The church has often been labeled “out of touch” when it takes a position on an issue contrary to the cultural majority. You might hear someone say, “Almost everyone agrees on this. Why are you refusing to come around?” In almost every conversation like this one, my goal isn’t to convince the other person to see things the way I see it….
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I care deeply about human behavior. For one, behavior shapes a society. If a significant portion of the population doesn’t see anything wrong with stealing, then that community will be quickly devastated by thievery. So I am all for putting place measures with teeth that discourage behavior that is detrimental to a society. However, there…
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Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 is key to understanding the entire book. In this text, the professor shows us how to find appropriate enjoyment in this life and how to find some semblance of the good life. In order to do so, we need to: embrace the prodding of Scripture; fear and obey God; and prepare for the…
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So what do I do with my kids for family devotions or one on one discipleship of them? (Please note: if your children are grown, keep reading). I’ve had that question a fair amount and my answer is simple and the same every time: buy and read Sally Lloyd-Jones’ The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. I’ve read five or six children’s…
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In John 6:1-15, we have the well-known story of Jesus feeding five thousand men (including women and children much more than that). How did he do it? With a little boy’s five small barley wafers and two fish. This illustrates emphatically what Jesus does with what we bring to the table. We bring the barley…
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“I’ve repented of my sin, put my faith in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation, but there’s still sin in my life. How hard am I supposed to fight against it? It’s not going to damn me to hell, so what’s the big deal?”Good question. If we are secure in our salvation, to what extent…
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Three observations to make from Titus 3: 1) Portrait of an unhelpful Christian life2) Portrait of a beneficial Christian life3) The factor that makes all the difference 1) Portrait of an unhelpful Christian life (vv. 9-11) In vv. 9-11, Paul lists four traits of someone who is going to be largely unhelpful in the church and…
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1) The foundation of Christian conduct (v. 1) The foundation of Christian conduct is: sound doctrine. “But as for you [Titus] teach what accords with sound doctrine” (v.1). As pastor of the church in Crete, one of Titus’ primary roles is that of a teacher. So should it be of all pastors. After Jesus’ death…
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You read a title like this one and think, “Yeah, right! Nobody knows that.” Well, that may be true, but you’ll have to decide for yourself after reading this. I think there’s something to be said for the secret I’m about to share. What makes life unhappy? Hardship. Suffering. Trials. These make life unhappy. But…
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The book of Titus contains God’s game plan for the Christian life. A couple of weeks ago we looked at the first two plays in our playbook; the first set of “X’s and O’s”: bringing the lost to faith and training the saved for godliness. We’ll continue to study this playbook today by looking at…
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