Follow the Ark: Seek God’s Presence
In 1931, America was in the depths of the Great Depression. A businessman by the name of Conrad Hilton was staring foreclosure in the face because people weren’t traveling and…
In 1931, America was in the depths of the Great Depression. A businessman by the name of Conrad Hilton was staring foreclosure in the face because people weren’t traveling and…
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.Hebrews 12:28 How is your awe? Right now?…
We’ve all had moments in our lives where it seemed like all hope was lost. I remember sitting at my desk in high school, staring at an AP Chemistry test…
In our culture today, feelings are often overemphasized and given too much authority. When Christians indulge in this exaltation of emotions, it can affect our spiritual life, especially our worship…
Our lives should completely focused on the person of Jesus Christ. He is the central character in everything that’s happened and all that will be. He is the reason we…
Worship’s Scope “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:17) The scope, or extent of worship can be both wide or narrow. In one sense everything…
Feasts of the Lord Then never let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, or about observance of annual festivals, […]. These are only a shadow of…
In Psalm 63, we read of David’s worship in the hardest of places. He was hunted and hungry. Yet, in these moments, he cried out to God and spoke of…
Dear Roger, I’m really enjoying spending time with God in praise and worship. But I know there’s more! Can you give me some direction? Sincerely, Dietrich…
Jesus honored a poor unnamed widow in the Bible because she freely gave all she had to the God she loved. Picture the scene: It’s a very busy day at…
Dear Roger, I was just reading Romans 12:1-2, where Paul says that total devotion to Jesus Christ is our spiritual worship. I sensed that Paul was talking about a level…
He is aliiiiive! He is aliiiiive!” It was Easter Sunday morning. My five-year-old nephew was to be baptized that day. “Nana” had flown into town to share in the occasion. As…
We’re told that we are aliens and strangers in this world, and should be longing for a better country (Hebrews 11:13-16). However, that better country isn’t up in the clouds—it’s…
If you know your Old Testament, you probably remember the concept of the kinsman redeemer. If you had to forfeit a piece of land, it could eventually be redeemed…
Bible Reading: Mark 2:23-28 The Sabbath was made to benefit people, and not people to benefit the Sabbath. Mark 2:27 Peter, Andrew, John, and the other disciples were still gnawing…
This analogy from Trevin Wax is absolutely wonderful. May we be like the second dog in his parable, longing to be in our Master’s presence: “As the deer pants for…
Our prayers aren’t meant to be rehearsed, but a reflection of our real life circumstances. Get honest with God with these 7 keys to a powerful prayer life. Preached at…
THE END OF THE MATTER Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 This morning, as we come to the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, I am going to talk about fear—and love. “Now all…
“He is aliiiiive! He is aliiiiive!” It was Easter Sunday morning. My five-year-old nephew was to be baptized that day. “Nana” had flown into town to share in the occasion. As…
Christmas is inundated with some rich wonderful holiday music that lends a profound fullness to the holiday season. The messages in this music are far different than most of the…
“All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord will stand forever.” 1…
