Posts Tagged ‘Discipleship’
The What and Who of Discipleship
One cannot help being somewhat repulsed at the strikingly short-sighted response of King Hezekiah recorded in 2 Kings 20:19. “Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” Isaiah had been sent to…
Read MorePutting Yourself in Your Place
People sometimes wonder how we can relate to characters and stories in the Bible since we’re separated from them by time and culture. However, although the circumstances are different, the people involved are not. And although God dealt with them in situations different from ours, He is the same God now as then. So every…
Read MoreThinking Biblically
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD (Isaiah 55:8). Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be…
Read MoreSpiritual Dryness: Am I Trying to Walk in Two Directions?
Lillias Trotter stood at a crossroads.1 The words of the renown nineteenth century art critic, John Ruskin, rang in her mind. “If you allow me to train you,” he had said. “You could become one of the greatest artists in the world.”2 Trotter loved beauty. God had truly blessed her with artistic talent. Yet, Trotter…
Read MoreThey Profess to Know God: Do they know Him? Pt.3
This is the last of three articles exploring these truths: Those who endure to the end are true believers (first article) Church discipline reveals true saving faith (second article) Levels of growth vary between believers. Life “baggage” and hindrances can make change difficult. The goal in pondering these four truths is to better understand what…
Read MoreThey Profess to Know God; Do They Know Him? Pt.2
Introduction This is the second of three articles exploring these truths: Those who endure to the end are true believers (first article). Church discipline reveals true saving faith. Levels of growth vary between believers. Life “Baggage” and hindrances can make change difficult. The goal in pondering these four truths is to better understand what our…
Read MoreThey Profess to Know God: Do They Know Him? Pt.1
The Disciple-Maker’s Challenge Everyone who seeks to make disciples in obedience to Jesus Christ faces the same difficulty: We all try to discern whether or not those we lead to profess Jesus Christ have genuinely believed. None of us wants to give an unbeliever false hope of salvation if they have not yet repented and…
Read MoreOur Plans and What Really Happens
We all stormed (or rolled) into the year 2020 with big plans, serious resolutions, and high expectations. The American economy was booming, colleges were marching towards commencement ceremonies, our jobs were chugging along as usual, and the NBA and NHL were making a mad dash for the playoffs. Some of us even smiled as we…
Read MoreCan We Really Trust what We Have Been Taught?
“Pastor, I need to ask you a question.” Can we talk privately, please? The next few steps from the public to the privacy of my office are the most agonizing ever. Thoughts flood my mind. “What did I do? I wonder what they are upset about? I know I didn’t do anything.” Questions tend to…
Read MoreTHE NARROW WAY
Choosing the Narrow Way (Mark 8.34) “When [Jesus] had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, Let him deny himself, And take up his cross, And follow Me.” Jesus calls the people with His disciples. The way of discipleship was not exclusively an…
Read More