Leaders must go beyond analysis to action. One cannot lead without energy, motion, risk. Leaders are pathfinders, road makers, action takers. Cowardice, to put it bluntly, is an ungodly trait. God is not passive in the face of evil.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Church History
Illustrating the Consequences of Serving God
It is an inescapable fact. If you get serious about being shaped into Christ’s image, you’ll have to learn to cope with the consequences of being a servant of God. Those who serve will suffer.
Read MoreOur Common Struggles: Affliction, Confusion, Persecution
In yesterday’s post, we were introduced to four common struggles all servants of God deal with. Really, they’re consequences. In 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 we read them: afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down.
Read MoreResponding to Treatment That Is Wrong
Greathearted, loving, caring, sacrificial servants of the living God have known ill treatment down through the centuries. The consequence of serving is no new phenomenon. It goes a long way back in time.
Read MoreSpurgeon’s Channel of Encouragement
Charles Haddon Spurgeon remains one of the most colorful and gifted preachers in the history of the church. Any man who loves to preach and desires to cultivate the art and skill of communication must study Spurgeon.
Read MoreStop the Revolving Door
The history of great civilizations reminds me of a giant revolving door. It turns on the axis of human depravity as its movement is marked by the perimeter of time. With monotonous repetition each civilization has completed the same cycle, having passed through a similar sequence of events. One man summarized it like this: From bondage to spiritual faith, From spiritual faith to great courage, From great courage to strength
Read MoreIn Times of Warfare
Psalm 149 is not only a call to praise the Lord in times of blessing, and encouragement to praise Him in times of suffering, it’s also a call to arms. Praise the Lord in Times of Warfare: Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, To bind their kings with chains
Read MoreComfort in God’s Strength
If Martin Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” is any indication, he often turned to Psalm 46 for comfort. When you read his story, you can appreciate why. In 1520, after more than three years of conflict with the Church in Rome, the Pope warned Luther in a public letter that he would be excommunicated if he did not recant his teaching that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
Read MoreTrue Convictions
Reflecting on past blessings gives us reasons to rejoice. Let me urge you who are parents still rearing young children to teach them how to do this by practicing it often. Suppertime is a great opportunity to reflect.
Read MoreConsistent Heroism
We cannot help but admire Elijah’s consistent heroism. The man is alone, standing before the king and, surely, surrounded by armed warriors, faithful to Ahaziah, who could have finished him off with one thrust of a spear.
Read More