Prayer and Providence: A Look At Mark 7:24-30

“Now Jesus stood up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He was wanting no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at […]

Is God For Us?

“Is God for me?”   It’s a question I’ve asked myself countless times in moments of sickness, suffering, and hardship.   I easily answer “yes” when all is well. Of course, God is for me. I am healthy.  I have a good job, a nice car, a roof over my head, and a wife – […]

Worship Is a Time to Tear Things Up

“Yet even now,” declares Yahweh, ‘Return to Me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and tear your heart and not your garments’” (Joel 2:13). There is a time to tear things up (Eccles. 3:7). In the early 2000s, I attended a conference with a young man whom I was discipling. During worship, […]

A Living Sacrifice of Worship

    When we think of sacrifice today, we may think of the military. The father or mother who goes without to provide for their family. Those who alter their job or living conditions to take care of someone else. The historical meaning of sacrifice is a much different outlook. There are animal sacrifices in […]

Faith Cometh: First Mention Basics of Faith Pt. 2

There is a principle of hermeneutics (the science of Scripture interpretation) that states the first time a subject is mentioned in the Bible, all its foundational principles are present. How valid this is in all cases we are not prepared to argue, but it seems to hold well in the subject of faith.

Joining with Creation: Why Your Praise Matters to God

What can someone aspiring to missions be doing now to best prepare for cross-cultural kingdom work someday? This article will be a follow-up to the previous article on “What is a Missionary?” It has three application points for young people to consider before heading to the field. These are directed primarily at young people, but are also for pastors who have aspiring missionaries in their churches.

Skillful Worship: Why Does It Matter?

How should we approach presenting our praises to God? Does the skill level of a worship leader truly matter? If God is pleased with our praises despite our ability, why does our skill matter?