12 Different ways by which we discover intimacy with God in David’s psalms. Psalm 63. www.debwaterbury.com.
When I am on a jog I often find myself looking right in front of me. Whether it’s because I’m focusing on the path, getting lost in my thoughts, or…
Dear Roger, I grew up in a church that emphasized emotional expression in worship. If I didn’t have an ecstatic, exciting experience in a service, I felt like I…
Introduction I grew up in the church, but until a few years ago I knew nothing about the Christian Calendar. My background did not include observances such as Advent. To…
Worship should be a way of life, with many facets of expression. The insistence that there is only one way to worship God has often left the body of…
“You fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 KJV What a drastic difference salvation makes! To the one who doesn’t know…
The COVID-19 global pandemic is a crisis we’ve never seen before. I started thinking about the word crisis and the different meanings for it. And the definition that really caught my attention:…
On the night the disciples shared their first communion, Jesus prophesied that one of the twelve would betray him. Jesus’ prediction proved very inflammatory for the disciples. With all…
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…
Dear Roger, The problems that face our country are not going away. Division, violence, disease is everywhere. I’ve noticed that many of my friends and family members—many people I see…
Brother Lawrence (1614–1691) wrote The Practice of the Presence of God about his constant, conscious rehearsal of God’s presence. He saw his relationship with God not as a mountaintop experience that fades…
Dear Roger, Our small group was studying the passage in John 21 where Jesus commissioned Peter to be a shepherd for His sheep. I hadn’t considered the next part before,…
The God who lives in unapproachable light became approachable in the person of Jesus (John 1:14). In fact, it was Jesus Himself who made God visible to us: “No one…
If you were to list your top three most creative people, who would be on that list? Maybe Vincent van Gogh? Walt Disney? JK Rowling? Thomas Edison? Leonardo DaVinci? Marie…
Why did God institute the Sabbath? The good news here is that Jesus is our Sabbath rest, that you and I have the opportunity to walk in centeredness, presence, and…
Our churches face a new challenge. Do we obey the government and observe quarantine, or do we exercise our religious liberty to assemble and worship? Of course, we should comply…
In the beginning, the earth was formless and void, but that did not deter the Almighty. He looked into the fathomless depth of its darkness and concluded, “All it needs…
The competition for your devotion is fierce. We just arrived in India: it’s my second time visiting this beautiful nation. One of the first thing that strikes you as a…
Worship through singing is our response to God’s glory, love and holiness. In the story of David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant, we learn that Michal, his wife,…
The Festival of Lights For many people in the diaspora – both Jews celebrating Hanukkah and Gentiles observing this celebration – Hanukkah is all about dreidels and latkes. However, if…
Christmas is inundated with some rich wonderful holiday music that lends a profound fullness to the holiday season. The messages in this music are far different than most of the…
Any idea what the best outreach opportunity of the year at your church might be? You might think it’s an event you do, or perhaps it’s Easter. But whether Christmas has…
Dear Roger, When I read some of the things Paul wrote about women I understand why many (especially Non-Christians) consider Paul to be chauvinistic and sexist. I will make my…
How do you truly live a life filled with the Holy Spirit? Paul teaches to speak truth, make melody, always be grateful and yield in obedience. Preached at Chase Oaks…
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…
Will we really see God’s face? Pastor John MacArthur gives a powerful observation of this spiritual truth. “Yes! In heaven we will actually see the Lord face to face. This is…
Do you really want to see Jesus? Randy Alcorn reflects on the happiness we will experience as we look on the face of Christ: “Ancient theologians often spoke of the…
What do you want out of your Christian experience? If you’re like most people you might answer that you are looking for peace, strength during difficulties, or even some level…
Is it biblical to pray for yourself? Jesus did! His prayer in John 17:1-5 gives us a model for how we should pray for ourselves. Drew Anderson writes: Jesus starts…
It was during a family dance party to Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” that our patriarch commented about the vapid lyrics. “They just don’t make them like they used to,”…
After the first edition of my book Heaven, this question was one of the most frequently asked. It’s worth considering. Though it’s possible we may cover vast distances at immense speeds…
Most people know that we’ll worship God in Heaven. But they don’t grasp how thrilling that will be. Multitudes of God’s people—of every nation, tribe, people, and language—will gather to…
I want to let the cat out of the bag about how church is going to be. Consider this your guide to what’s going to happen at your church this…
