On the evening before Christ’s crucifixion, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and then said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…” (John 13:15). Jesus called His first disciples to a life of service and what was true for them is true for us. We, too, are called to a life of service. It is not only a choice we must each make, it is the choice we should all take. We s...  Read More

I like the story of the seven-year-old boy who was called on to pray at the family dinner. He tried to pray what he had heard his father routinely pray for years, “Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies.” However, the little kid prayed instead, “Bless this food to the nervousness of our bodies.” In recent days, some heavy rains and unwelcome street flooding have come to South Florida. Wh...  Read More

The topic today is one of which Jesus had much to say. It is about the stewardship of life. In Luke 12, Jesus shared a stewardship parable and then gave this vital principle: “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). Note the use of the word much. This verse says much about how much is required of us who are the recipients of much. This verse serves to remind me of a few things (not ...  Read More

Be honest. Do you find yourself at a place in your life right now in which you are living under great pressure—with no relief in sight? The Apostle Paul would understand what you are feeling. Listen to his words about a particularly difficult time in his life—“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered…We were under great pressure far beyond our ability to endur...  Read More

This past Sunday I preached a message on one of THE MINISTRIES WE PRACTICE TOGETHER in the sermon We Do Discipleship. As you know, discipleship is important! Here is why—Discipleship is the discipline required to accomplish Christian living. God’s powerful river of blessing flows through the channel of discipleship. We are thus empowered to live the Christian experience only through a daily commit...  Read More

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).These verses instruct us to pray always “according to his will.” Everything rides on this. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” We have no right to expect...  Read More