Plaque on a preacher’s desk:
“I’m just a NOBODY telling
EVERYBODY
about SOMEBODY
who can save ANYBODY!”
This succinct sign summarizes our responsibility to share the Good News about Jesus with others. Today’s passage speaks to that wonderful challenge and blessed opportunity.
We call it “The Great Commission.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Steve Shepherd tells a story about a well-known Christian businessman in his local community who was visiting a church and asked to give his testimony.
“I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation,” he began. “I have plenty of money so I can support some Christian ministries very generously. Many organizations want me on their board of directors. I have good health and almost unlimited opportunities.”
He then asked, “What more could I ask from God?” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Charles Allen, in Victory in the Valleys, tells a cute story about 5-year-old Johnny helping his mother make supper.
At one point, she asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup.
“It’s dark in there and I’m scared,” Johnny objected.
After repeating her request and Johnny continuing to express his fears, she said, “It’s ok, Jesus will be in there with you.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Recently I was watching the Andy Griffith Show that taught a wonderful lesson called, “Opie’s Charity.”
The episode from 1960 begins with Annabelle Silby coming by Andy’s house while he and Opie are playing catch. She’s soliciting help for the annual children’s charity drive.
When Andy and Annabelle go to the courthouse to discuss the status of the fund-raiser, she compliments Mayberry’s children for their willingness to help. Andy uses this opportunity to brag on Opie, suggesting he’s probably one of the biggest contributors in the class. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Several years ago a Missouri preacher, Steve Shepherd, related a story about a woman who was in the grips of severe depression.
She felt helpless. Hopeless. And afraid. For weeks she wept constantly. She didn’t want to be left alone for fear she would take her own life. When she went to bed, she hoped she would never wake up.
Her Bible Study class intervened and purposed what they called “The Brave Christian’s experiment.” In desperation, the woman decided to try this plan which basically called for God to be at the center of one’s life.
The plan consisted of these five steps. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Passage To Ponder
“Big things come in small packages” is an American idiom that implies that the value of something is not always determined by its size. Such is true of books in the Bible.
For a book to be noteworthy it doesn’t need to be large like Psalms with its 150 divisions. Or filled with intriguing prophecies like Isaiah. It doesn’t demand apocalyptic images jumping off the page like Revelation. Nor does it require riveting historical narratives like Genesis. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
“Preaching must be marked by three elements, advised Warren Wiersbe. “Conviction. Warning. And appeal.”
In other words, “Reprove, rebuke and exhort.
To quote an old rule of preachers, “He should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Paul Fritz calls them “the triad of Christian virtues.”
Philip R. Davies wrote, “These three graces form the essential elements of the Christian character.
An unknown author referred to them as “the holy and beautiful sisterhood of Christians virtues.”
And what are they? Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Bill Maher is a social commentator, comedian, actor, and TV Host, who’s highly critical of religion. Several years ago he wrote and starred in a documentary entitled “Religulous”, a combination of the words “religious” and “ridiculous.”
Maher once described Christians as having a neurological disorder that keeps them from thinking. “Religion to me is a bureaucracy between man and God that I don’t need, Maher boldly claimed. “But I’m not an atheist, no. I believe there’s some force. If you want to call it God… I don’t believe God is a single parent who writes books.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
“What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you’re saying,” was once noted by American author Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Emerson’s observation speaks to the importance and impact of our influence.
The dictionary defines influences as “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.” Simply defined, influence is the sway one has over others. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
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