Church is often dull because we think about it like secularists, not according to scripture. This world takes its stand against Christ, and Jesus tells us that as believers, we will have trouble. He also reminds us to take heart because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). For us to take heart, which leaves … Continue reading Why Church is Often Boring
No matter how hostile the world may become towards Christians, the Lord always has fellow believers available to us for support. We were never meant to stand alone, and we should be available to encourage other believers as well. The apostle Paul faced countless persecutions as a Christian. From stonings to beatings to imprisonment, all … Continue reading Together in a Hostile World
No preacher worth his weight enters the pulpit without some distress. There is a heaviness to delivering the word of God that is unlike anything else. Even if the preacher is naturally jovial, the man moved by the Spirit of God will tremble under the gravity of what he is doing. I do not hold the office … Continue reading The Distress and Delight of Preaching
There are times when we falter in our faith and give into temptation, but that does not mean that Jesus Christ is not in us. Unless, of course, we examine ourselves and fail to meet the test (2 Corinthians 13:5). Even in the Christian, there are times when quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and … Continue reading 3 Steps to Examining Your Faith
It is not that what many evangelists today say is untrue, they simply put the emphasis on the wrong syllable, and it can have a damning effect. Arthur Pink wrote this over 100 years ago, and it is just as true today as it was then. The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day … Continue reading Defective Evangelism
When we call the sloppy sentimentalism that has overrun many churches “feminine,” we do a disservice to Godly women everywhere. Over the past 15 to 20 years, there has been no shortage of people claiming the church has become soft and ineffective because it has become feminine. This tactic was a favorite of Mark Driscoll, but Driscoll … Continue reading The Problem with Church is Not Femininity
This is a quick 50-second reminder that we need to prepare our hearts for worship. https://youtu.be/MLgo1PrDX2o So often, you'll hear someone say, "You know, I just don't get anything out of that church," or "I sat through that service, and I did not get anything out of it." The question I always want to ask … Continue reading “I Don’t Get Anything Out of Church”
There have been times when God was so displeased with his people he restricted their ability to worship, and Joel 1:9 is one example. The people of God had grown so cold and indifferent toward God that their worship was worthless. They had a form of Godliness but denied its power. Knowing this, God began to discipline his … Continue reading When God Closes Churches
There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, - Matthew 27:55 These were the earliest of a great and noble army of holy women, attached to Christ by deep, personal love, following and ministering unto Him. In all the ages since, Christian women have shown similar … Continue reading A Noble Army of Christian Women
It seems the chief end of some local churches is to exist. Maintaining the building, meeting budgets, and preserving attendance by making sure the congregants have a pleasant experience so they will not leave is what drives the decisions of many church leaders. There is nothing wrong with working toward these goals. They are fine as long as those … Continue reading Great Churches are Willing to Go Out of Business
The Fight of Faith 