Do you ever consider the difference in believing in Jesus as compared with other things you believe in but that don’t have much impact in your life? If not, you probably should. Consider the opening words of J.I. Packer’s classic book, Growing in Christ: When people are asked what they believe in, they give, not…
Tag: Discipleship
Getting Off of the Emotional Rollercoaster
As I prepared for my message (54:20) this past week, I gave a lot of thought to the role of emotions in the Christian’s life. How much do we rely on them? What weight should we give them in assessing our spiritual health? Is the presence of deep emotion the sign of deep spirituality or…
Shaking Away the Chaff
Anyone who knows me knows that I love everything about coffee, from roasting to drinking. I have roasted my own coffee beans for about 20 years. Even so, a very simple but profound truth came to mind while roasting this past Saturday. When I finish roasting, I take the round cage full of beans and…
Article Recommendation: Christianity is Not Just About A Personal Relationship With Jesus
I mentioned a thought-provoking article on Sunday that I promised I would share on my website this week. The author of the article, Chad Bird, argues that when we are called into a relationship with God, it is not so much about a personal relationship with Jesus but is much more accurately described as a…
A Daily Devotional Recommendation: New Morning Mercies
Looking for a new devotional for 2019? I can’t recommend this one by Paul David Tripp enough! My wife, Karen, and I have been going through New Morning Mercies together over the last couple of years and found it rich with encouragement, grace, and spiritual insights. Today, we started through it again. Thoroughly Gospel-centered, Paul…
The Proven Character of Our Faith
Several years ago, my friend, Todd, called me with news that he had developed terminal cancer. I remember hearing the strength in his voice. It was noteworthy, not only because he had just received the news no one wants to hear, but because my own voice was shaky as my heart sunk at the news….
Owned
This is a passage that, if you consider it honestly and seriously, will rock your world and radically change your priorities: Luke 12:31-34 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to…
7 Tips for Reading Better, Faster and Smarter
I have to read a lot for my job. As a pastor, my responsibility is not to know everything, but to know as much as I can and then know where to find what I don’t know (which is plenty!). That’s a big responsibility when you are regularly asked questions on every minutia of theology…
Demonic Distraction
I’m not likely to elicit the services of a prostitute. I’m not likely to get a bottle of scotch and polish it off in a sitting. I’m not likely to hunt down someone I dislike and take them out with one, ridiculously accurate shot between the eyes. There are probably a thousand different things I…
The Truth of the Moment: Recovering from a Spiritual Slump
If you’ve ever been in a play or any kind of production where you were required to recite memorized lines, you know the most terrifying thing to happen is to forget your lines. You freeze, palms begin to sweat, you get the deer-in-headlights look, heat begins to overwhelm your body, causing instantaneous beads of sweat…
The Equipping Work of God
Our folks at The Gathering have heard me say quite often, “What God calls you to, He equips you for.” I thoroughly believe that. Ephesians 2: 10 affirms that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” So, He’s definitely called us. …
TGC Article: 8 Lies Christians Believe About Success
Man, this is such a great article on the lies Christians believe about being successful in life. If you are serious about being a faithful disciple of Jesus, I would highly recommend you read and re-read this from The Gospel Coalition blog. Here is an excerpt of a few of the lies we easily fall…
Reflecting on a Purpose-filled Life
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life…
Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Discipleship
Started reading The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer today. I didn’t get through the introduction before I came across a great quote: When the Bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts…
When Doctrine Comes Alive
Last night, we had one of our Institute classes at The Gathering. If you’re not familiar, Institute is currently an in-depth systematic theology class we take some of our members through. It can be rather intense and challenging to complete. I have to say, though, I am so proud of those who have taken on…
Saving Daylight
(You can watch the message from March 10, 2013 here, called….yeah, Saving Daylight) What are you doing with your time? If I were to ask you where your time is spent each day, unless your life is simply consumed by just one or two things, you probably would have a tough time accounting for all…
I’m Journibling Romans
No, I didn’t misspell it. I’m actually Journibling. It’s supposed to be a combination of “journal” and “Bible” in which you become a scribe, actually writing out the text of Scripture, giving you an opportunity to think through what you are writing and also, by writing, a greater shot at retention. It’s a pretty cool…
Idols of the Heart
Rarely do I teach a class or deliver a message that hasn’t already penetrated my soul and taught me first. I think that the only way a message is really exceptional is if the Holy Spirit has brought the hammer down first in the teacher/preacher’s life so that the passion can come from a place…
Call for the Question
OK, admittedly, this kind of post is dangerous and can be a set-up for a flop if nobody responds, but I’m gonna do it anyway (so I hope you don’t leave me hanging). Backstory: I used to have a very active and time-consuming blog called Espresso Roast. I still keep it actively…
If you say that you’re a follower of Jesus, but you’re not actually following Jesus, then you’re not really a follower of Jesus. David Price
