I am conference tired.

I have spent the last two days at my alma mater for their annual Preaching and Teaching Convention. It is two days of worship, preaching, workshops, and networking. I have been talking to people about ministry while learning about all things Biblical. It has been a wonderfully full 48 hours, and I am the type of tired that one can only be after a good conference.

Every time I go to one of these, I am reminded of how much bigger the Church community is than I remember. I tend to live with a focus on the Christians that I lead and serve. Then I went to something like this and spent time with a much broader range of people.

Over the last couple of days, I have spoken to old friends from college, colleagues in ministry, professors with former professors, current students, and total strangers who only have Jesus in common. Every time I turned around, someone new wanted to talk to me about the things I care about the most.

As an introvert, I find it exhausting, but this morning, I also find it exhilarating. It makes me long for heaven and endless years to not only worship our Lord but also spend time with other people who also value worshipping the Lord. 

Comparing yourself to others is a nasty game. It can make you despondent or fill you with pride.

Comparing yourself to yourself is an essential action. It is a form of self-evaluation.

Are you a better Christian than you were a year ago?

Do you know more about Jesus, and have you grown as a disciple compared to five years ago?

Spiritual growth is vital to a life of faith. Looking back and asking comparison questions about yourself is a valuable tool. Day-to-day living can cloud our perspective on what God is doing in our lives. Seeing if you are a better you than you were years ago will help clear the air and ensure our lives are on the right trajectory.

What types of anecdotes about yourself do you share with others?

Are the stories always about you and your struggles?

Are you always the hero of the stories you tell, or are you more of a jester trying to make others laugh?

Do you only talk about your kids and find your identity in them?

If I were able to talk to you for an hour or two, the stories you share with me will reveal to me how you view yourself, others, and Jesus.

If you want to change how people feel about you, one place to start is by changing the stories you tell.

Imagine a person who attends Church. Now let me give you some details about their life.

-Their attendance only happens 2 times a month. Infrequent is how I would describe it.
-They do not read their Bible very often, definitely not every day.
-They are not connected to a small group; in fact, they have very few Christian friends.
-They give a little money to their school, scouts, and sometimes the Church.
-They are not developing anyone in their faith, not even their children.
-They might invite a person to Church once a year, but that usually happens by accident.

How would you define this person? Would you call them a Christian? Would you call them a committed follower of Jesus?

Most people I encounter need to ask themselves a simple question to help them evaluate their lives. Do my actions align with what I say and believe?

My guess is that you already know the answer.

For years, I’ve contemplated the true meaning of love from a Biblical perspective. In a world where “love” is often misunderstood or oversimplified, there’s a profound need to define it clearly and accurately.

I’ve come to understand love as this: “Love is a conviction that can spark emotion but invariably manifests in positive action.”

This definition encompasses three essential elements. First, love is fundamentally a conviction – a deliberate choice, a mindful decision about how we view and value another person or entity. It embodies commitment and dedication that transcends circumstance.

The second element acknowledges love’s emotional dimension. While emotions can exist independently, and true love can operate without feelings, authentic love has the power to touch our deepest core. It resonates within our hearts and soul, often stirring profound emotional responses as a natural consequence.

The third and crucial component is action. When I profess love for my wife, that declaration must be reflected in my behavior. Because love begins as a conviction, we can act lovingly even when emotions aren’t present. Conversely, mere claims of love without corresponding actions reveal an absence of genuine love.

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re reminded that love deserves recognition and expression. This occasion invites everyone – regardless of relationship status – to demonstrate love through meaningful actions. Perhaps the most profound expression of love is to find someone today and show them someone cares and that they aren’t alone in this world.

The first part is clear: This is a person who is willing to serve others. They volunteer their time and energy for the cause of Christ. They give of themselves selflessly for the good of others in the name of Jesus.  

The second part often gets muddled. The Church community also needs people to be leaders. Those are people willing to serve by helping others get involved. They help people develop their skills and equip them to minister in the best way possible. They are not demanding, yet they firmly encourage others to use their gifts, talents, and abilities in the service of the Lord.