Musical preferences are profoundly etched into us. One generation’s trash is another generation’s treasure. Modern worship has a bullseye on it. It’s a fairly regular occurrence that I read a…
Fear Human beings have always been scaredy-cats. That observation is not surprising. What is surprising is that even we—evolved “modern” people—are so scared. On paper, we should have fewer fears…
Dear Roger, I grew up at Casas Church. I remember how you occasionally closed each service by asking the congregation to bow their heads and close their eyes. Then,…
What is the most powerful way to worship here on earth? A good pattern for earthly worship is heavenly worship. If we study Revelation’s description of heaven, we can truly…
Dear Roger, We live in an age of Blamers. Won’t anybody stand up and admit they are guilty without making excuses! We were discussing this in my small group…
The false prophet in Revelation is the mouthpiece for the Antichrist and brings the world to its knees to worship this false Savior. Who is he and what does he…
One of the acceptable idolatries among evangelical Christians is the idolatry of the family.” That’s what I tweeted last week. To be honest, I didn’t think much about it. I’ve…
Are you miserable, disgruntled, discontent or just plain crabby? Solomon’s initial words in Ecclesiastes will cause you to grow gloomy, desperate, even suicidal. But, believe it or not, the most…
How would Christ celebrate Christmas? It seems like a difficult question to answer. Author Erin Davis pens her thoughts: “Most years I tend to lose sight of Jesus somewhere between…
Dear Roger, My six year old son, William, had a question tonight to ask you: “If you have Jesus in your heart can you still get on Santa’s Naughty…
Hi Roger, When was Jesus born? Thanks, “LAC” Dear “LAC”, What an interesting question! It may or may not surprise you to know that there is much discussion—even argument—throughout…
The Advent Conspiracy calls us toward some beautiful, simple and significantly life-giving truths. Lean in with us. Here are 4 key expressions that enable us to “worship fully” in this…
Dear Roger, I’d love to understand more about the Magi and the star – what made them think this star would lead them to a king? Is there anything…
Dear Roger, I’ve read the Selfish Gene and The God Delusion by “atheologist” Richard Dawkins. I just made up that word but I’m using it here to describe an individual…
Dear Roger, I had this conversation with an elder of a church recently. He was, out of love, giving me a hard time as I don’t have a job at…
Dear Roger, My family is falling apart. I have lost my job, my son is on drugs, and I lost my retirement fund when my company went bankrupt. Has God…
Dear Roger, I am a member of your church and I work for (company name withheld). We take the girls to various Assembly of God Churches, but I am allowed…
Dear Roger, What nations will be involved in Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ? Scared Dear “Scared,” Folks have speculated about Biblical prophecy for millenia. Those in the…
“Forty-two percent of the women in our church were sexually abused, inappropriately touched, fondled or molested before the age of sixteen!” I couldn’t believe my ears! Steve and I…
Lead pastors spend a lot time in the front row of the church participating in worship services. In fact, if you’re a church leader reading this you know the double…
Merry Christmas! Oh, excuse me! Seasons Greetings. Happy Holidays. Finding Jesus at Christmas is just like playing “Where’s Waldo.” Look hard. He’s nowhere to be found! I attended a middle school “Christmas”…
When you think about coming to church, what aspect do you look forward to the most? For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume your answer is something spiritually noble—nothing…
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, seeks whom he may devour!” 1 Peter 5:8 “So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s…
The Gadarene demoniac was desperate and destroyed. Even in his deranged state, he ran to Jesus and knelt at his feet. No one is too far from God to worship…
We all have them. Actually, worship wars started with Gregorian chant. Some monks got bent out of shape over the newer, fancier plainchant. Pastor Carey Nieuwhof has some sagely advice…
Professor Julia Blum teaches at eteacherbiblical.com out of Tel Aviv, Israel. Her profound knowledge of the Bible and Jewish history will greatly bless you this Christmas: When was the Silent…
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but can’t? Then He is not all-powerful. Can He prevent evil, but is unwilling? Then He is wicked. Is He able and willing? Then…
There’s been plenty of debate about teens and their social justice “slacktivism,” but how much truth is there to the claim that young people are only taking action with 140 characters or less? A new…
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…
The fog of the broken heart. It’s a dark fog that slyly imprisons the soul and refuses easy escape. It’s a heavy cloud that honors no hour and respects no…
We completely underestimate the power of Jesus. What often happens when you hear the name “Jesus”? Is He namby-pamby or the God of the Universe? Pastor Francis Chan takes a…
Kneel in pursuit of God’s presence. Don’t bow down to something else. Kneel in repentance. Jesus never turns away from a sinner with a repentant heart. Kneel in submission. You can…
