As we conclude our series on spiritual disciplines, we end on the needed topic of evangelism. When I first became a Christian, I was so excited to be saved that evangelism was something I aspired to and often did. I still had timidity in initiating one-on-one conversations, but evangelism was very close to my heart....
One of the most powerful verses in the Bible is Proverbs 18:21, which says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” James 3:5 has the same idea when it states that the tongue is like a fire. Just as a small spark can set a forest into a roaring blaze, the tongue can likewise do devastating work....
I love sports! I love watching sports, playing sports, and going to sporting events, but more than anything, I love watching and coaching my own kids in sports. Coaching sports gives me the opportunity to build relationships with young people and try to help teach them about discipline, commitment, teamwork, and leadership. Coaching has helped me become a better pastor because many principles of pastoring and coaching bleed into one another....
I went back to seminary to pursue a Master of Divinity degree in 2016. The overall experience was great and foundational for my life and ministry. I remember going to a conference at the seminary that year, and I cannot remember one thing I heard there. It was ten years ago! But I do remember one encounter I had....
Making decisions and standing by the consequences of our decisions is a part of maturity. Like Adam in the Garden, we often shirk responsibility for our choices and pin it on someone else. Maturity in Christ owns up to our decisions, for good or ill....
In our first blog entry, we defined anger by saying, “I am god, you are not, and as god, I am not happy with you,” or, to quote Good and Angry, anger says, “I am against that.” In short, anger is a value barometer....
Last week, we examined the reasons for our anger. By definition, anger says, “I am god, you are not, and as god, I am not happy with you.” Or, as one book we quoted stated, anger is saying, “I am against that.” It is critical that we know why we are angry, and it is critical that we see our anger as the sin it is. Yet, if we do not repent and desire to have new affections replace our old fleshly inclinations to anger, we will remain in the same angry rut....
Sinful anger is saying, “I am god, you are not, and as god, I am not happy with you.” I hope to demonstrate this throughout this blog and discuss how serious sinful anger is....
Why do so many pastors fall into serious sin—and what can churches do to prevent it? In this week’s blog, Pastor Seth examines the biblical qualifications for church leadership, the need for meaningful accountability, the dangers of unchecked power, and the importance of church discipline. While scandals can bring deep pain and shame upon the church, Scripture gives us clear principles for protecting Christ’s flock and maintaining the integrity of gospel ministry. This is not a call to abandon the church, but to pursue healthier, more biblical churches where pastors are known, supported, corrected, and held accountable. ...
In the first part of this series, we began looking at the battle against lust and considered several foundational truths that help us understand both the seriousness of the struggle and the strategies needed to fight it. Lust is not a small issue. It is a war being waged within the soul, and Scripture calls us to take that battle seriously....
Last week, we considered the need for prayer and a few introductory thoughts about prayer in general. This week, we will get more specific and consider a pattern by which we ought to pray. Let me address a major problem in evangelical circles that is frankly unbiblical and unbalanced: the allergy to structure in prayer and to praying written prayers. Too many have suggest...
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I remember my dad telling me that a man in his church once said to him, “I have never been the man of prayer that I want to be.” That statement hit me hard when I first heard it, and it continues to hit me hard now. Why? Because I have never been the man of prayer that I want to be either....
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