Paul gives us life-changing practices based around praise, prayer and the power of peace at work in our minds. He teaches us how to guard our hearts and how to live as he lived - even when he was chained to a Roman soldier and being guarded by a...

In Colossians 4:2-6, Paul encourages us to be people who pray with alert minds and thankful hearts. Prayer is a beautiful expression of faith; it reminds us of who we are, who we serve and what lies ahead. Paul goes on to encourage us to live wisely...

The apostle Paul capitalizes on a sport analogy (not too far from the home of the original Olympic games) about having a higher goal for our lives. Setting higher goals requires working towards them, incrementally perhaps, but with focus, effort and...

Being in the culture has its benefits for God’s people. Recall God’s communication to Israel when the people were sent into exile, in essence to carry on living there (Babylon, Susa, etc.) and to prosper. Life, for about 70 years, was good (in the...

In Colossians 3:12-17 Paul speaks about who we are as a 'spiritual family' and what that should look like and sound like. It is a refreshing reminder of the powerful simplicity of Church and the call for us to be invested in each...

We live in a workout culture as a kind of cult of the body. Even self­help books and YouTube videos pander to improving self as though it is all about My Self. We see something different in Philippians about what it means to work out with the Lord as...

It’s hard to be humble or to have steady, clear thoughts when there are conditions and events in our lives that either work against us or fan the flame of self­centeredness. Nevertheless, there’s joy to be had as we seek humility.

In Colossians chapter three Paul talks about the practical reality and very real challenge of living out our faith. There is nothing easy or automatic about denying ourselves or dying to self; that call goes against our natural tendencies. Paul...

It can be difficult to appreciate the extent of the spiritual battle that surrounds us 24/7. And that spiritual battle actually spills out into our world. Without the Holy Spirit as our strength and the Word of God to direct us, the battle can be...