“Cotton has well said of covetous worms of the earth, “After hypocrites, the greatest dupes the devil has are those who exhaust an anxious existence in the disappointments and vexations of business, and live miserably and meanly, only to die magnificently and rich. For, like the hypocrites, the only disinterested action these men can accuse themselves of is, that of serving the devil without receiving his wages: he who stands every day of his life behind a counter, until he drops from it into the grave, may negotiate many very profitable bargains; but he has made a single bad one, … Continue reading The greatest dupes the devil has…

It is vital that we spend time in God’s Word. But it’s not always easy. We read a chapter and we don’t know what to get out of it or even how to start to understand it. I thought I could try to help you get a little something out of what you are reading by providing you with some questions to ask as you look at the text. Good questions are a good start to understanding. Sometimes there will be more questions, sometimes less. You can do this! So, get a notebook, a pen, your Bible, take some time … Continue reading Through the Bible: Exodus 19-24 Questions

It is vital that we spend time in God’s Word. But it’s not always easy. We read a chapter and we don’t know what to get out of it or even how to start to understand it. I thought I could try to help you get a little something out of what you are reading by providing you with some questions to ask as you look at the text. Good questions are a good start to understanding. Sometimes there will be more questions, sometimes less. You can do this! So, get a notebook, a pen, your Bible, take some time … Continue reading Through the Bible: Exodus 16-18 Questions

I wonder if you can remember the first time you picked up the Old Testament and tried to read it? One thing you probably noticed right away is that it is really long. They say, 77.2 percent of the Bible is the Old Testament. And ten percent of the New Testament is the Old Testament. That’s a lot of material. And it’s not just long. It’s complicated too. For one thing, most of us don’t many books written thousands of years ago. To make it even more difficult, it was originally written in another language. What we are reading is … Continue reading An Introduction to the Old Testament, part 1

It’s easy to try to appear righteous when someone is doing something you think is wrong and say that you are mostly concerned about God or them. But it is important that you evaluate whether or not the reason you are worked up has more to do with you and what you want.  Who are you really concerned about? In Galatians 5:26, Paul identifies three ways we respond to other people’s mistakes and sins when we are focused on ourselves.  “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” When someone else sins and we are primarily concerned … Continue reading A guide to correcting well…

When I was young my parents repeatedly worked with me on how to receive correction. We would work through the book of Proverbs. We would talk about it. We would practice. The reason they worked at helping me learn how to receive instruction and correction was because they knew I needed it. But what I didn’t know as well growing up, as I do now is that we don’t only need help learning how to receive receive correction, we also need help knowing how to give it. I by nature am not a very good corrector. I tend to avoid … Continue reading Becoming a good at correcting…

I can’t really talk with you about how you change without having first asked you this question: Has God changed you? I am not asking, do you go to church? Or were you born in a Christian family.But have you actually been born again? Changed people change The message about how Jesus came and Jesus died and Jesus rose again and ascended into heaven is not just any ordinary message. It has power. As someone goes out and explains this message, God uses the gospel to draw the people He’s chosen from before the foundation of the world to Himself. … Continue reading The good fight

One reason temptation is tempting is because it is tempting. It plays to your desires. You want it and why do you want it? You think it will be good for you. But really? If you are looking for good outside of God and God’s will, you can be sure you will not find it. How do I know that? That’s an important question, because when you are wanting to sin, it is very easy to be fooled into thinking that God is not looking out for your best. That is why in James 1, James says “Do not be … Continue reading A Living Proof of the Goodness of God

How do you overcome temptation? It starts with believing the truth about God. Temptation becomes very tempting when you begin doubting that God is as good as He says He is. To paraphrase Martin Luther a bit, “The sin underneath all our sins is to trust the lie of the serpent that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and must take matters into our own hands.” In other words, why do I lie? I don’t believe God’s really good as He says He is. Why do I worry? I don’t believe God’s really as good as He … Continue reading The Always Good God

When our sin is exposed, we want to locate the problem in our circumstances or other people or even, ultimately God. James locates the problem in our own hearts. If you look at God you see He’s holy. And if you look at you, you see you are not. You are broken. We set our own traps James tell us in James 1:14 that we are tempted when we are lured and enticed by our own desires, which is a problem, I just don’t think that most of us take seriously enough. This is part of what makes changing so … Continue reading I am my problem…