Fathers want the best for their children. Most of all, fathers want happiness for them.
My father, a gospel preacher for more than 30 years, always wanted me to be a preacher. My first name came as a result of my father’s love of scripture. His vision for me was to become like Jesus and develop a love of the truth so that I might be saved and proclaim the gospel to others. Continue reading “As shining lights”
As Jesus said Paul would “carry [his] name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel” Acts 9.15, the apostle preached righteousness to Felix, the Roman governor.
The subject of righteousness makes up part of the gospel and should be proclaimed today. See these points from the text of Acts 24.
As Paul answered the false charges against him, he noted the great truth shared between him and his accusers. Continue reading “Speaking to Felix about righteousness”
Is the term “Long-Winded Sermon” a redundant expression?
I remember telling a brother, in jest, that according to Acts 20:7, I had biblical precedent for preaching until midnight. He laughed, then said, “That’s fine. You can preach until midnight, as long as you can also raise people from the dead” (in a reference to the sleep-deprived Eutychus). I had an answer for him. I reminded him that Paul did not stop at midnight, he was merely interrupted at midnight. He continued to talk to the brethren at Troas until the next morning! Continue reading “Preaching: the Rodney Dangerfield of worship”
A life without lessons isn’t worth living. Continual analysis of what we’re doing will keep us focused and alert. In everything, we must strive to grow and mature.
Bringing glory to Christ is our greatest responsibility (Ephesians 3:20-21). Accordingly, we should always give it our best and pass it along to others. Continue reading “Lessons from writing for God’s people”
We’re commanded to take the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). Utilizing the abilities and opportunities at our disposal, we become useful to the Lord (John 4:35). Continue reading “Tips for teaching the lost”
Some time ago I was doing the children’s singing at a Vacation Bible School. I was asking the kids what song they wanted to sing next when one voice piped up:
“Jingle bells!” he cried.
I could see the smiles on the faces of several adults in the room, but before they could respond, his buddy responded, clear as a … as a bell:
“He means Jesus songs, Bozo!” Continue reading “Full of grace and truth”
We will guard our hearts no matter what happens. We will rationalize or pretend whatever is necessary to bring our lives into some kind of equilibrium. It’s the human way.
While we hear with our ears, we interpret the data through our hearts and minds. That is the real battlefield in terms of the gospel.
We find an excellent example in Acts where two similar messages evoked diametrically opposed reactions. Continue reading “Two sermons, two very different reactions”
“Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
You know the one about the boy who gave a dollar to the preacher? The preacher, surprised, asks: “What’s this for?” The boy responds, “It’s for you,” he responds. “My father says you’re the poorest preacher he’s ever known.
“Preachers,” we are reminded, “should talk about eternity, not for eternity.” Continue reading “Preacher jokes”
Dalton Mansel, (1939-2015), came to ministry by accident but remained with purpose (Colossians 3:23).
Born into a hardscrabble existence, he acquired a work ethic that would burn brightly until his final moments. For 76 years he labored so that his final days were filled with the language of work, orders and management.
His body and spirit refused to remain at rest (Proverbs 13:4).
As he labored more than half a century in retail–forty of them in management–he served God and his family tirelessly (Exodus 4:2; 1 Timothy 5:8). Continue reading “Dalton Mansel worked for God”
We must be very humble to proclaim the power of God’s Word. Continue reading A warning for teachers