You are a Friend of God
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a…
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a…
The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to become just like Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). John the Apostle referred to those who had become like Christ as spiritual…
Nourish Your Soul: 30 Day Challenge You have a living soul that lasts forever, and it forms the very foundation of who you are. This in itself is absolutely incredible!…
KNOWING GOD THROUGH PRAYER There is one practice in the Christian life that many Christians struggle with: prayer. Think about it this way: many Christians want to pray to God…
Feelings of spiritual inadequacy can make us fearful of God, but not in the healthy way. This series explores how knowing the loving, gracious God of Scripture can overcome our…
Our thoughts are powerful. They change our perspective, impact our decisions, and influence our habits. But what do we do when we become trapped by our thoughts, unable to escape…
Simon Sinek unpacks his back story, including how his grandfather shaped him, how ADHD impacted his leadership and how a deep, personal crisis led to him developing the ideas behind…
KNOWING GOD FROM THE INSIDE OUT Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-19; Colossians 1:9-12 Imagine before we had the Bible, how would we know what God is like. Imagine you lived on…
What plan do you have for your spiritual life? Where do you want to go spiritually? And how are you going to get there? My hunch is that most of…
The days of being buried in the church where you were baptized and married are long gone for most. Ours is the age of the McChurch. There are realities embedded…
Paul writes that we should refrain from quenching the Holy Spirit as He works to make us look more like Jesus. Preached at the Village Church.
Introduction Life is full of battles, wars in both the physical and spiritual worlds. Even being a follower of Jesus, you may eventually come to experience what feels like nothing…
The glory of God is coming but we must live in His presence now if we expect to walk in His glory later. And it is this very thing —…
Years ago, on the advice of an older and wiser Christian, I began trying to pray through the Psalms once every month. Don’t be too impressed—I seldom make it through…
In Revelation 4:3, there is one group that will worship Him. Do you see who it is? A holy, faithful, benevolent, sovereign God. Man will risk hell before he will…
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes…
The world clamors for efficiency and productivity. But the life of prayer is neither efficient nor productive. Instead, as we learn in the psalms, prayer calls us to wait, to…
Every once in a while a new movement comes along that seeks to capture the attention of people away from traditional faith commitments. My attention was grabbed by one so-called…
Dear Roger, I’ve been doing some studying about our right and left brains and I find it fascinating. I did not find much about the implications of spirituality and…
In an age where everyone is looking for alternatives to gathering together, here are 10 things that—helpful as they may be in some respect—aren’t church. If it gets a bit…
Spiritual Weapons “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh . . .” 2 Corinthians 10:4— that is, they are not merely human. This is not a…
Spiritual Weapons “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh . . .” 2 Corinthians 10:4— that is, they are not merely human. This is not a…
Anytime someone speaks of GENERATIONS, I’m drawn. Isn’t it funny how we seem to have radar when it comes to certain topics? A couple of weeks ago, for instance, our worship…
CNN’s Belief Blog presented four signs that a person’s religious beliefs might be radicalized. This stood in contrast to a TED presentation showed that 75 percent of the world’s population…
Dear Roger, A man in our small group mentioned the seven deadly sins. I’ve heard about them but I’m wondering just which sins they are. Why are they more deadly…
Dear Roger, I worry a lot. My friends and family call me a “worry wart.” I have to agree with them. My worrying makes me miserable. Yesterday, our pastor…
Are you in serious need of a makeover? Not the kind that refers to your “Mom jeans” or your hair color. I’m talking about a makeover of your heart. Used…
Tony Reinke, author of 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, carefully examines the blessings and challenges of technology in our lives. If you live long enough, pray earnestly, and…
People usually think of “Heaven” as the place Christians go when they die. A better definition explains that Heaven is God’s central dwelling place, the location of his throne from which…
When Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the temple dividing the Holy of Holies from everything else, was ripped from top to bottom. God said, “That which divided us is…
After having her whole world rocked—and in a very public way—author and popular speaker, Lisa Whittle was forced to honestly confront her own brokenness for the first time. That time…
Missing From The Bible. Eight Things Jesus Never Said Here are eight things Jesus never said: (1) I am God (2) I created the universe (3) I am higher than…
