As a Church leader, I frequently take a risk on Sunday mornings during our worship time. I open our Church up to the possibility of ignorance and heresy. At any moment, someone could say something unbiblical or uneducated from our stage.

Be clear; I am not allowing people who I know are false teachers to stand up and speak. I also do not let non-members and non-Christians teach. But I do allow new believers and young people to be actively involved in our worship.

When someone comes to faith, and they are interested in speaking or leading worship, I allow them to do it. I want them to talk about how God is working in their lives and let them sing His praises. I ask them to pray and speak on behalf of the Church. I invite them to share the communion devotion whenever they would like to do it.

I believe the Church community should be the most loving and supportive community on the planet. We should encourage new believers to share their faith in every way possible. I hope to fan into flame the sparks God is igniting in their souls so that the light of the gospel can shine brightly. Sure, I keep a close ear on things and try to correct any issues, but that is a risk I am willing to take.   

In the Old Testament, God is referred to as the “Refiner.” This is because one of the things God is doing in the lives of the people who believe in him is refining their life from all the junk that can fill their souls. His goal is to make us pure and holy to be more like him. 

The work of refining our lives is usually explained alongside pain and suffering. In Isaiah, he says to the people of Israel, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10 – NIV 2011)

God does not refine his people like gold or silver in the fire, but rather in the furnace of pain and suffering. Sometimes God allows us to walk through difficult seasons to purify our hearts and minds. The difficulties force us to make choices and focus on what is essential.

As a believer, I want my life filled with blessings and good things. I do not want to think of my life purposely moving through any affliction. Yet, the Bible affirms that sometimes the best teacher in life is the school of hard knocks because this is where we learn to rely on God completely. In the end, you will have your faith that is worth more than gold. (1 Peter 1:7)

Christians believe that the Spirit of God lives inside of them. God sends it to the followers of Jesus about their conversion. 

The Holy Spirit does many things for the believer. He empowers us to live the Christian life, encourages us when we are down, and reminds us of God’s word when we are tempted. Another thing the Holy Spirit does is speak to the conscience of a Christian. He is that little voice in your head that speaks to you at unexpected moments. The goal is not to tell you some new truth, as the Bible has all we need for life and godliness. No, that inner voice whispers to you about ways God can work through you. 

Lately, I have committed to listening more to the voice of the Spirit inside me. And my encouragement is for you to do the same. 

Sometimes, you will think, “I should call that person and talk to them.” Other times it can be a reminder that “I need to pray for that person.”  Sometimes it might seem crazy when you hear, “I need to give this person some money (possibly a specific amount).” But, still, there may be times when it is as simple as “Drop them a text and tell them how much I appreciate them.”

I believe that God is working in mysterious ways, and part of following him is yielding to the voice inside your mind asking you to do something good for His kingdom. He will never put you at risk or lead you into sin, but he might guide you into a path that will be a blessing beyond what you can imagine.

So the next time you feel that nudge of the Spirit to buy them a gift, introduce yourself, write a card, stop for a visit, or any one of a thousand things, why don’t you give it a try and see where God leads you?

I can’t wait to hear your stories of how God is at work through you. 

One test of how much we value something is the amount of time that we give it. 

So how much time do you spend on … your marriage, your children, your career, your hobbies, and even your faith?

Show me your schedule, and I will tell you precisely what you value. 

I am not a prophet from God, but I have one prediction for the Church of tomorrow. Actually, I have been saying this and writing this for about two years. I stand unwavering in my conviction that this will be the next big Church trend.

Authentic community.

For the last 25 years, the Church has been rediscovering what it means to serve in the name of Jesus. But I see the tide changing. Part of this will be a holdover from covid as people feel the pain of isolation. The biggest reason is because of technology. 

People can get information with a few keystrokes on their laptops or taps on their phones. Entertainment is never more than a few seconds away. We instantly have everything available except one vital thing:  human connection. 

As people become more isolated and lonelier, the need to talk face to face will increase. The desire to be connected to a group of people in a meaningful way will grow. And the Church is the perfect vessel to fill that need. People will find that a Church community is where they develop relationships, communicate in meaningful ways, and feel the love they desire. 

What if the key to reaching more people for Jesus is not the amount of knowledge we can repeat but our willingness to open up our lives to others? For most of us, that is far scarier than we like to admit. But the possibilities are only limited by our hearts and not our heads. 

