How God Made Us Eat Our Words: Mission To Sun City, AZ

I RELUCTANTLY RETIRED FROM THE PASTORATE IN THE SPRING OF 2018. I say, "reluctantly" because I loved my job. It gave me a great sense of purpose. But I needed to retire to make room for younger talent. I planted the church in 2002, and I needed to retire to insure an orderly secession of …

Three Reasons To Walk With Increasing Hope!

HOPE IS A CRUCIAL BIBLICAL VIRTUE. It empowers us to endure suffering. It equips us to defer gratification. The hope of a college diploma motivates perseverance through four years of hard work despite no money. Without hope people will not invest, but hope for a better tomorrow motivates savings and investment. For Christians, hope in …

Two Indispensable Tools Every Church Planter Needs!

“Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord."Haggai 1:8 WHEN HAGGAI WROTE THESE WORDS, the nation of Israel had returned from Babylonian exile. The temple was in ruins. They began to rebuild it, became discouraged, …

Which Kind of Fire Will You Experience From God?

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into …

The Movie Unplanned: Seeing Is Believing!

IT IS OFTEN SAID that "seeing is believing." That is because "seeing" evil is more powerful than just hearing about it. It mitigates our capacity to be captured by the world's "philosophy and empty deceit" (Col. 2:8). Seeing a crime causes it to build a nest in our conscience. For example, this iconic nineteen sixties …

Five Ways the Gospel Shapes Christian Marriage

A REVIVAL OF GOSPEL CENTRALITY usually brings with it a revival of biblical marriage. That is because the gospel, when properly understood, elevates marriage. It shapes and molds it into the divine image that God intended from creation. In fact, in one sense, marriage is a fundamental theme of the gospel. For example, did you …

How I Learned that God Hears Prayer!

I RECENTLY RETIRED from a life of preaching. It was a difficult decision, and a sad day, but one that had to come. At my retirement party God indelibly engraved on my heart a crucial lesson. God hears prayer. I believe passionately in the ministry of preaching. I also believe that effective preaching is much …

What Faithfully Sharing the Gospel Looks Like

I INVITED A FRIEND OUT TO COFFEE. He is older and doesn't have long to live. Because I care deeply for him I looked for an opportunity to share the gospel. We visited for about 45 minutes about things we had in common. Finally, I screwed up my courage. "Do you mind if I ask …