You are hurting, aren’t you? You are stressed. I know I am. How do you know you are worried and stressed? 42% of Americans experience these stress symptoms: anger, irritability,…
Raising money. Challenging, but doable. According to social policy expert Dr. John McKnight, “you don’t know what you need until you know what you have.” Needs are easy to spot…
In a recent Facebook post I asked the question, “How could Cain be guilty of murder when there was no law against murder?” A few people answered the challenge, but…
If the church doesn’t read the signs of the times, we will be right where we evangelicals were after Roe v. Wade—caught flat-footed and unprepared. Thankfully, the Catholics were there to…
“Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it!” (Ephesians 5:10 The Message) It’s a life-altering directive and where living intentionally begins. Intentionality then occurs when you combine…
“Blessed is the person who is not offended by me.” ~ Matthew 11:6 To be offended means to stumble or trip. The Scripture tells us that Jesus is a rock…
Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna,…
Religion, Addiction, and Sobriety Religion relates to spirituality, which is embracing a higher power and allowing that power to help us through life’s struggles. Spirituality is something that’s with a…
Sabbath rest is essential to effective Christian living. Dr. Timothy Keller, in his sermon, Wisdom and Sabbath Rest, articulates invaluable principles for observing a sabbath. Rest, ironically, is an activity…
Why does the problem exist? You are easily swayed by marketing and advertising. An entire industry (marketing and advertising) has one main goal – to get you to buy more…
What comprises your identity? A sense of relationship with God, an awareness of God’s call on your life and a deeper understanding of who He created you to be. Compare…
I’m thankful for warning systems. The dashboard lights in my car, smoke detectors in my home, even the little bumps in the road that let me know when I’m crossing…
Pastors have an awesome calling. They’re my heroes. I serve them through the pastors.com community because I know what it’s like to be in the trenches of leading a local congregation. It’s…
“Bless” is the most frequently used word in the Old Testament. Don’t fail to bless God and honor Him. To fail to bless Him is to rob Him of His…
When I was young, there were plenty of people who didn’t think I’d amount to squat. My life’s philosophy was “I only count when I get other people’s attention.” And…
There’s no end to what we can learn about the brain. Check out this now basic information: “The brain has the storage capacity of 6 million years of the Wall…
A glance around the evangelical landscape today offers a wide variety of leadership models and styles: entrepreneurs, kings, rock stars, motivational speakers, armchair psychologists, and modern-day monks. You would have…
God’s Word calls Christians to practice corporate singing. We are a community of transformed children of God and we are united together by His Spirit. We sing to unite, to…
God never adjusts His commands to fit the customs of nations, no matter how deeply ingrained they are. Furthermore, His immutable standards prove right every time—and for each party involved.…
Dear Roger, I recently became a Christian and I have a question. The woman who led me to Christ encouraged me to start reading my Bible immediately. She told me…
What should elders be like? Outside of the Bible, you’d be hard pressed to find a better, sweeter, more uplifting explanation than the one given by David Dickson The Elder…
I’ve had some busy people pick up Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work, look at the subtitle, and ask: “OK, so, in a nutshell, how does God’s…
We can pray to God using His many names: God, Mighty and Majestic, God our Helper, God our Righteousness, God our Sanctifier, God our Peace and Indwelling Presence, God our…
The very quality of your life, whether you love it or hate it, is based upon how thankful you are toward God. It is one’s attitude that determines whether life…
Dear Roger, Could space be a part of heaven? Sincerely, Simbi Dear Simbi, If Heaven is in just the right place in space, it might begin to explain how God…
“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1 Is there anything about my speech, actions, dress, or attitudes that could defraud…
Dear Roger, Why am I not getting the same message & enthusiasm that I have for years? I know that it’s an attack from Satan & not the church.…
Unfaithful pastors I’ve counseled have said things like, “The affair was like a run-away-train,” or “It’s like I was temporarily insane.” Even the pastors who are restored to God and…
I believed, at the ripe old age of eight, that Thanksgiving was a wash-a “teaser” holiday that prevented Grandma from shopping for my etch-a-sketch. We got one measly day off…
Altars are markers that remind us of God’s work in our lives. Four altars we can construct are for remembering God’s revelations, for remembering decisions we have made, for giving…
We learn much about life from watching impoverished widow Ruth come to the fields of her kinsman Boaz. First of all, God has answers that we don’t know about. Faithfulness…
Heaven, according to Scripture, will be a place of continual discovery, meaningful work, perfect rest, loving relationships, unequalled pleasures and awesome worship.
