Accepting that we cannot make ourselves right and realizing our need for GodAdmitting that we are sinners and asking for God’s forgivenessStating our faith in Jesus and what He did for us, and vowing to follow Him If we have sincerely sought to become right with God and have received Jesus as our Savior, we can rest in knowing we have been born ag

The antagonists of the movement coined the label anabaptist, (re-baptizer), to associate its proponents with heretics. The Anabaptists themselves did not endorse this name since they did not consider their infant baptisms legitimate. Instead, they believed baptism was only for those who had come to saving faith in Christ. This credobaptist view was

People are given eternal life by saying the right things.It’s a common misperception that God automatically grants eternal life to people who say the right things. There are many who treat the Sinner’s Prayer like magic words which force God to dispense His grace. People think if they can just convince or manipulate a person to say the right words,

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock” Matthew 7:24-25.Should We Avoid the Company of Those Who Call Evil Good?It’s quite an impossibl

“'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts.'" – Isaiah 55:8-9At some point in this journey of life, especially when things don’t go the way you think they should we must remember God’s w

We Are to Thank God for the Provision We Are about to Receive It’s easy to thank God when He has already provided and met our needs. Many of the Psalms, especially those known as thanksgiving Psalms, show gratitude to God for the harvest and provision of food (Psalm 67), for salvation (Psalm 65), for God as Redeemer (Psalm 107), for fair judgment (

1. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Heart pumping furiously, leg muscles screaming, the marathon runner rounds the last bend. The cheering crowds grow exponentially louder as he approaches the end of his race. What’s the worst thing he could do at this moment? Take his eyes off the finish line.Peter opens his letter by reminding us of our great and glor

Other than the glimpse of the afterlife given in Luke in Jesus’ parable, the Bible does not give a real glimpse into Sheol.How Is Sheol Described?Despite the lack of concrete details in the Bible, it does give hints and glimpses about this realm of the dead.Some of the things the Bible does say about Sheol include:Sheol is visible and accessible to

What Does it Mean to Give Thanks to the Lord?Psalm 107 talks a lot about the moments where God delivers us from dark situations, but it starts by saying we should give thanks because God’s love is always there. Seen in the context of other psalms—some about repenting after mistakes, others calling out for God’s help in troubled times, some about un

There Are Many Different Kinds of Change To get to that place God desires for you, sometimes you must radically change directions. Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18? The guy had it all: smart, young, successful. He had power and influence, but he wanted something more – he wanted eternal life. So he came to Jesus and aske

What Is Biblical Love? In the New Testament, the most common word translated “love” is agape. It means affection and goodwill, but also has the motivation of benevolence. In other words, love does what is best for the one loved. It activates the will to respond in ways that benefit the object of our love. God is the original (and only) source of th

In speaking of the Spirit as substance, we can’t miss that he is also a Person. The Spirit is a substance that acts as a Person, someone who does relational things. The Spirit works out God’s will, is active, speaks, thinks, feels, can be offended, bears witness, testifies, and more.The night before Jesus’ death, he spent time teaching intimate rev

King David's Example of Overcoming Painful Loss In 2 Samuel 11-12, we find an account of tragedy and loss which occurred later in King David's life. David was no longer the charismatic boy who killed Goliath and rallied the nation for God. He was King over Israel – a king whom power had corrupted. David, the man after God's own heart, had become se

How Does the Bible Describe Love?1 Corinthians 13:4-8b NKJV is a clear description of love through actions and attitudes. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the

1. A New Year’s Prayer for Peace “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).God has offered us his peace. The reality of peace is that it is not the absence of chaos but the presence of calm within the chaos. As you face the new year, r

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the t

Think of funny mistakes you have made in the past.Ask clergy for stories about laughter.Walk outside and look for things to make you laugh. Animals can be funny.Visit a petting zoo. Watch the baby animals.Start a “laughter group.” Get together with friends and share funny stories.Volunteer. Helping others often brings joy and laughter.Think about f

· Do not judge, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37).For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).The Sermon on the Plain concludes with Jesus telling the large crowd a parable contrasting a house built on a firm foundation versus a house built on an infirm foundation (Luke 6:48-49). A common interpretation of this parab

Is It True That God Is Greater Than Anything in the World?The answer to this question, “Is God greater than anything in the world,” is a resounding yes! God is truly greater than anything in the world. Christ’s followers will encounter false teachers. Yet God is greater. Christians will face hardships, and sorrows, and all sorts of troubles. God is

An old saying states that, ‘You can’t fly like an eagle if you’re walking with pigeons.’ Eagles are majestic in their ability to soar, while pigeons on the other hand, have been perceived as being ‘rats with wings'. And while the moniker does not entirely fit them, the comparison between the two birds are stunning.Peter and John were no doubt both