In the movie “We Bought a Zoo,” Matt Damon’s character, Benjamin Mee, advises his son by saying, “You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

The context of this quote is about connecting with a member of the opposite sex. If a man can muster up twenty seconds of courage to speak with a woman, it could lead to a relationship, love, marriage, and a family.

While this is undoubtedly true, I have also come to believe that we can apply it to speaking to others about Jesus. If we can generate a few seconds of courage to talk with someone about faith when they are open to it, we can impact a life for eternity. And even when we don’t lead them to faith in that moment, we plant a seed that might one day take root.

One of the easiest first steps of connecting people to their Savior is to invite them to Church worship on Sunday morning. It takes about twenty seconds to ask someone to join you this week as you spend time in your faith community.

All that is missing is a little bit of bravery.

I spend much of my life attempting to understand the Bible as it was originally written. I read the Bible as a whole, do in-depth study, dive into Christian books, and open myself up to knowledgeable teachers. My quest is to have nearly flawless Biblical theology.

Recently, after a heartbreaking meeting with a couple, I jotted down a note as a reminder of that moment. I wrote simply, “Theological perfection only matters in the classroom, not in the hospital, cancer ward, battlefield, or funeral home.”

As a pastor, I am sometimes called into miserable situations, and in those, no one has ever grilled me on my theology to make sure I believed exactly as they did. In those circumstances, people do not care about your theology; they only desire your presence and prayers. It’s a little ironic: the places where Christian presence is needed most are also the places where precise theology matters least.

If you follow Jesus, you have enough information to make a lasting impact in the world for his kingdom. I want you to keep learning and growing in your faith, but know that in many situations, your overall knowledge is secondary. Make sure your heart grows along with your head.

There are several apps that contain the feature of giving you a daily Bible verse. Every day, you can receive a single passage by email, text, or pop-up on your phone.

At first glance, this is wonderful. And while I think there could be several positive outcomes, I also want to issue a warning.

The Bible does not come to us as individual verses. It is a book with an overarching storyline; there is context for everything that is written, both historically and Biblically. Taking a verse out of context can make the Bible say anything we desire, rather than honoring its true meaning.

While I am not against people reading a single passage each day, never let that replace your extended reading of whole chapters and books. It has been said that a text without a context is a pretext.

Our quest is not to make the Bible a bunch of motivational quotes to inspire us in whatever direction we choose. The goal of your Bible is to help us understand God’s work in the world and to find our place in his kingdom. Anything less is an improper reading of scripture.

Problems are, by nature, unwelcome situations we would rather avoid, obstacles demanding our attention and energy. They’re rarely what we’d choose for ourselves.

Yet some difficulties are a blessing in disguise. God meets us with grace and gives us a gift we didn’t think we wanted.

Growth comes from strain. Expansion stretches us beyond our current capacity. What feels overwhelming at the moment might actually be proof that God is moving and working in our lives.

Then, the question shifts from “Why me?” to “Where is God leading me now?”

A youth minister I know used to say to teenage Christians, “The time to decide how far you will go with a member of the opposite sex is not when you are in the back seat of a car.”

His point was simple. When you are caught in the heat of the moment, and emotions are running high, you will always make the worst possible decision.

The solution is easy: make significant decisions long before you are emotionally invested in the situation. He would say, the first choice was not to be alone in a car with a member of the opposite sex. Draw that boundary early, and you will avoid a bad decision later.

This truth applies to every facet of life. To protect your marriage, don’t be alone with members of the opposite sex who are not your spouse. If you struggle with the temptation of money, don’t become a treasurer of any organization. If you get depressed when you consume alcohol, then don’t go to places that serve it. Whatever your struggle might be, the best way to avoid it is to put up barriers in your heart that keep you from getting into compromising situations.

The things you pre-decide when your mind is clear will help you avoid mistakes when your mind is cloudy.

I just read that Bible sales are up 21% over 2024 at this point. Sales have doubled since 2019.

If you are one of those people, let me encourage you to take a class on “Hermeneutics.” There are rules for reading your Bible. It is vital to understand genre, context, Biblical themes, and the author’s intended meaning. My alma mater, Ozark Christian College, has put a class online HERE.

