Much of my burden comes from my own assembly and the assemblies of close friends.  I long to see us grow in the Lord and be a shining light in the communities we have been placed into.  That doesn’t come without effort and dedication to the leading of the Spirit. As we look to a new year ahead here are 8 ways I see the assemblies moving forward and making progress.  I pray that these become a vital part of every assembly in 2018. 1. A fresh surrender to the Holy Spirit This is not the first point by accident. [...]

At this time of year stores start playing Christmas songs, lights go up on houses, trees are set up with lots of decorations and people start planning their holiday schedule and meals. Many churches hold special services, choir concerts and some put nativity scenes out front. It’s also the time of year when many Christians criticize those who celebrate the Lord’s birth. Some will even accuse them of being pagan worshipers. Many who do not celebrate Christmas look down on those who do as being swept away by worldliness and commercialism. In some ways they have a point. Christmas can become an [...]

In my last article, I spoke about the tendency to equate attendance with godliness. When we become too rigid in our view of how the meetings of the church should function we lose sight of the greater goal of growth within the body of Christ. On the other hand, there is in our society a general lack of commitment towards things that are of ultimate value. We firmly believe that the church is founded upon the Word of God and it gives us several key reasons why we should meet together. Not just a social club At its very core the [...]

I’m sure by now you, dear reader, are aware of the natural disaster in Houston, Texas. Hurricane Harvey rained down so much water that it is best described as “Biblical” in proportion. A great many people were evacuated prior to the storm’s landfall, but a great many more were advised to stock up and ride out the rain. Areas categorized as “no-flood” zones were assumed to be safe. My sister, Sarah, and her husband and four small children live in just such a zone. They went to sleep Saturday night, listening to the rainfall, and thanking the Lord for their [...]

Author Kent Nerburn once wrote, “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.” As Father’s Day approaches, I’m ever mindful of my shortcomings as a dad. Thankfully, God hasn’t left us to figure things out for ourselves; the Scriptures are ripe with wonderful (and not so wonderful) fatherly examples. Whether or not one has actually fathered children, godly men can be fatherly examples to the assembly. Joseph, the adoptive father of the Lord Jesus, is a wonderful example to all Christian fathers and would-be fathers. Although not a word of dialogue is recorded of Joseph, his [...]

The scene is the garden of Gethsemane the evening before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus prays alone, sweating great drops of blood. He returns to His disciples and finds them sleeping. He admonishes Peter, “What, could you not watch with me an hour? Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(Matthew 26:40) What could you not watch with me one hour? What a piercing indictment! Weakness in Prayer Often I am like Peter. In my self-confidence, I’m not against praying, but I also don’t comprehend what is at stake nor the extent [...]

I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Talent is a funny thing. There are people loaded with it who don’t succeed, and the opposite is also true. Thomas Edison once quipped, “ Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” That might be how it worked out for him, but what about all those who perspire and expire [...]

Personally, I have been in fellowship at the same assembly for 22 years and counting. I came there as a new believer at age 20 where I was greeted with firm handshakes and warm smiles. I didn’t know anything about church doctrine at the time. It was only love that kept me coming. Over the years, I have learned the doctrine, and over the years I have never found reasons to leave. In an attempt to simplify things, I will suggest there are really only three reasons to leave a church and join another. Doctrinal error The first and foremost [...]

At my home assembly, I serve as a high school youth group leader with several other young adults. As the other leaders and I build relationships with our kids, we’ve noticed the impact of being authentic while mentoring them. When sharing the lessons we’ve learned when we were younger, the youth respond by opening up about their own life challenges. The Lord has used this to create great relationships where we encourage the youth to follow Jesus Christ. Authenticity is a vital component for any healthy relationship. When we sense that someone is secretive or insincere, our trust and intimacy [...]

There is a great variety of prophetic views among God’s people. There are scholars, past and present who have held and do hold conflicting theologies. There are positions such as Amillennialism (we are now in the millennium), Post-Millennialism (we must see the world evangelized before Christ can return) and Pre-Millennialism (there will be a literal 1000-year reign of Christ on earth). There are those who hold a Preterist view. The word means “past” – a full-Preterist sees all prophecy about the Tribulation and return of Christ fulfilled in 70 A.D. A partial-Preterist sees some fulfillment in 70 A.D. and Revelation [...]