Category: Uncategorized

There are preachers who say “We need to make the church relevant,” so they have buildings built with cool lighting and sound systems and teach messages that are both shallow, hip, and pleasant. But this is not relevance. This is deception and arrogance. There is nothing more relevant than reconciling people to God and loving others in a biblical manner. To tell people they can live essentially as they want or hear creative stories over shots of whiskey* is completely irrelevant. One might as well have a Bible study led by a Hollywood celebrity.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. ~ Luke 19:10

* I wish I could this is exaggeration but it is not.

There are many false prophets and teachers today, claiming to be Christians, yet casting doubt on the Scriptures—the very Scriptures of which Jesus declares to be absolutely trustworthy and enduring. These false teachers say the Bible is God’s Word mingled with human error. The apostle Peter tells us that the writers of Scripture were “carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). Brother, Sister, the God who spoke the universe into existence and sustains it by His power is more than capable of preserving His Word. Don’t buy into the deception of the liars of the day.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ~ Matthew 24:35

The Word of God is like a razor sharp scalpel in the hands of the Great Physician, of which He uses to cut the cancers of sin, shame, and addictions from our souls. Yes, it hurts, at times. It can be very uncomfortable, yet afterwards He applies the soothing ointment of grace and we find healing.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ~ Hebrews 4:12

“Judge not lest ye be judged,” the bumper sticker reads (quoting Matthew 7:1 from the KJV Bible). It is ironic that people use a quote from the Bible to try to justify behaviors and practices that the same Bible condemns. “Do not judge,” they say, while judging those who study and try to live by the book they are quoting. “Do not judge,” they say, but judgment must be made when making a distinction between right from wrong, the righteousness from the unrighteous, and the Holy from the profane. The very Jesus who tells us to not judge tells us just a few verses later to not give to dogs what is holy or cast our pearls before pigs.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ~ Matthew 7:1-2

Money, sex, power, empty praise, and junk awards—are these really worth the striving for? Is sacrificing one’s being simply to attain these for a measly few years truly worth it? Through Christ, God invites all to know Him and life. Yet, many are so mesmerized by the glitter of fool’s gold they reject the true treasures offered. 

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ~ John 8:36

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very foundation of Christianity. The apostle Paul states that apart from the resurrection our faith is meaningless. The resurrection is neither allegorical or symbolic, but literal! Jesus bore our sins on the cross, yes. But the grave could not hold Him! Death could not defeat Him! Our King is alive forevermore!

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain…. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:14, 20

Jesus was not killed by the authority of men, but He yielded His life willingly to pay the debt of our sins. Likewise, Jesus is not driven out of the schools and public places by the sheer authority of men. He merely permits it. Just as surely He arose from the dead, He is also going to return. The real question is this: Will you know Him as your Savior and King or will you know Him as your Judge? He paid for our sins once, but He will not pay a second time. 

I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. ~ John 17:18

What a sad commentary concerning modern Christendom, when ministers do not preach the whole counsel of God for fear someone might be offended. Yet, is there any fear of God being offended?

For fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. ~ John 12:42-43

Our society talks a lot about “social justice,” all the while continuously dishing out further injustice. This is not surprising, since Jesus, who taught and modeled perfect love and compassion, is mocked in Hollywood, despised in our universities, denied in Washington, and is cursed on the streets. Why? What injustice has He done?  Why is He so despised?

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ~ Luke 23:39-40

Faith in Christ is not simply about going to church (although this is important) or doing a bunch of religious activities. Christianity is about knowing God, and it is in knowing Him we are changed. How easily we are distracted by this foundational truth.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  ~ John 17:3