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When you choose loyalty to God over comfort, you place yourself where His blessing can find you. As happens in the story of Ruth, quiet faithfulness becomes the pathway to His provision, favor, and greater purpose.
The Bible lists nine spiritual fruits, qualities that all of us can be on board with as it relates to living better lives. But if they're so good, why is the world so full of cruelty and the opposite of these traits? How can we grow spiritual fruit, anyway?
Storms can be scary business. They're often loud, disruptive, and even destructive. Often, we pray to be delivered or rescued from storms. But there is also a case to be made for asking God for storms to come our way.
As a pastor of a smaller church for close to the past three years, I have learned that many people live in constant fear. This is surprising to me when you consider all the Bible has to say on the subject of fear for those who believe in Him. So, how can people break free from their fears?
By the world's measure, Jesus was a nobody who came from a nowhere town. He was a man of no regard. And yet, somehow, this man from Nazareth changed the world forever. And He can bring the change you've been looking for as well.
Do you call yourself a follower of Jesus but are not interacting with other believers? Staying at home on Sunday? Consider the larger picture; not only do you need other followers of Jesus in your life, but they need you.
What does it mean to swear allegiance to King Charles? Can a Christian swear to tell the truth with a hand on a Bible when they enter a courtroom? People always ask these questions. So, maybe we'll try and answer them biblically.
King David and Jesus have a few things in common. One of the most surprising is that they both uttered the words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" in anguish. Maybe you've felt like that too. Does God abandon His children from time to time? Perish the thought.
The Bible tells us that it is profitable to teach us and correct us. How does it go about doing that? Should we see the Bible as "Basic Instructions for Leaving Earth," as some from the past told us? Or does it offer us something richer?
I read close to a dozen books this year, and these six are my recommendations for you. They each impacted me in different ways and I just wanted to share.
As many sincere, intelligent minds in the Christian church ponder the meaning of Scripture, one somewhat regular idea occurs. We need to adapt our worship culture and our Sunday morning practices to be more like that original first-century church. But is that what God truly intends for us living out the faith in the twenty-first century?