An idol is usually a good thing that becomes a god thing. We worship what we love and pursue most with our hearts and our actions. God says it is…
Genesis 4 is a study in contrast between the worship of Cain and Abel. Why should we call upon the sacred name of God (YAHWEH)? Because He is inviting us…
The first consequence of Adam’s and Eve’s sin mentioned in Genesis 3:7 is that “the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves…
Believe in the God of power. Cry out, He’ll answer. Stay with God and stay in his presence? That’s what this verse is about—just gazing upon his beauty and spending…
Everything God does begins with surrender and worship, not activity. God prepared Moses in the backside of the desert to position him to receive from God. Learn to worship and…
God’s blessings in our lives can easily be turned into smug, self-satisfied arrogance if we grab the glory for ourselves rather than thanking Him. Climbing the ladder of success led…
God is not just seeking worship, He is seeking worshippers. He longs for an intimate relationship with you!
Michal, King David’s wife, despised his worship when he danced before the ark of the covenant. In punishment, God said she would remain barren the rest of her life. We…
“They lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God’” (Revelation 4:10,11) A good pattern for earthly worship is heavenly worship. It’s very safe…
Christ modeled humility for us by laying aside His heavenly glory, living on earth and dying for our sins. There are several ways we can model His example in selflessly…
Dear Roger, Please explain to me how quantum mechanics explains the reality and existence of God? Sincerely, Julie Dear Reader, Julie didn’t ask the question quite like that—just sort…
For a long time, many people have believed that there is a war betweenscience and faith. I would like to humbly offer my opinion, and I would certainly be interested…
Mary of Bethany truly learns to worship at the feet of Jesus. Mary receives her blessings at His feet, and she lays her burdens at the feet of Jesus. Too…
The basic tenet of Christian hedonism is that the desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed. Or conversely, if you abandon the pursuit of your…
“Lord…let me know how fleeting my life is.” Psalm 39:4 Abraham Lincoln once listened to the pleas of the mother of a soldier who’d been sentenced to hang for treason.…
The “ready” position is the stance that an athlete takes to be prepared to take on any challenge. If you’re ready, you are not afraid. Don’t be afraid of tyrants,…
Winning a revolution can be dangerous. A victorious revolution faces the prospect of becoming a lifeless institution. No better example of this exists than when Constantine began mandating national baptisms.…
God felt joy and delight for His creation. Our deepest pleasure comes from enjoying Him. Our identity should be based in who we are, not what we do. God made…
Idolatry is leashing yourself to something other than God. It arises out of the human need to have intrinsic value and control of life. Idolatry is attempting to meet that…
There are three ways to look at someone. The first is superficial.They are just a fleshly object. The second way to look at someone is indifference. We see them, but…
Coming into God’s presence for worship requires us to humble ourselves, listen, and put away any uncleanness that can scar our lives. God’s revelation of His holiness and glory will…
God desires that we balance our lives between rest, work and play so that we live abundant lives. He also longs for us to practice the discipline of quiet meditation…
Spiritual leaders & teachers come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, rank, stations of life, intelligence, experiences, education, gender, race, nationality, geography, looks, age, up bringing, church affiliation, heritage, and…
ALONE WITH HIM “You fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 KJV What a drastic difference salvation makes! To the one…
Dear Roger, I believe that I’m a +3 on my spiritual journey. I want to propel myself on the scale. What specific steps or what should I be doing to…
We need to be reminded of the grandeur and holiness of an infinite God and His abilit to transform our ordinary lives.
God calls us to be clothed in humility just as Christ demonstrates when He washes the disciple’s feet at the Last Supper. The humble recognize that their abilities are not…
Dr. Toussaint teaches on the meaning of the filling of the Holy Spirit, the actual filling of the Holy Spirit and the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is a constant communion with God. We must catch His heartbeat and purposes, access His kingdom power and provisions for life and submit to His will. As we make…
Holy living is not self-promotion, but devotion to the audience of ONE, our Father in heaven. Jesus decries the Pharisees’ ostentatious display of religious practices as He continues to teach…