Are you actively pursuing peace in your life? It usually takes great intentionality and always humility. Let’s be honest, neither of those comes easy. Conflict is exhausting and pride is strong. Even so, living in real peace is a worthy prize — something I’m trying to focus on and improve in my own life and…
Tag: Scripture
2016 Summer Series at The Gathering
I love the summer! I enjoy the other three seasons, but I have a definite favorite. It is possible that I’m more excited about this summer than I have been in quite a while, at least as far as it relates to my time as Lead Pastor at The Gathering goes. I’m so ready for…
A Morning Meditation
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 This is an amazing passage, especially in light of the fact that Paul has just concluded chapter 7 by talking of the war that wages within us; of the struggle, as Christ-followers, to do what we want to do, all…
Morning Encouragement
Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! 20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[b] his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is…
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. …
Conversational Scripture Reading
Have you ever tried praying Scripture back to God? I’m talking about actually speaking the text back to Him using conversational pronouns (I may have just made that term up, but you get the point), for example, changing “He” and “the Lord” to “You”. It makes for an amazing prayer and worship time. Give it a…
Portrait of a Savior, Part 11 video
Portrait of a Savior, Part 11 from The Gathering on Vimeo. According to John, Jesus has the authority to both give life to whomever He pleases and to judge the living and the dead. What does it mean to truly live the life given by Christ? Is it possible to have eternal life and yet…
Sunday’s Message Video – Faithworks: Wisdom for Trials
The Gathering Chattanooga 08-11-13 Sermon-Invitational from The Gathering on Vimeo.
Holy Rebellion: Making the Determination to Stand
I refuse to be defeated. That statement sounds a bit absurd, if you think about it. I mean, if I’m standing in a boxing ring in front of a 230lb well-tuned fighting machine, I’m not sure that my attitude matters very much. I don’t think he cares what I refuse to do. He’s going to…
T-Shirt Theology
I’m often amazed at how easy it is to become so focused on a thought we want to convey that we lose sight of truth, often derailing the very point we set out to make. Here’s an example of what I mean: This morning, I heard a guy on the radio make the following statement:…
Memorizing Philippians
Working on memorizing the book of Philippians using the Partnering to Remember plan. If you want to join me, check it out here. Posted from WordPress for Android
What a Gift!
Amazing video of the Kimyal people receiving the Bible into their own language for the first time. This is a good reminder to me on this Christmas Eve of the blessing of Christ coming and the very Scripture that reveals Him that I so quickly take for granted. God, forgive me. To have that kind…
The Testimony of God – 1 John 5:6-10
It has always been said that actions speak louder than words. It’s one thing to make a claim, it’s another to back it up. In 1 John 5:6-10, the apostle tells us that Jesus did both. He not only claimed to be the Son of God and savior to the world, his actions are evidence…
A New Kind of Test – 1 John 4:1-5
Up to now, the tests in 1 John have been for us. We have been given tests to demonstrate whether or not Christ really lives in us and if we are really following after Him. Now, the tables are turned. Testing the spirits is a vital operation that we must carry out constantly. In an…
Doubt-Less – 1 John 3:19-24
Have you ever had serious doubts about your salvation? I think we all have from time-to-time. Sometimes they’re well founded because it is possible to spend an entire lifetime going to church, doing all the religious ritual stuff, “doing good,” never having entered into a saving knowledge of Jesus (beyond head knowledge to the heart…
Tough Love – 1 John 3:11-15
Man, John just pulls no punches, does he? Listen to some of this: “Whoever does not love abides in death.” “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Tough stuff, but I read it very appreciatively. Sometimes we are too polite in the…
Nuances – 1 John 2: 18-21
Interested in a spiritual experience? Take your pick. There is a flavor for every taste. Like all the assurance with half the guilt? No problem. Enjoy a good mountain-top experience with no extra commitment? That’s out there, too. As a matter of fact, one of the most popular nuances in the Christian segment of the…
PSI – Words, in the End, Are Still Just Words – 1 John 1:5-10
It is a popular notion, as Americans, to call ourselves Christians. Ask just about anybody, regardless of lifestyle, beliefs or politics, and they will tell you they are Christian. This just points to the fact that the word, “Christian,” has become meaningless. As a matter of fact, many would hold that because they are Americans…
PSI – Living the Challenge: 1, 2, 3 John
Yesterday, I issued a challenge at The Gathering to begin to get into Scripture. (Audio can be accessed through our website, the Sermon Audio page of this blog, or iTunes, if interested). Looking at the Model Prayer in Matthew 6, we have spent the last three weeks on verse 11: Give us this day our…
PSI – Renewal to Transformation
Over this past week I’ve been meditating on and dealing a lot with the implications of Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. I wanted…
