Our world looks at “doing nice things for others” or “helping others” and sometimes asks, “Ok, well, what’s in it for me? What do I get out of it?” If we are not careful (as Christians), that same mentality can creep into our hearts. We must be vigilant to guard against it. Jesus addressed this topic in Luke chapter 6, with three scenarios: “…if you love…

One of the most sobering passages in the Bible is found at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. Jesus pleaded with His disciples to “Enter by the narrow gate,” because “many” will miss it and “go in” the wide gate “by” the broad way to destruction (7:13). Jesus used that same word—“many”—nine verses later to reveal what would happen…

Do you suppose the apostle Paul ever had Christians telling him how great he was, how wonderful his sermons were, how talented a preacher he was? No doubt he did. That’s the nature of people. Some even went so far as to hold him up as “their preacher” and to claim, “I am of Paul” (1 Cor. 1:12). Do you think that went to Paul’s head?…

While speaking with one of our elderly members on the phone, this member made the following observation about the generous spirit that seems to permeate this congregation and leads to incredibly large contributions: “I think we probably have some members who are not able to give what they give, but they deny themselves in order to give to the Lord.” Think about that…

As Paul was encouraging the church in Colosse in “the steadfastness of [their] faith in Christ” (Col. 2:5), he urged them to focus intently on what they had “received” (2:6)—i.e., “been taught” (2:7)—regarding “Christ Jesus our Lord” and to “so walk in Him” (2:6). He did not want their faith to waver, so he appealed to them to have their faith “firmly rooted”…