There are NO friends like church friends! Sometimes you have “school friends” or “work friends” or “neighborhood friends” or even “family friends,” but there are NO friends like church friends! They are the kind of friend, as wisdom would suggest, “who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24), because they truly are a “brother in Christ”! Church friends love you deeper, truly care for you…

The apostle Paul was trying to encourage the brethren in Philippi and was wanting them to continue to find true joy in serving Christ. Sometimes it is easy for the world to distract us and cause us to forget all of the reasons that we have to rejoice as Christians.  Among the many great joys that we have in Christ is this reminder:…

If I ask you to think of a well-known Bible story about David and another Bible character, what would first come to mind—David and Goliath (in 1 Samuel 17) OR David and Bathsheba (in 2 Samuel 11)? Which of those events most defines the life of David? If I ask you to think of a well-known Bible story about Peter’s three-fold expression of his…

Do you know any Christians who make being a Christian “harder than it should be”? Some folks look at living the Christian life as a “hard” thing to do (and certainly some things are “difficult,” Matt. 7:14), but most of the time what folks are doing is making it “harder” in their heads than it actually is.  Folks say things like, “The elders…

The child of God must have nothing to do with evil! There is no place of any kind where evil is permitted in our lives! Consider how much the book of Proverbs has to say about this. First, the wise man warns and condemns everyone who “desires evil” (Prov. 21:10), “devises evil” (12:20; 14:22), “seeks evil” (11:27), “pursues evil” (11:19), “brings about evil” (16:30)…

There may be some who are offended at this title or some who will not read the article because of the title, but can I tell you briefly what’s on my heart? The Bible calls the church the “body” of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23), and when a part of our body is not here with us, we miss you (like we would miss…

An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias to tell him that he was going to have a son. There would be three distinct responses to his coming. (1) John’s parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth, would “have joy and gladness” (Luke 1:14). What a joy it is when parents find joy in their children! But that is not the main focus here! (2) “Many” people would hear about…

I think every preacher has been there. Unfortunately, it happens to this preacher too often—most recently saying that a certain church family had requested, “No prayers,” instead of saying that they had requested, “No visitors.” Big difference. Big mistake. Aren’t you glad (and abundantly encouraged) that our God never (not even once) had a brain misfire, a tongue misfire or a deed misfire!? Folks will sometimes…