The title to this article may seem strange, since a basic characteristic of any Christ-honoring, Bible-believing church is to bring people into the church. On the other hand, a situation could occur in a church in which a person might be encouraged to leave. One such situation is described below. ADULTERY PARTNERS IN THE SAME CHURCH When…
The goal for a wholehearted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is to know Him and be like Him. Realizing this goal involves abiding in God. As a point of clarification, abiding in God and abiding in Christ are interchangeable concepts. 1 John 2:22-25, Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the…
Excerpted from Forgiveness: The Impossible Possibility The challenge to maintain biblical forgiveness will be waged in the minds of those who grant forgiveness. The three major tests in this regard are Memory, Reminder, and Imagination (M.R.I.) Memories related to forgiven sins can resurface and be significant hindrances for believers to maintain biblical forgiveness. These memories often focus on painful…
Excerpted from Forgiveness: The Possible Impossibility Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity. There is no activity of Christian life that is more closely aligned to the love of God and the willing sacrifice of Christ than forgiving others. Believers who practice forgiveness receive spiritual benefits but, on the other hand, consequences accrue to those choosing…
For most of us, the most pressing concern of prayer is the anticipated answer. Hindered by limited wisdom yet unhindered by boundless emotion and hope, we often want God to answer our prayers quickly and according to our perspective. God, however, initially responds to prayer requests in one of two ways. His answer is either yes or no,…
Divine peace comes from God and His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:3). This peace is a tranquil harmony of heart and mind that maintains Christ-centered well-being regardless of circumstances or people. 1 Corinthians 1:3, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. At its foundation, this peace is a result…
Fools and scoffers are the most difficult people in the world to deal with as a review of their characteristics will attest. (See The Most Difficult People in the World for a biblical description of fools and scoffers). Sadly, more people than you might think can become fools or scoffers apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ.…
Excerpted from Three Prayer Mistakes of Well-Meaning Believers A believer may pray, “Lord, give me more love for this person,” when encountering difficulties in a relationship or situations in life. That request assumes that the Lord has not yet provided sufficient love for a believer to deal with “problem people.” However, the Lord has already given…
A believer growing in Christ readily understands guidelines of Christ-honoring communication, such as: Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Colossians 4:6, Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned…
3rd of 3-part prayer series: Prayer – God, Jesus, and You Prayer provides opportunity for you to acknowledge God’s goodness, sovereignty, and power and to request His divine intervention in your life and/or the lives of others. TRUTHS ABOUT YOUR PRAYER LIFE TRUTHS ABOUT ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS HOW YOU ARE TO PRAY WHEN YOU…