Articles
Let There Be Light: Darkness Gone, Glory Revealed [sermon 1 of 4 in series]
Sermon Manuscript: If you hate being in the dark, then being in London in 1939 would not have been fun for you. Before World War Two began, London was preparing the people to stand against Germany. As things seemed to go from bad to worse, the small but powerful country of England knew they were putting their population at risk...
How to Encourage Yourself in the Midst of Discouraging Circumstances
This is a guest post by Daniel Henderson at www.strategicrenewal.com David, the great Old Testament figure, was no stranger to fatigue, fear, confusion, doubt, bad decisions, and second chances. Like refreshing rain on parched ground, his raw humanity, disarming transparency, and persevering pursuit of God give us encouragement in the occasional, even frequent, messes of our own lives. In one of the...
How To Highlight and Color Your Bible Effectively
This is a guest post from Jenna Marie Belcher Have you ever thought you knew an entire song and the meaning by merely listening to it a few times? I can remember one Friday night, while out with my friends, I got up to sing karaoke thinking I KNEW the words backwards and forwards- to “My Heart Will Go On”. ...
The Essential Elements of a Transformed Life [Sermon]
1 John 5:1-12 So far John has spoken a lot about love and obedience, but now he is going to combine the idea of faith and its necessity in our life. In chapter 5 we learn that the road to love is paved with faith in Christ. Sermon Outline: The essential elements of a transformed life: 1. New Faith (vv. 1a, 6-10) Have an insatiable...
Thank God: Practical Ways to Show Gratitude to the Almighty
One of my favorite movies of all time is The Count of Monte Christo. It’s a story about a man named Edmond Dontez escapes from the Cheteau D’if, which is like the Alcatraz of France. Exhausted and wave-battered from his getaway he wakes up on the beach of a far off island to find that he has been discovered by...
How I Format My Sermon Outline
For over a decade I have tried to find the best way to format my sermon notes. I've asked some of the greatest living known preachers how they do it and if I could see theirs. I research and read about others notes (of which Josh Harris has one of the best blogs on this topic). Although I have...
Stephen Furtick’s 12 Audacious Faith Confessions
These confessions were written by Stephen Furtick, Pastor of Elevation Church. He wrote them in his book, "Sun Stand Still." They following statements should serve as claims for confidence in Christ because who He is and what He can do through us. I am fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation (Romans 8:1-2, Ephesians 1:7-8, 1 John 1:9) I...
4 Main Types of Life Trials
"Somehow this has become routine. The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it ... We have become numb to this." President Obama said this statement Thursday night after the shooting in Oregon. Once again lives of innocent students were taken from us—all of which where young...
Understanding Why God Is Silent
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I just needed to get away. The stress of ministry life, family life, and just life seemed to be overwhelming to me. I described my life as a stereo turned up all the way and the volume control was broken off. I didn’t need to just turn down the noise--I needed to turn it...
10 Bible Verses to Support Your New Year’s Resolutions
A New Year is seen as a fresh beginning, a time for resolutions and promises on habits and behaviors we’d like to incorporate into this new start. Here are 10 Scriptures to support and encourage you in your New Year’s New Beginning. All verses from the ESV translation. Psalm 5:3 "O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare...
Essential Elements of a Gospel Call
The Gospel message of Jesus Christ is the core of Christianity. Yet, there are too many Christians that have misunderstood or under-defined this life saving message. If you ask every Christian you know to repeat the core elements of the Gospel message, I’m sure you would hear a plethora of different responses: The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ… The Birth,...
What Does It Mean to Abide and Be Pruned? [Sermon]
We all long to have more than a mundane life. We want to leave and impact on the world and have a sense of joy as we do so. In Jesus last words to his disciples, he gives them a beautiful picture of His role, the Father’s role and their role as they live their life for His glory....