When I began attending church twenty-two years ago, I’m not sure I knew what I was expecting. I just had this inner sense—whispering, nudging—that God wanted me to go to…
It’s not hard to think of biblical lands as wilderness and wasteland: Big Bend as far as the eye can see, but remember that the land God promised His people…
I suppose we each have a picture of how the church ought to be, including this little congregation of it. No one’s picture looks just like the church as it…
In Matthew’s account, Jesus tells John the Baptist that it’s good for John to baptize Jesus, in order to “fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus, who had no sin and did no…
There was a man who never knew his grandfather. Many years before, this grandfather, knowing his grandson would barely remember him, wrote a letter. He tried to tell his newborn…
Jesus sent the apostles out with authority to cast out demons and to heal. Oh, how we’d love some healing, just now. Can you feel the need for it, out…
We’ve been reading our way through 1 Timothy. Timothy was in Ephesus, trying to get some things straightened out in the church there. If we think of Ephesus at all,…
Those ancient builders in Greece and Rome really knew what they were doing. No, the roofs are no longer there, but the foundations remain, and many pillars. Lots and lots…
Paul’s first letter to Timothy is a reminder—a plea—to the church to stay focused on advancing, making progress. The church makes progress as it holds fast to the Word of…
Over these weeks taking us to Pentecost, as I’m reading the Acts of the Apostles, I’m considering Thom Rainer’s insights regarding a noticeable decline in evangelism. Acts is like our…