The Day God Held Lot’s Hand
He takes your hand when your temptations and the devil’s schemes leave you outnumbered.
Two angels had been sent by the Lord to warn Lot and his family what was about to happen and take them away from Sodom. Lot, however, “lingered.” His infatuation with Sodom seemed to know no bounds. In response, “the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord... Continue Reading
The Surprising Story of Bill Beery
God was with him in his trials. God used him.
Bill was a physically imposing mechanic at 6’ 6”. But Lou Gehrig’s disease, the illness that physicist Stephen Hawkins endured, soon wilted him into a shadow of the man he had been. But he had Christ. He was able to live four more years—far beyond the doctor’s expectation. What amazing Christ-filled years those were. ... Continue Reading
The War On Our Eyes
The eyes are the gateway to the soul, and what we allow in can shape, corrode, or fortify the heart.
The call to guard our eyes is not just a warning against overt immorality but a reminder to protect against anything that diverts our hearts from pure devotion to God. Each unguarded thought, each glance that lingers is a potential breach in our spiritual defense, a deviation from holiness that leads to brokenness, strain in... Continue Reading
How to Recognize Spiritual Fathers
And Reject the Imposters
Practically, in your search for spiritual fathers, you’ll want to find the ones who don’t care how big or small their influence is. Their ambition is to be faithful with the talents they’ve been given — be they one or five. Those who are constantly calculating their speech, and maneuvering their public profile, are (jedi... Continue Reading
A Word about Divine Appointments
Keep the eyes of your heart open and seek the Lord in every area of life.
We would also do well to realize that more of the deep and tangible sense of God’s involvement in our lives is available to us. When we pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18), walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), and are led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14), we will experience more of the Lord, who... Continue Reading
The Sacred Journey
The journey from life here on earth, through death, to life eternal.
We believe, by faith not sight, that the Lord was with Gabe through that perilous final journey as he passed through water and fire. We believe, by faith not sight, that when Jesus called his name and said, “you are mine,” Gabe gladly came. And we also believe that it was our privilege to be... Continue Reading
A PCA Founding Minister, Kennedy Smartt, Celebrates His 100th Birthday
Born during Calvin Coolidge’s presidency, Kennedy is now living under his 17th president.
He is a prayer warrior. He prays. He prays for missionaries. He uses the MTW directory. He prays for pastors. He uses the PCA’s gray book listing all the ministers to do so. He prays through CMPC’s church directory. He prays for all of us. A Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) founding father, Kennedy... Continue Reading
The Broken Offering that God Wants
Psalm 51 and the Exception to the Sacrifices of Israel
If a stiff-necked Israelite brought an unblemished animal, such an outward act did not fool the Lord or please the Lord. The Lord knows the heart. Therefore, the Israelites needed to approach the Lord with the offering he would welcome and delight in: a broken and contrite heart. Because of sin, we are not whole.... Continue Reading
The Doctrine of Sin and a Pastor’s Ministry
7 Truths to Teach about Sin
The Holy Spirit enables us to overcome the power of sin. Just as we must put our trust in Christ alone for salvation, we must put our trust in the Holy Spirit for sanctification. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is now at work in us to apply the saving benefits of... Continue Reading
The Pastor and His Community
For the glory of God and care for the church, it is time for pastors to take a step out in faith and become known.
Be known. Select two or three people who aim to build trust with you. Let your community love you. Without this kind of community interaction, both you and your congregation are at great risk. One does not have to dig too far into the annuls of the internet to find churches that have been destroyed... Continue Reading
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