“The Six Marks of a Disciple” It can be and will be exhausting to pursue the marks of a disciple UNLESS you know that the very Spirit of God is at work within you and that “He who began a good work in you WILL bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus!” (Philippians 1:6). Jesus did not send His…
“The Six Marks of a Disciple” Jesus was sent into this world on a mission. Few who believe the Bible to be the Word of God would argue with that statement. But what was the mission He was sent to accomplish? Jesus doesn’t leave us in doubt! He says, “I will build My Church!” Jesus further describes His mission in John 17:1-4,…
“The Six Marks of a Disciple” God speaks often in His Word about the importance of serving others. Jesus emphasized to His disciples that serving others was a large part of what it meant to be one of His disciples. He used Himself as the ultimate example, saying that He came into the world “not to be served, but to serve and…
“The Six Marks of a Disciple” Perhaps you or someone you know has said, or at least thought, “I don’t need the church!” People who say that have usually had a negative experience in a particular building with a particular group of people. Some have had multiple “bad experiences” that have left them scarred and disillusioned. After all, who needs more frustration…
“The Six Marks of a Disciple” These and many more verses and passages of Scripture speak to God’s call to holiness! And yet, few today speak about personal holiness as a worthwhile pursuit. After all, everybody knows that nobody is perfect. Even we who believe in Jesus Christ, in whom His Spirit is at work, continue to struggle with the remaining remnants…
“The Six Marks of a Disciple” You know that feeling when you sense that God is really close and everything seems to be going your way … yeah, that’s NOT intimacy with God!! That’s what some people THINK is intimacy with God, until something happens that shatters their imaginary world and they lose that feeling. But true intimacy with God is more…
Six Marks of a Disciple Coming to the end of a year and looking toward a new year most people want to believe there is a purpose for their lives, but few seem to be able to identify what it is!!! We who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord have been given a purpose in the words Jesus spoke to His…
Fourth Sunday of Advent: “CERTAIN Hope!” HOPE is found ONLY in the one true God who is sovereign over all His creation, as you live with Him and for Him through faith in Jesus, the Christ, by the power of His Spirit at work within you. PERIOD!!! Why is that true? What is the connection between certain hope and the birth of…
Third Sunday of Advent: “LASTING Peace!” “Peace on earth! Good will towards men!!” Many of us can identify those words as being spoken by the angels to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth. It sounds wonderful … PEACE on earth! Yet here we are, in a year filled with anything BUT peace in our nation and in other places around…
Second Sunday of Advent: “COMPLETE Joy!” “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full!” (John 15:11). Speaking to His disciples about their relationship with Him, Jesus explains that it is only by “abiding in His love,” only by an intimate fellowship with Him, that true joy, complete joy can…