Have you heard about the Asbury Revival of 2023? The university has chapel services, and students are required to attend a number of chapel services each semester. At one particular service recently, something happened. The manifest presence of the Holy Spirit was like a stream of living water in the lives of the students. TheContinue reading “What God wants from revival – John 7:1-52, Part 4”
Tag Archives: fruit of the spirit
Overcoming the grumps – John 6:22-51, Part 4
What makes you grumpy? Many situations make me grumpy, but it is probably home repairs that hit me the worst. When something breaks in our house, or something needs updated, it really stresses me out, and I can get so grumpy. For other people, it is bad drivers. Some of you hate mornings, and youContinue reading “Overcoming the grumps – John 6:22-51, Part 4”
What real repentance actually looks like – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 4
But neither sorrow nor confession is repentance. Paul writes about this in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, whatContinue reading “What real repentance actually looks like – Advent 2022, Week 2, Part 4”
The problem and solution of God’s invisibility – John 1:1-18, Part 5
How many of you wish that God were visible? How many of you wish that you could just have a little miracle of Jesus showing up at your doorstep to give you some reassurance that he is right there? How many of you look back at some of the miracles recorded in the Bible andContinue reading “The problem and solution of God’s invisibility – John 1:1-18, Part 5”
Christian, what aroma does your manner, method and message give off? – Relationships: In the community, Part 5
My wife, Michelle, works at a local café. She and the other servers say that the Sunday, after-church crowd are some of their least favorite to serve. Why? Their manner, message and method stink. They can be demanding. They can treat their servers coldly or disrespectfully. They can lack polite manners. They can barely tip,Continue reading “Christian, what aroma does your manner, method and message give off? – Relationships: In the community, Part 5”
Do you give off the aroma of life or the aroma of death? – Relationships: In the community, Part 4
When I go running with my dogs, one of the most amazing things is the smell of breakfast cooking emanating from the houses we pass by. Or maybe you are more familiar with the smell of someone cooking burgers. Or a chicken barbeque. The wind can carry that smell really far. I grew up inContinue reading “Do you give off the aroma of life or the aroma of death? – Relationships: In the community, Part 4”
Are you a quality friend? A good member of your community? – Relationships: In your community, Preview
Who are your neighbors? Do you know their names? Their story? Their beliefs? Evaluate your relationships with them. Are you close? Distant? Would they say you care about them? What about your co-workers? Your friends? Your classmates? What does it mean to have godly relationships with the various people in your life? Are we justContinue reading “Are you a quality friend? A good member of your community? – Relationships: In your community, Preview”
How not to leave a church – Relationships: In the Church, Part 5
Did you know that when a pastor leaves a church, anecdotal evidence suggests that 25% of the congregation will also leave the church as a result? Not a guaranteed stat. It could be way less. Could be more. But it should be zero, of course depending on the situation. What I am referring to isContinue reading “How not to leave a church – Relationships: In the Church, Part 5”
Why dying to self and rising again are the way to have healthy… – Relationships: In the Church, Part 4
We continue the story of Jesus to see how his birth, life, death and resurrection is instructive for church family relationships. We celebrate Jesus coming in the flesh at Christmas. We must also consider Good Friday, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 2 that God, who was willing to take on human flesh, also tookContinue reading “Why dying to self and rising again are the way to have healthy… – Relationships: In the Church, Part 4”
The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1
Calling the people in a local church congregation a “family” is pretty normal in Christian circles. In fact one of the most common ways that the New Testament writers refer to the people in a church congregation is by using the terms “brothers” and “sisters”. We are siblings in Christ. I wonder if that soundsContinue reading “The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1”
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