Each week when I write a sermon, I have three things I keep in mind. First, I want to please God in all I do and speak. I want my words to be clear and for God to receive all the glory. Prayer is the first tool in my preaching toolbox.

Second, I am focused on the text and topic. Proper interpretation, context, theology, and sound doctrine are all foremost in my mind. I study, read, and search for the best understanding of what the Bible teaches, especially the primary passage for the week. 

Third, I want to apply the lessons revealed in scripture clearly. That begins with a general thought about how these concepts will play out for everyone. Then it gets very specific as I go over the people I know will be sitting in each row.

This forces me to think beyond general application. How will the lady going through divorce apply this to her life? How will the man struggling with pornography use this in his life? How will that mother, father, grandparent, teenager, or spouse apply this teaching to their situation? I try to think of every possible person who will hear this sermon when I take the biblical message and describe how we will use it in our lives.

When I prepare a sermon, I try to keep you on my mind. I love Jesus, but I also love the people I speak to weekly. I will attempt to say something this week that you can use in your life. It is heartbreaking to me when you are not there, but when I know what I say connects with you, it is the most significant moment of my week.

I am excited to see you Sunday; I have been thinking about you all week.  

A true friend will be there for you when you need them. They love you and care about your feelings. Their concern for you will carry you through some dark nights of the soul. They are a blessing from God and his way of caring for us sometimes.

A true Christian friend will also tell you the hard truth when needed. They will call you out on your lies. They will confront your sin. They will tell you honestly when you are being selfish and self-centered. They will notify you when you are being immature and need to grow as a person. They will not overlook your destructive behaviors because they want what is best for you.

True friends care more about you as a person than keeping you as a friend.

Sometimes in our quest to stay connected to people we care about, we look the other way when they are being unrighteous or ungodly. We make excuses for poor behavior or ignore things they need to change.

I know it is complicated to be in any relationship, and perhaps Christian ones are the most complex, but that should not keep us from seeking the good of the people we call our friends. If fact, I think it necessitates it.

The old joke is that the pig, the cow, and the chicken were all talking about the farmer one day. His 80^th birthday was coming, and they wanted to do something special to show him how much they appreciated his kindness to them. He fed them, watered them, and made sure they were healthy. Finally, the cow came up with what seemed like a perfect plan. They would make him a special breakfast on his birthday. The menu would be a tall glass of milk, a couple of fried eggs, and a big piece of ham. Rumor has it that the pig was not as excited about the plan as the other two. 

There is a difference between a little involved and totally committed. 

Giving your life to Jesus involves a personal investment, perhaps more than most of us want to share.   

You do not have to live in a prison created by your failures. You are not a prisoner of your past.

Admit your sin. Be honest with yourself and with God, and possibly another person.

Ask for forgiveness. First, from God and maybe then from someone you hurt.

Learn from your mistake. Take this as an opportunity to grow.

Let it go.

Move forward. 

The grace of God does not get you through a difficult season but leave you bound to pain. It is about breaking chains, opening doors, and being set free. When the son sets you free, you are free indeed. 

At some point in life, almost every young person thinks they have come up with the perfect excuse for why they do not have their homework. So they practice their story, rehearse the details and proudly inform the teacher, thinking it will end all suspicion. 

Then they are shocked when the teacher doesn’t believe them. The story seems like the ideal explanation, and every part is plausible. How could they not believe them?

Their mind does not grasp that kids have been repeating that excuse since the beginning of the school system. They are not the first child to come up with that story to explain their missing homework. Poor helpless dogs have been blamed every year of the teacher’s career, and they know it is simply a made-up story. 

That is how I, as a pastor, feel when I talk to people about their Church attendance. I ask them where they were this past Sunday, and I am bombarded with excuses. Almost every one of them is the same old lame stories recirculated. Like that child telling the story of the dog, they think the teachers believe them. Having done ministry for almost 30 years, I will tell you a little secret:  No preacher is buying your excuses.

Believe it or not, that is not what fascinates me about this process. The issue is never, “Does the preacher believe their story,” but do they believe their own excuse? Have they told their story so often that they have begun to believe it themselves? After years of missing Church, they can now spout four or five reasons without thinking about it. 

One of the first steps in building or rebuilding a life of faith is being honest with yourself.