Understanding the distinctive characteristics of your offspring because of their birth order can dramatically affect your parenting. Here is a concise description of unique birth order qualities. I hope you…
Church history shows us that in key periods of time, God gives specific assignments to His followers. In times past, when God’s church has been at its most prayerful, courageous,…
Just a few days after my husband’s passing, my phone rang. For the sake of protecting the guilty, let’s say the caller represented Shady Pines Old Folks Home. Me: “A…
In this study of 1 Peter, Peter promises that we have everything we need for life and godliness. God wants to replace ordinary living for an extraordinary adventure with Him.…
Technology can elevate us, causing us to be proud, self-centered or self-promoting. Technology can hurt and humiliate. It can also suffocate you, emptying your life of quiet, solitude and rest.…
Dear Roger, My husband & I would like to be cremated after our deaths. Our families do not approve. Is there scripture that will back us in our decision? B…
My name is Kevin. I am 35 years old, and I am a walking miracle. The man I am today is not the man I have always been. My life has…
The Master held a great banquet. When he issued invitations, everyone made excuses not to come. Francis Chan talks about the importance of honoring God, entering His Throne Room, and…
Is debt inevitable or is it often incurred to buy things we want rather than need? Three lies credit card companies tell us are as follows: debt is a tool…
Internet Pornography: A Ministry Leader’s Handbook —This free e-book, written by pastors and counselors, helps ministers who struggle with pornography understand the importance of confession and accountability. It addresses why…
Romans 8 is a powerful picture of victory in Christ. Because we are unconditionally loved and freed from condemnation, we can be completely honest and vulnerable before God. We are…
I have often said that many Reformed evangelicals think of sound, expository preaching as something of a ‘magic bullet.’ We may think that as long as we are preaching the…
Dear Roger, Would you shed some light on Hebrews 6:4-6 for me? I have known many people (including pastors) that have fallen-away or turned their backs on God, at…
We often lose our desire to grow because of apathy, bad spiritual experiences, unconfessed sin and unforgiveness. Healing can take place by worship, connecting, taking a step forward to forgive…
God is not just seeking worship, He is seeking worshippers. He longs for an intimate relationship with you!
What’s a good definition of codependency? In the broadest sense it’s an addiction to people, places, or things. Codependency used to mean that one person was dependent on something like…
Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. At…
I would suggest that most of us have one of two models of forgiveness: a Brita model or a leaky spigot model. The Brita model is the American model, the…
Take time to really listen to the people God places in your life. Take time to listen to God and get alone with Him and His Word. Only a personal…
Our harried, hurried lives prevent us from knowing God, enjoying life and loving others well. We must learn to slow our pace to experience genuine joy.
When we think about what we owe others, usually money, favors and other tangible support come to mind. But our Lord says it is that and more. “Give everyone what…
Spiritual mothers and fathers do not see God as distant, inspecting or disappointed. They are intimate with God and have a right view of Him.
Man is body, soul and spirit. Cultivating the inner spirit is critical because that is where God the Holy Spirit indwells and speaks.
In the last two blog posts I talked about dysfunctional families: first in Palestine, and then in America. Let’s get to the good news. Let’s talk a bit about the…
Growth toward spiritual maturity is a journey into deeper intimacy with the Triune God that produces a reflection of Christ’s love to our near ones and to one another.
Children can learn to pray as they observe God in nature. Here are three examples of ways you can teach your child to speak to God as they enjoy His…
De-stressing essentials include cultivating true spirituality, developing a positive self-image and focusing on positive dreams and goals for your life.
It is important to reduce stress by setting a wise balance in this imbalanced world and by being proactive in preventing disease.
David, in the midst of his troubles, had learned the “golden secret.” He taught that we must be stirred to love God and focus on Him, and He will not…
Dear Roger, Did you always know that God wanted you in the ministry? How did you balance the feelings of what you knew to be the desires of your heart,…
True spirituality results from an intimate relationship with God, not a set of rules. We don’t bear fruit being religious laborers whose lives are defined by works. Our beliefs and…
Our view of God is shaped positively or painfully by life events, growing up experiences, and religious traditions and experiences. Like Job, life events can bolster our faith. Or, like…
God is speaking. Draw near and listen. Be quiet and stay calm because God has the best perspective on our lives. God believes in us and expects us to…