The Bible commands us to avoid bitterness. We must put it away; get rid of it; kill it. Confess bitterness as sin. Forgive those who have wronged you. Refuse to hold on to that hurt. It’s not doing you any good. Don’t brood over the wrongs that others have done to you or the pains that you have suffered. Don’t dwell on your disappointments. Look to the future, not the past. Read More ...
Pride is the essential sin. Going our own way, doing our own thing, rebelling against God’s law, demanding our own rights—all this is based on pride. Read More ...
Our singing is supposed to reflect the “word of Christ.” We are supposed to use music to promote wisdom, teaching, and admonishment. The musical forms expected to be sung in church are psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. In order to communicate the truth of Scripture through music, we must insist that the music be theologically correct. The principles and ideas communicated in the music must be biblically accurate. Read More ...
Christians assert that God is the ultimate authority, not humans. God is the creator, and he’s told us who we are and how to behave ourselves. The word of God holds authority over us, and it’s in our best interests to align ourselves with the moral standards we find in God’s Word. And those standards of behavior are good, right, and proper. It’s best for us when we follow the owner’s manual. Following God’s commands is always in our own best interests. Read More ...
When we give generously, we are being Christ-like. Generous giving is a mark of godliness. If we have experienced God’s generous grace towards us in Christ, we must be willing to give generously to support God’s work in the world. Read More ...
Reluctance to give purposefully, cheerfully, and expectantly reflects a lack of trust in God. Giving sadly or madly instead of giving gladly is a failure to appreciate the grace of God. Read More ...
If you give under a feeling of grudging obligation, you need to get right with God. We should have a willing, enthusiastic eagerness to participate in grace giving. We should sense the blessedness of giving. God’s grace produces generosity, not grudging obligation. Read More ...
I hope that if anyone were describing any one of us, they would say something like what we find in vs. 23—“they are partners and fellow workers, they are servants of the churches, and they are serving for the glory of Christ.” I hope we all have those qualities and are seeking to serve God and the church in those ways. Read More ...
If Christ were not raised from the dead, he was merely another one of the thousands of people crucified by the Roman Empire. But if he rose from the dead, he is the victor, not a victim, a conqueror, not a casualty. We affirm again today, as all Christians have for nearly 2,000 years, that Jesus was victorious over death and the devil, as proven by his resurrection. Read More ...
On this Good Friday, we celebrate what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Through his death, our guilt is removed, our enslavement ends, God’s wrath is turned aside, and our relationship with God is restored. Believers in Christ receive all of these benefits through the death of Christ. That’s why we call the day of Jesus’ death Good Friday. Read More ...