, I do know we have a heart problem…a human problem! For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. (Matthew 15:19) And that is why we as Christ followers must lead the way by our faith in action…we have the solution and His name is Christ!

The modern church is on a sandy foundation. Three current realities need to change for God’s people to make disciples that impact and influence every part of culture: 1) Cultural relevance has trumped relationship.  2) Evangelism and conversion equals discipleship.  3) Programs can replace the brokenness of relationships. I believe most church leaders and attendees desire to follow Christ. The problem?  Read More