How Many Missionary Journeys Did Paul Make? First, it would be helpful for us to establish a definition of a missionary journey. In order for something to be called a missionary journey, there needs to be some sort of explicit mission or purpose, and a type of commissioning. Paul was always doing ministry. In one sense you could say that from the p

1. Liturgy Connects Us to Others The word “liturgy” is derived from the Greek word leitourgia which means “the work of the people.” Liturgy is the church acting as one. Take congregational singing as an example. Hymns are not sung by the lone individuals within the church, but by the church itself. The congregation sings with one voice to praise th

- Remember a time when God has already blessed you with comfort- Write out verses that stir your heart- Put the passages into your own words- Lift up a prayer to God using the verse or your version of it to start you off- Be ready to share an experience of God’s comfort in your lifeA Prayer Using these Comforting PsalmsHeavenly Father,Psalm 30 says

Where Does the Bible Talk about Questioning God? Scripture provides wisdom for every situation, including when we question God. Perhaps you have wondered if questioning God is a sin. God knows our every thought. There is not one thing we can hide from Him. Therefore, when we have questions or doubts, we are encouraged to go to the Father in prayer

What Does It Mean to Have an "Attitude of Gratitude"? Having an attitude of gratitude means that one chooses to intentionally express gratitude and appreciation for things in their life. Showing a sense of appreciation for the big things and the small things on a consistent basis demonstrates having an attitude of gratitude. This idea or phrase is

8 Prayers for Dads 1. Prayer of Thanks for Dad“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).The best place to begin a prayer for dads is by giving thanks. This is difficult for many people because dads come in all varieties. Some really good and some no

Christianity essentially depends not on what we decide to do, or how good we try to be, but who we are in Christ, and what the Spirit is working inside of us. We are, by nature, sinful trees with sinful hearts. Yet as Jesus so famously explained to Nicodemus, to be in Christ we must be born again. Of ourselves, we cannot bear good fruit, and the ov

Who Is Hagar? The first time the Bible mentions Hagar is in Genesis 16:1: “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.’”Hagar had no choice in this matter, but she do

Prayer for Healing the Sick Lord Jesus, thank you that you love [name of person who needs healing]. I know that you hate what their illness is doing to them/me. I ask, in the name of Jesus, that you would heal this disease, that you would have compassion and bring healing from all sickness. God, I thank you that [name of person who needs healing] b

3. Do you have people you can call at a moment’s notice who will pray for you, and with you, if you need it?4. Do you have people you can talk and fellowship with, and not just talk about the Bible or “spiritual” stuff?5. Do you have people in your life who will tell you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it?6. Does everyone in your circle

When His friend Lazarus died, Jesus grieved with Martha and Mary, the dead man’s sisters. He had been buried for three days. In an exchange with Martha, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”

“When on trial before the Sanhedrin, Christ declared, ‘You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven’ (Mark 14:62 NIV). The members of the Sanhedrin would’ve quickly associated this with the messianic prophecy of Daniel 7:13 (NIV), ‘There before me was one like a son of man, coming with t

1. Promises – Maverick City Music This song brings renewed focus to the faithfulness of God and that he keeps his promises to his beloved children. Worshippers are reminded in the lyrics that God is faithful and good! In any situation followers of Jesus can put their hope in Him and praise Him because He never lets them down.The Bible consistently

Set Your Mind as Your WaitTo actively wait on God, fill your mind with the truth about God’s character, especially as it pertains to your situation. In Colossians, Paul says, “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).It may take some practice to deliberately “set your mind” on anything but your problems. But you can u

5. Richard the Lionheart, a king of England, only spent six months of his reign in England because he wanted to be in the Holy Land on Crusade instead. He developed a unique respect for Saladin, and died on his way back to England. The Robin Hood myth features this king.6. Many of the Christians who went on the early Crusades really believed they w

It’s a matter of choosing priorities. When Jesus says you must “hate” your family and “hate” your own life, He is simply saying that, by comparison to your love for Me, your love for them should look like hate. This was the common use of the word “hate” in the Hebrew culture. It meant that you loved one thing or one person so radically and intensiv

God Is Still Near Depending on the severity of the problem, parents are sometimes given the option (and even advised) to terminate the pregnancy. This is such a heavy burden to bear. It was not supposed to go this way. So much joy and hope had been wrapped up in the promise of a child, and now that’s all turned on its head. We mourn with those who

During the life of Jesus, Galilee was part of the Roman Empire. Located strategically between Syria and Egypt, Roman leaders and allies were placed in rule there to ensure peace. Ruled by foreigners, relations between the Gentiles and Jewish people were tense. Historically significant is Galilee’s strong resistance to the Roman Empire, putting up t

What Is the Context of John 14? Before considering what is meant by “mansions” it is helpful to consider the overall thrust and meaning of the passage. John 14 is part of Jesus’ final discourse with his disciples. He has had a Passover meal with them, he has spoken of his betrayal, his death, and even that the disciples would abandon him. The exper

What Does It Mean to Be in "Enmity with God?"Earlier we noted the connection between enmity and enemy; they are similar but they are not exact synonyms. Enemies can be reconciled. But that cannot happen while enmity exists—enmity must be abandoned and obliterated. In Romans 5:10 we see that even while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by t