Evaluate who you are trusting today. Are you trusting in mankind…even your own ability and its meager strength? Here is a way to discern that with one question: How much do you listen to Him through prayer and His Word?   God is perfect in His mercy and grace but also perfect in His judgment.... Continue Reading

A focus on entertainment might get people to come to your youth ministry. But, in the end, we cannot out-entertain the world. We will also set the kids up to look for entertainment as the main measure of what church is rather than help them have a hunger for the word of God above all.... Continue Reading

Joy can be our resistance to the culture of death all around us. Joy refuses to look at unborn children, an aged great-grandmother, and the uncultivated prairie meadow as problems to be solved. Rather, people who live in a culture of joy can receive them as gifts because they can see the Giver—and his Goodness—in them.  ... Continue Reading

If you won’t give thanks to God for all the goodness he bestows on you, you’ll seek goodness and blessing elsewhere, in created things. You will become a worshiper of idols. Little, then, could be more important in life than cultivating gratitude and thankfulness to God for his many blessings, the blessings of salvation and of... Continue Reading

The purpose of this new body will be to rule wisely over God’s new world. Forget those images about lounging around playing harps. There will be work to do and we shall relish doing it. All the skills and talents we have put to God’s service in this present life . . . will be... Continue Reading

The promises of AI are indeed amazing. The labor- and time-saving potential will save humanity hours of mindless tasks, and we’ve not even begun to realize the potential for medicine, among other things. However, potentials are not actuals, and history is full of unintended (and intended) applications and consequences of technology. The only way forward... Continue Reading

Your heart doesn’t know everything and often forgets what it does know. God does know everything, and he doesn’t forget. He sees more than your most recent fall — the sin that breaks your heart and sheds your tears — he sees a new life and fruit (even in this contrition) that gives honor to... Continue Reading

Romans 3:20 is one of the most humbling passages in the Bible. It crushes human pride. It makes it impossible for us to continue to caress the delusion that we can perform our way into a relationship with God. It lets us know that our best track record of obedience falls woefully short of God’s... Continue Reading

Having regular times of family worship or devotions throughout the week is not only a good way to disciple your family and worship together but also a great way to prepare for Lord’s Day worship. Times of reading God’s Word and singing His praise as a family demonstrate to your kids the centrality of worship... Continue Reading

People will pay high prices for those that do excellent work. This is difficult to find. David was so gifted and so full of character, that it appears his temporary residence with Saul quickly moved to full-time. Eventually, Saul asked David’s father for permission for David to stay at the palace. David was too gifted... Continue Reading