Writing to Help You Find and Share the Hope of Jesus
"For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8 We recently started a new sermon series at Rock Haven Church in the books of 1 and 2 Kings. These books, found in the Old Testament of … Continue reading Is Your Faith “Ineffective and Unfruitful”?: The Danger of Undiagnosed Spiritual Decline
[E]quip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”Ephesians 4:12 If you ask my two pre-teen daughters what my most frequent “Dadism” is, they’d probably tell you it’s, “You need to learn to cut your own pancakes.” This is my go-to line whenever they expect mom or dad to … Continue reading “Learn To Cut Your Own Pancakes”: The Forgotten Priority of Equipping
My family and I are heading up to northern Minnesota on Saturday for a week-long vacation. The past few weeks I’ve tried to think through what it means to rest well on vacation. Here are five thoughts to help me (and maybe you) honor God by resting well on vacation. Actually Rest From Your Work … Continue reading Believe and Rest: Five Thoughts On Resting Well On Vacation
That the God of all creation is wrathful doesn’t make it on to many bumper stickers, coffee mugs, or inspirational social media posts. You don’t find Romans 12:19, John 3:36, or Nahum 1:2 on decorative signs in boutique stores or hanging on a Christian family’s kitchen wall. Some Christians are offended by the idea of … Continue reading Don’t Be Offended – God’s Wrath on Good Friday
“Let us therefore strive to enter [God’s] rest”Hebrews 4:11 “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1) “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) In other words, don’t miss this. That’s the urgent cry of the book of … Continue reading Strive to Enter God’s Rest – 5 Helps to Continue Believing the Gospel
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.Hebrews 2:18 “Put on your coat.” It surprises me how often I have to say this as a dad … in winter … in Minnesota. Most of the time when I say it it’s because one of my … Continue reading Put On Your Coat – 4 Ways Christ Helps Us With Temptation
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.Hebrews 6:19 This morning I had a great opportunity to talk about hope with a group of teenage boys at Prairie Lakes Youth Programs. With Hebrews 6:19 in mind, I talked about how … Continue reading Anchor of the Soul
[Jesus], the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.Hebrews 12:2 A guy I meet with shared with me this week how frustrated he was that he and his wife had … Continue reading But I Have To
A Thrill of Hope 