God in Real Life
Real Life. We experience it every day. Unfortunately, our view of God rarely matches that reality.
Confronting My Fear – The Fear of Inadequacy
Do you ever feel like the task ahead of you is too big? It’s like a mountain that you don’t have the skill or energy to climb. You feel completely inadequate to take on the assignment. Let me tell you about a man named Moses.
A Man and His Temptations – Anger – Part 2
We all experience anger…sometimes for good, sometimes in sin. And sometimes it hurts…it hurts others, it hurts us and it hurts those we love.
Confronting My Fear – The Fear of Inadequacy
“I don’t measure up.”
“I am not sure I have what it takes.”
“I’m physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted.”
“I’m in over my head.”
“What if I fail?”
“What will people think of me?”
Do you ever have these thoughts and questions? An inner gnawing that you are just not enough? You are not alone. Let me introduce you to a man named Moses.
ENGAGE: Victory is Sure
Can anything separate you from Jesus? Can Sin? Defeat? The enemy? Let’s see what today’s passage says. In answer to the question, “Can anything separate you from Jesus?” the apostle Paul says…
ENGAGE: Be Alert
The enemy is out to get you. Discredit you. Sit you on the sidelines. Destroy you. One of the things we need to talk to our Father about is spiritual protection. We have a dangerous adversary.
A Man and His Temptations – Anger – Part 1
Three types of anger desire to have you. They crouch at your door seeking entrance to your soul and your family’s.
ENGAGE: More About Temptation
Where does temptation come from? The world? The flesh? The devil? Well, one thing we know for sure is that it doesn’t come from God.
A Man and His Temptations – Pride
There are hidden aspects to sinful pride. They lurk around the edges of our lives concealing the arrogance that we condemn in others. Do you want to see what they look like?
ENGAGE: When Temptation Comes
Have you ever been tempted? Struggling with temptation? In our passage today, Paul gives us important instructions in this area.
A Man and His Temptations – Addictions – Part 2
What are some common threads in addictions? How do they weave a fabric that threatens to pattern every inch of your life?
ENGAGE: Staying Engaged
Do you ever feel like retreating? Escaping from it all? Holing up in a safe place? Christians in every generation have the same temptation—the allure to retreat from the world. From business to education to recreation, there is a desire to only be involved with other believers. One problem … that was not the intention of Jesus.
A Man and His Temptations – Addictions – Part 1
You like something. You like it a lot. How do you know if you like it too much? How do you know if you’re addicted?
ENGAGE: Forgiving One Another
It was going to be a tough meeting. Those sitting around the table had some serious issues with each other. You could feel the tension—so thick you could cut it with a knife, as the saying goes. I knew this time together could blow up in my face. If it ended with me having to make a judgment, someone would leave the church. I also knew no one in the room was squeaky clean on this one. So, I began by reading Ephesians 4:32.
A Man and His Temptations – The Steps of True Repentance – Part 2
You’ve had an affair and now your heart is broken. You’ve repented and God has forgiven you. You’re back on the straight and narrow. But, what about your wife? How long before she can forgive?
ENGAGE: Talking to God About My Enemies
How many of you have a favorite passage of Scripture? How many of you have a passage of Scripture you really don’t like that much? Today’s passage is about loving your enemies, and I’ll admit that these verses are in my least favorite, “I really don’t want to do this” category.
ENGAGE: Talking to God About Forgiveness
“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” That’s what C. S. Lewis wrote in his compelling book, Mere Christianity. Forgiveness is a great concept until we must put it into practice. Do you have someone you need to forgive?
PRAYER: Conflicts With Others
Do you have any issues with other people? Does anyone rub you the wrong way? Say things behind your back? Hurt you? Living our daily lives means inevitable conflicts with others. When those matters arise, and they will, Jesus gives us specific instructions.
A Man and His Temptations – The Steps of True Repentance – Part 1
Men, what steps are necessary to demonstrate one has left sin behind? How can we, and the ones we’ve wronged, know that we’re serious about changing?
ENGAGE: Forgiving Others
Forgiveness is a tremendous spiritual truth! What could be better? When we genuinely go to the Father with repentance, he is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). He “blots out” our transgressions from the record and chooses to forget our sins (Isaiah 43:25). David writes that God removes our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).