Sin's Role

All sin is ultimately rebellion against God because it disregards His commands and His authority over us. Further, it discards His ways of living, His values, His principles and even God's wishes. Recognizing the seriousness of sin is the first step toward removing it from our lives and gaining victory over it.

God's Missions

When God gives us a mission, it must not be polluted by a desire for approval from others or by an expectation of financial or material reward.

Follow & Destroy

To follow God means destroying whatever gets in the way of worshipping Him or putting Him first in our lives. What do you need to destroy today?

Do ... or Be

Sometimes people are too busy thinking about what they are to do - and forget to think about who they are to be.

God's Religion

God's system of religion was designed to come from an attitude of the heart - not from calculated or logical plans and business opportunities.

Men's Relationships

One of the great tragedies of life is that men don't get to see the depths of the damaged they do with their dysfunctional ways of relating to God and others. Those that do see even a glimpse of the damage can be moved to deep repentance.

Superior Christianity

Christianity surpasses Judaism in three key ways:

1. It has a better covenant. (Hebrews 8:1-13)
2. It has a better sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:1-10)
3. It has a more sufficient sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:11-10:18)

This may be why Jews who profess Christ can then define themselves as "completed Jews."

Asking God

People who chronically ask, "What does God want me to do?" are often really just masking a more important and sincere question: "Do I have what it takes to be successful at what I already know God wants me to do?" So they're not so much looking for answers or direction as they are looking for courage and affirmation.

God Followers

Even in times of crisis and deep despair, there are those who follow God and whom through God works. No matter how depraved the world may seem there are always going to be people who follow God and who are used by God to accomplish His purposes. Perhaps the only question is whether you'll know who they are!

Sorrow for Sin

Without sincere sorrow (or brokenness) over one's sin, there can never really be true repentance or even genuine confession.

Remembering Success

During difficult times in life, we may need to remember the crucial turning points in our past to help us through the present. Using past successes as reference points often helps us to know what to do with present challenges.

Satan Talking

The next time the devil wants to remind you of your past, just remind him of his future.

Obedience

Obedience is the one aspect of life that we can control. We can always control our choice to obey God - and to obey the people that He places in authority over us (whether they be secular or spiritual leaders). God gives us free choice, and He expects us to exercise it in obedience.

Reverence for God

Awe and deep respect are the appropriate responses to a holy God. Our actions must model our absolute reverence for God. It's been said that people do what they believe. This is especially true when it comes to the reverence we show God.

Finding Solutions

Often God will provide no solution for our problems until we trust him and move ahead with what we know thus far - or with what we have thus far. Obedience and faith are the foundations of the solutions to our problems in life. When we exercise them (obedience and faith) we find the solutions we're looking for.

Making Decisions

Often times we worry about making the right decision. We may even live in fear of wrong decisions. But God doesn't demand that our judgment be perfect in all situations. He simply asks us to trust Him and to do the best that we know how to do at the time.

Doing the Extraordinary

The strength and courage that we need to do extraordinary things is only found in our relationship with God. "I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) Said differently, human strength and courage have their limits. God's doesn't.

Addiction Recovery

Once God delivers you from an addiction or compulsive behavior - your selfish desires - left unchecked - can keep you trapped as if you were still addicted. And you'll be deceived about what God has done.

Songs of Praise

Songs of praise focus our attention on God. They give us an outlet for spiritual celebration. And they remind us of God's faithfulness, generosity and love. Singing praises to God can have a positive effect on our attitude - and a healing affect on our souls.

Power & Wealth

People who desire power and/or wealth always vastly outnumber those who can use it wisely.

Solving Problems

Our culture has bought the lie that personal problems and relationship problems are no different than physical problems in their nature. We tend to think that both kinds of problems can best be addressed by an expert whose understanding exists outside of Biblical wisdom (such as in science). So we value the wisdom of a licensed professional therapist more than we value the wisdom of our pastor or spiritual leaders. We have entirely lost sight of the fact that every non physical problem is, at its core, a moral problem. And moral problems are only addressed in an individual’s relationship with God.

Finding Jesus

True worship (versus pop music celebration), intense prayer, searching for Christ in Scriptures, humbling ourselves in brokenness over our pride and lukewarm devotion, waiting on him to fill us with his Spirit, and serving him with single-minded purpose and a passion that consumes all others: these are where intimacy with Christ Jesus will be found.

Ministry Credentials

Religion spends too much time and emphasis on theology. We value degrees more than character. We worry about doctrine more than truth. In God’s view, godly character and spiritual wisdom are more honorable than degrees and skills, or even than achievement or expertise. So what good are preaching skills or Bible knowledge if they lack character and wisdom that comes only from God (and not from any seminary or Bible college)?

Intimacy With Christ

The depth of true connection with Christ can only be achieved through unexplained suffering, excruciating brokenness, and deep repentance. Mistakenly, modern Christianity has told us to focus on solving our problems, relieving our pain and recover our self-esteem. This is not where intimacy with Christ Jesus is found.

Manliness

Manliness is not about machismo, strength, or even tenderness of emotion. The only way to be a true man is to be a godly man. Too often men study other men to form their ideals of what masculinity is about. Rather they should study God, where their masculinity is really revealed.

Count the Cost

Today’s Christians must learn to count the cost (everything we have) of following Jesus Christ. We must feel the emptiness of our souls until no cost seems too high if it brings us into contact with Him. We must resist the influence of a Christian culture that values self-discovery and self-fulfillment over abandoning ourselves to God.

On Selfishness

The character defect of selfishness is not always apparent. But it will reveal itself clearly in hard times. Despite someone’s appearance of kindness and generosity – which may even seem extravagant at times, a bottom-line commitment to their own well being will clearly surface when the chips are down. It’s where selfishness stands exposed.