Why My Daily Devotional Time Isn’t Optional Anymore

Daily Devotional Time. The Real Me “I can’t believe you can’t tie your own shoes,” I grumbled impatiently as I tied my kindergartener’s shoes.  “You are plenty old enough to be doing this by yourself.” I finished, glaring at him as I stood up.   “Nolan, don’t just stand in front of the mirror. Brush your… Continue reading Why My Daily Devotional Time Isn’t Optional Anymore

Academic or devotional? How do you read?

Is formal study of Scripture different to personal devotional reading? How do we keep them separate? Should we? How do I balance my academic reading of Scripture with my devotional reading? It’s a question I get from friends, students and pastors. I understand why: if we read the Bible only to write papers or deliver… Continue reading Academic or devotional? How do you read?

The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Plea for Forgiveness

This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. Because of the physical rigors of crucifixion, Christ spoke only with great difficulty during His final hours on the cross. Scripture records just seven brief sayings from the Savior on the cross, but every one of them reveals that Christ remained sovereignly in control, even as… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Plea for Forgiveness

The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Promise of Salvation

This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. You may have heard stories of immediate answers to prayer. A destitute family thanks the Lord for a non-existent meal, and someone knocks at the door with food. A man with an empty bank account prays for help, and immediately finds an unexpected check in the… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Promise of Salvation

The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Provision for His Mother

This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. In the midst of His greatest anguish, Christ’s attention was not on Himself and His needs. Even as He hung on the cross, beaten and bleeding to death, His focus was on all that His Father was accomplishing—we see that illustrated in each of His seven… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Provision for His Mother

The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Petition to the Father

This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. Famous last words can be tragic or inspiring. Not everyone has the opportunity to choose their last words carefully, but for those who see death coming, what message of wisdom, love, confession, or summation do they deliver with their final breaths? In preparation for the celebrations… Continue reading The Seven Last Sayings of Christ: A Petition to the Father

Jonah: The Rogue Prophet

This post was first published in March, 2015. —ed. The sea is no place to go for peace and quiet. Modern meteorology has documented the destructive power rogue waves, tropical cyclones, microbursts, and other weather phenomena that pose unique threats to ships at sea. But the storm described in the first chapter of Jonah was… Continue reading Jonah: The Rogue Prophet

Why I Still Preach the Bible

This post was first published in January, 2014. —ed. Sadly and ironically, in its attempt to achieve cultural relevance, mainstream evangelicalism has become essentially irrelevant. As Os Guiness points out, [1] the seductive promise of “relevance” is, in reality, the road to irrelevance. When the church markets itself like the world, the distinctiveness of its message is… Continue reading Why I Still Preach the Bible

Backsliding inspirational Bible quotes to empower you

Reading inspirational Bible quotes is crucial to our faith. In spirituality, backsliding holds significant importance. “Backsliding” refers to a spiritual regression, falling away from one’s faith, returning to old ways, or drifting away from a close relationship with God. The Bible provides profound insights into the nature and consequences of backsliding, urging believers to be… Continue reading Backsliding inspirational Bible quotes to empower you