Everyone in the Church is called to serve the Lord. Every single person. But some are also used to enlist others and develop them for the glory of God.

Elders, Deacons, staff, and ministry team leaders are not simply people who have power; rather, they see their role as serving others through their leadership. The Church needs people to serve and others to lead them, and this second group is getting harder and harder to find.

One video on TikTok showed a preacher saying something that I totally agreed with. His interpretation of scripture was historical and contextual, with little room for misunderstanding. That resulted in a specific application that was relevant for today. I loved the clip.

Not too long afterward, I saw another clip from the same preacher. I absolutely hated it. He pulled a verse out of context and ignored the historical setting. His application was generically applied to today and the United States. I could not delete the clip fast enough.

This experience reminded me that false teaching can come from anywhere, including people who typically teach the truth. Please note that it is possible to have false teaching that does not come from a false teacher.

There is an enlightening story in Acts chapter 17. The Apostle Paul comes to Berea and teaches in the synagogue. Then, the writer Luke adds this statement in verse 11. “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

It is vital that we take everything we hear from everyone and examine the scriptures to see if what they say is true. Keep your eyes open for false teachers who do not have the things of Jesus in mind. But also listen to the people who seek to follow Jesus and make sure their interpretations align with all of God’s word. Beware of false teaching, no matter what the source.

There is a popular T-shirt with a slogan on the front that reads, “Not Today Satan.”

Most days, I hope you are growing in your faith. You are actively fighting the forces of evil in your heart and mind, and evil had better watch out for you.

But there are days when the best you can hope for is to stand your ground. Days where you vow to yourself, I will not give up any piece of my life to evil. You may not be growing, but you are not going to shrink, either.

I want the shirt to say something like, “Today is Your Day, God.” I also understand that some days, saying, “Not Today,” has great power.

If you have never read the Bible before, let me offer you one piece of advice.

Do not read it the first time trying to understand every detail.

Simply read it for two things. First, try to capture the overarching narrative of the Bible. Don’t get bogged down in the details. When you get caught up in the minutia of the story, you can miss the big picture. Notice how God is working and how he responds to his people.

Second, listen for how the story is touching your life right now. There may be a single line, a verse, or a story that speaks to your very soul. Highlight that and make any notes on the side.

That is not how most people start reading the Bible. Over the past two years, I have led Bible reading groups, and inevitably, in the first few months, they want me to explain every detail. Then we hit the laws and the tabernacle in Exodus and they lose focus. No longer do the details capture their attention, and they lose interest in the overall story. My encouragement is to read, looking for big lessons and the continuing story of God.

You can always go back and pick up the details. That is why you should plan on reading it at least three or four times. Each time is a new experience, and you will see and understand things in a more meaningful way.

I am not only a student of preachers and preaching but comedians and the art of comedy also enthrall me. I listen to an untold number of podcasts and videos where they talk about their craft while also watching them perform both on the screen and in person.

One vital part of a great comedy routine is having an engaging “closer.” That means they take their funniest story or joke and tell it last. That way, the crowd knows the show is only going to get better. The comedian knows they are going to remember the last thing they heard, and it will leave them wanting more, which leads to more shows, more sales, and ultimately more success for the performer.

Then, I read and listen to sermons. For many preachers, the conclusion of their sermon is more like those old songs in the seventies and eighties, in which they just faded out the music, and the song did not really have an ending. There is just a quick recap to wind things down, followed by an immediate appeal to prayer.

Personally, I have taken a different approach. I have a more comedic ending to my sermon. By that, I do not mean I tell a funny story; I mean that I want to end with my strongest material. For example, yesterday, I spent over two hours searching for the perfect ending. Sometimes, I tell a story and other times, I use an analogy or a memorable word picture. I have used song lyrics, movie clips, short videos, a picture, or a personal experience to capture everything I have said in the final three to five minutes.

I realize this might not work for every preacher, but I think it is a good practice for all of us to develop. We want people to remember what we said and have them wanting more. Not because we want more personal glory as preachers but because we want people to respond to the gospel after the sermon is finished.