The Jesus Revolution?

The worldwide release of a new film entitled Jesus Revolution is set for today, February 24, 2023. The film is based on a book by the same title written by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA. The book and the subsequent movie tells the story of Laurie’s conversion during the so-called…

Read More

Ten Things to Pray for this Year, and Every Year

In the last few years, our conversations were full of talk about maintaining or regaining physical health, about COVID-19, about government intrusion and many political scandals. With our eyes on the news, our hearts can grow spiritually cold, full of fears and anxious doubts. We must realize that our spiritual health is more important than…

Read More

The Fourth Sunday of Christmas: Christ Our Peace

Luke 2:8-14 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be…

Read More

The Third Sunday of Christmas: Christ Our Joy

Luke 2:9-11 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before (the shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there…

Read More

The Second Sunday of Christmas: Christ, Our Faith

Matthew 2:1-6 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When…

Read More

The First Sunday of Christmas: Christ Is Our Hope

Isaiah 11:1-5, There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His…

Read More

Four Big Ideas about Spiritual Gifts

There are two primary passages in the New Testament that address the issue of spiritual gifts: Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12-14. While a few other passages mention spiritual gifts, they are secondary in importance to the discussion. There are four “big idea” thoughts about spiritual gifts that I think believers need to be reminded…

Read More

Pastoral Obscurity: the blessing of anonymity

About every six months, a small group of pastor friends and I get together to discuss a Christian book and pray together. It is a great time of ministerial camaraderie and encouragement. All of us are pastors of relatively small churches. None of us have churches with more than two hundred attendees, and most of…

Read More

Parenting Toward Maturity

Parenting cannot be delegated. God is clear in both the Old and New Testaments that parents are responsible to raise their children in such a way that points their attentions and affections towards the one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:4). This truth cannot be denied, nor can it lawfully be ignored. This…

Read More

Growing Toward Maturity

Many elements helped contribute to the immaturity that is evident in the American church today. The accommodation with pop culture, an infatuation with self, an overemphasis on “reaching the youth,” and the adoption of a consumeristic mindset when it comes to the local church are just a few key aspects that have led to where…

Read More