Becoming a Christian and living as one are two different things. God refers to one as justification and the other as sanctification. We might also understand these two distinctions as finding Jesus and following Jesus. Blur this distinction between salvation and...
You’re born into God’s family the moment you place your faith in Jesus for eternal life. You start as a spiritual baby. But it’s never God’s intention for you to remain a baby. You are to grow and thrive as a maturing believer in Jesus. But you never grow passively....
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will...
“Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24 “But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire.” James 3:5-6 OBSERVE Imagine a crane at a construction...
reviously, this time of year always felt like milestone season. Calendars are crowded with graduations, awards ceremonies, proms, weddings, and countless other events that signify an accomplishment, achievement, or celebration on the passing into a...
Think deeply about why you’re alive and you’ll eventually conclude that you want to make a difference—a contribution through the one life you have. That longing is called legacy. It’s the desire to influence others now so that your influence lives beyond you. What if...
If our life with God is described as a race, it’s natural to assume we’ll one day cross the finish line. Life begins when you believe in Jesus as your Savior. Although heaven is then guaranteed, it really does matter how you live. Living for God means you’re pleasing...
If given the choice between good feelings or bad, we would usually choose good. Let’s face it, good feelings are pleasurable. But pleasure as a life-goal leads to bad things. All around us are false gods that scream for our attention and devotion. And pleasure can...
There is one true God. But all around us are substitute gods competing for our devotion. You don’t have to bow down to a statue to be an idolater. False gods are everywhere. One false god that screams for our attention is the god of control. When we’re satisfied only...
Our relationships develop and grow through the stories we tell each other. We connect with people when we know the past they've come from, the present they live in, and the future they hope for. We feel connected when those people also know our stories. But when...
As we study the book of James, we will find much-needed wisdom to help us live out our faith in a true and authentic way. A living, active faith is more than knowledge and belief; it’s a way of life that exhibits the true characteristics of God through our words,...
As we study the book of James, we will find much-needed wisdom to help us live out our faith in a true and authentic way. A living, active faith is more than knowledge and belief; it’s a way of life that exhibits the true characteristics of God through our words,...
As we study the book of James, we will find much-needed wisdom to help us live out our faith in a true and authentic way. A living, active faith is more than knowledge and belief; it’s a way of life that exhibits the true characteristics of God through our words,...
As we study the book of James, we will find much-needed wisdom to help us live out our faith in a true and authentic way. A living, active faith is more than knowledge and belief; it’s a way of life that exhibits the true characteristics of God through our words,...
As we study the book of James, we will find much-needed wisdom to help us live out our faith in a true and authentic way. A living, active faith is more than knowledge and belief; it’s a way of life that exhibits the true characteristics of God through our words,...