Over my years of pastoral ministry, when people experience sickness, lose a job or mourn the passing of a loved one, they have often asked the question, “Why did God allow that to happen?” In those painful situations, it’s quite natural to wonder what role God might have behind the scenes. Some go so farContinue reading “God’s message to us when life seems out of control – Jeremiah 46 & 47”
Tag Archives: encouragement
Hope for those in darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 3
Where do we find light in this dark world? Where do we find hope? Sometime people seek answers in harmful ways and places. They seek answers by indulging in the pleasures of life, or in addictive substances. Could be in social media, pornography, or television. All kinds of entertainment. We try to bring light intoContinue reading “Hope for those in darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 3”
How to encourage one another – Colossians 4:7-18, Part 1
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome David Hundert on the blog. David is an MDiv student and member of Faith Church. He preaches for me 3-4 times each year when I am away, and this past week I was my denomination’s national conference. Thank you, David! There is a story of a young man whoContinue reading “How to encourage one another – Colossians 4:7-18, Part 1”
What happened when I submitted a regular quarterly report, and my boss and my boss’s boss both responded – Colossians 1:9-14, Part 1
What does God expect of us? Does he expect a lot? A little? Is there some way we can measure it? And does he expect us to accomplish it on our own? There are so many different expressions of Christianity that it can be confusing to know what God wants. Take gathered, corporate worship onContinue reading “What happened when I submitted a regular quarterly report, and my boss and my boss’s boss both responded – Colossians 1:9-14, Part 1”
Are you focusing on the wrong things? (If so, here’s how to refocus!) – Acts 28, Part 2
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome Paul Mannino to the blog, and he will be discussing Acts 28. If you want to watch the sermon, it’s posted on Paul’s YouTube Channel here. My wife, Michelle, and I met Paul and his wife, Mary Kate, at the Evangelical Congregational Church’s Pastoral Assessment Center this past January.Continue reading “Are you focusing on the wrong things? (If so, here’s how to refocus!) – Acts 28, Part 2”
What to do and say in the middle of life’s storms – Acts 27, Part 3
When you are in the middle of a life storm, what do you do? What do you say to people who are really struggling? How should disciples of Jesus answers these questions? As we have been studying Acts 27, the Apostle Paul’s journey to Rome, he is on a boat in the middle of aContinue reading “What to do and say in the middle of life’s storms – Acts 27, Part 3”
How to be an encouragement – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 4
Our study of the “One Another” passages in the New Testament continues. If you haven’t read the previous posts, I encourage to start at the first one here. There are more than 50 “One Another” passages, and put together they form a powerful teaching about the identity and practice of the church. This week IContinue reading “How to be an encouragement – Current Events Q3 2020, Part 4”
How to encourage others in tough times – Acts 9:1-31, Part 4
Do you have a nickname? I love nicknames. I don’t believe I’ve ever had one that stuck, though. Sometimes nicknames meander through a progression, like the nickname Michael Scott gives Daryl Philbin on the TV show, The Office: “Michael refers to him as “Mittah Rogers”—a nickname which began as “Regis” (as Darryl’s last name isContinue reading “How to encourage others in tough times – Acts 9:1-31, Part 4”
How to build others up in the faith – Jude 17-25, Part 2
Are you building others up? What does it mean to build others up? In th previous post I mentioned that there are Christian phrases that we use but maybe don’t fully understand. Today we’re looking at the phrase “build each other up.” Are you building others up in the faith? Yesterday we began our seriesContinue reading “How to build others up in the faith – Jude 17-25, Part 2”
Be a Refresher of Hearts! Philemon 1-7, Part 5
How do people come away from interacting with you? Think about some of the recent times that you have interacted with people. Maybe it was your family members. Perhaps it was co-workers. Or even social media posts. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the people who were with you, or who were readingContinue reading “Be a Refresher of Hearts! Philemon 1-7, Part 5”
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