"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).In his 1967 book, The Tyranny of the Urgent, author Charles Hummel taught his Christian readers to navigate the constant tension between the urgent and the important. He stressed the fact that the urgent things in daily life tend to crowd out the important things and that, while everything may be "urgent," not everything is "important." Would you agree with that? Quite often we find … Continue Reading ››
What if the Resurrection Never Happened?
For many people, the season known as Easter has become a celebration of Spring - a time for anticipating nicer weather, picnics, egg hunts, rabbits, candy, chocolate, jelly beans, Spring Break, etc., etc. The commercial establishment also capitalizes on this time by announcing a sale, encouraging all of us to show up for church in our Sunday best. While there may be nothing wrong with some of these things, is this really what this holy season is all about?
The Bible tells us that the real … Continue Reading ››
Thinking about Palm Sunday
HOSANNA is a word that we often hear in worship services, for it is frequently used in the lyrics of great old hymns and modern worship songs. Most of us have probably sung the words of Theodulf’s beautiful hymn during a Palm Sunday service:
All glory, laud, and honor, To Thee, Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children, Make sweet Hosannas ring.
Indeed, Hosanna is a word we should sing often and loudly, singing “Hosanna’s in the highest” to our Redeemer and King, Christ Jesus. But do we … Continue Reading ››
Prayer in Three Phases
"Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved" (Psalm 80:3).This verse is a prayer, and the truth contained therein is at least threefold. 1. REPENTANCE IN PRAYER - "Turn us again, O God" That is to say, "We have been doing evil, and now we desire to do good. We have been going the wrong way, and now we desire to go the right way." Only the Lord can make this change in the heart of individuals, but He … Continue Reading ››
God’s Glorious Gospel
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).This wonderful text refers to the greatest gospel preacher of all time -- the apostle Paul; the greatest Person of all the ages -- the Lord Jesus Christ; the greatest power in all the universe -- the power of God; and the greatest purpose in eternity -- the salvation of the … Continue Reading ››
Our Service for Jesus Christ
"Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it" (John 2:5b).At the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, the mother of Jesus spoke to servants in the words of this text. What they did, they were doing for Jesus. Today the Lord calls on all believers to serve for Him and His kingdom. In the words of four other Bible texts we will see the method, the motive, the means, and the manner of service for Jesus Christ. 1. THE METHOD OF SERVICE
"But be ye doers of the … Continue Reading ››
Good News for Every Christian
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).With so much bad and depressing news happening in our world, how about a little good news, dear Christian? Ready? Our sins are forgiven. God is our Father. Jesus is our Friend. The Holy Spirit is our ever-present Comforter and Teacher. The Word of God is our guide. The family of God is our kin. The past with its sin is … Continue Reading ››
We Were Made for Relationships
"For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself" (Romans 14:7).As we study the New Testament images of the church, we quickly begin to realize the fact that we cannot live the Christian life in isolation. There are to be no "Lone Ranger" Christians, and even the Lone Ranger had Tonto! As Christians, we belong to each other, we affect each other, and we need each other. In a society that screams, "Look out for number one" and "It's all about me," … Continue Reading ››
57 Cents that Made History
Many years ago now, a sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was too crowded. When the pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Russell H. Conwell, asked her why she was crying, she replied that they could not let her into the Sunday School because there was no more room. He said that he would take her in, and he did so, telling her that one day they should have a room big enough … Continue Reading ››
Encourage Others to Look to Jesus
John Egglen had never preached a sermon in his life. Never.
Wasn't that he didn't want to, just never needed to. But then one morning he did. The snow left his town of Colchester, England, buried in white. When he awoke on that January Sunday in 1850, he thought of staying home. Who would go to church in such weather?
But he reconsidered. He was, after all, a deacon. And if the deacons didn't go, who would? So he put on his boots, hat, and coat and … Continue Reading ››