If you don’t do that, then get a book on proper interpretation like “How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.” There are other very reliable resources out there on how to understand the Bible correctly. Buy one and read it carefully.

I am excited that Bible sales are up, but I also want people to understand the Bible as it was meant to be read. As Paul tells Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)  

The world needs more Bible readers. It also really needs more Bible “understanders.”

I am the father of four adult children, boys to be specific. All four of them were athletes. They loved playing basketball and football. They did a little track and baseball as well. I know what it is like to spend countless hours in the field or in the gym.

Parents with younger children do not believe me when I tell them this. One day, you will look back in amazement at all the hours they spent in sports, AND most of it will be forgotten or have little impact on their life.

On the flip side, most parents spend little time on character development and intrapersonal skills. One day, you will look back in amazement at how you neglected significant areas of their life.

For me, this includes faith and how it works into our everyday lives. Our young people need to be taught how to interact with people, especially those they disagree with or perceive as enemies. They need to be taught how to manage their emotions and offer forgiveness. Young people need to grow up able to confess their weaknesses and to utilize their strengths. They need to be taught how to view money, the opposite sex, authority, and those who appear inferior to them for some reason.

If you are a parent who uses sports to accomplish some of this, then good for you; that is what my wife and I tried to do. Whatever tool you use to achieve these things is not significant; the fact that you personally teach, not just how to score a point, but succeed in life, is indispensable.

One day, you will look back in amazement at the life YOU shaped. I hope you are happy with the adult version of what your child becomes.

Our Church has been reaching more people with the gospel than we ever have. Each week, people show up for the first time to worship with us. Numbers and connections are soaring.

And in many ways, I have no idea what to do. 

I have never led a Church of this size, handled this many guests, or taught this many people. That means I am praying now more than ever for God to show up. Growth has not increased my ego; instead, it has increased my need for God. Without his guidance, I would not be able to lead this Church any further for his kingdom, but with him, we are unstoppable.

Each day I pray for my leadership, my staff, my elders, my deacons, and my wife. Many days, I ask God to direct me to the right podcasts, books, and articles to guide my thinking. But most of all, I ask him to do things that are far beyond my control.

Life and ministry can seem pretty big at times. Thankfully, God is bigger.

Everyone in the Church community wants a high-quality worship program each week. They want the sound to be flawless, slides for the songs to always match, and music that is engaging.

For that to happen, our Church needs at least 12 people to serve during each worship program. We need another 2-5 people behind the scenes before and after the Sunday event. We need singers, musicians, and people to run ProPresenter and the sound board. Someone needs to pick out the songs; make sure they have all the correct lyrics on the screen and the right musical keys on the music stands. The stage needs to be set up and clean, and the instruments tuned and tested.

Numerous small pieces go into having a quality worship program, especially in a small town and Church. And all of it is done by volunteers. So whenever you feel that God has touched your soul through what you experienced on Sunday morning, be sure to praise God and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is also good to stop and thank the people who give their time to make it all happen.

God is glorified by people who serve selflessly and never ask for recognition. Sometimes it is good for Church attendees to stop and say to them, “You are noticed, and I thank God for what you do.”

And if you are so inclined, you can be a part of what makes our worship great. All you need is a humble heart and willing hands, and God can use you to touch people’s hearts in ways you will never understand.

Satan is a deceiver. He lies, and he tricks us into not doing God’s will for our lives.

You are also a deceiver. I don’t mean you are out to deceive other people, although some do. I mean, you are gifted in the art of self-deception.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes to the believers, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22).

Christians can easily convince themselves that Bible knowledge equates to spiritual maturity. People can recite Bible verses, explain theology, and even quote C.S. Lewis, then walk out and do the opposite of what God desires.

Still other Christians are very proud of the instructions of Jesus that they keep and ignore the ones that they disobey. These people give a tithe, take communion, and show up to worship weekly while ignoring their family, using the Lord’s name in vain, and drinking to excess.

The devil might be out to get you, but then again, maybe you are your own worst enemy.