Moments For You

When I teach on the Great Commission, I often begin by asking my students, “What is Jesus’ primary emphasis in the Great Commission?” Typically, most students reply, “evangelism.” I then ask them to read the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18–20, after which I ask my question a second time. The... Read more →

“We are looking for volunteers for the _______ ministry.” If you’ve been to church for more than three weeks you’ve likely encountered some sort of announcement asking for help from the church to serve. We understand why: churches have a number of ministries that require volunteers to coordinate service together.... Read more →

 How do you want to be remembered? What do you hope people will say about you after you are gone? How will the people who knew you best summarize 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80 years of living? Here is Paul’s answer to that question. Writing from... Read more →

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). The Christian life is really a treasure hunt in which you progressively discover the vast wealth that already is yours because you are... Read more →

As Joshua was nearing the end of his life, he gathered the children of Israel together at Shechem. And there, from the lips of a man who was close to death, came an appeal that throughout the centuries has moved the hearts of many. Joshua said, “Choose this day whom... Read more →

“Buy truth, and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23). To buy the truth implies that there is a price we must pay. What sort of things must we be willing to give up?  Pride To buy the truth often means admitting that we were wrong. Therefore, we need humility when... Read more →

The Bible says that there are angels who help us. These angels are our unseen friends. The writer of Hebrews, referring to angels, asked the rhetorical question, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (1:14). The answer... Read more →

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14). What’s the first item that He instructs us to wear? The belt of truth. When you think that Satan is a liar, the liar from the beginning, the liar in the garden, and the liar every day in your... Read more →

“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma” (Genesis 8:21). The first thing Noah does when he leaves the ark is give thanks to God. Wouldn’t you think he would at least have stopped to build a fire and cook a meal? No, this man knows how to put first things first.... Read more →

“The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus... Read more →

In every one of his New Testament letters, Paul greets the recipient with some variation of “grace and peace”—combining the standard Greek greeting, charis (grace), with the standard Hebrew greeting, shalom (peace). Taken together and in the right order, these two words give us a window into mysteries unknown apart... Read more →

One of the most difficult things a Christian will face is offering genuine forgiveness to those who have deeply hurt us. When Jesus commands us to love our enemies and offer our forgiveness to them it’s hard for us to believe that He knew what He was talking about. “Jesus... Read more →

Much can be learned from the example of Job and his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. When we are aware of a friend who is hurting, we can follow the positive example of these men by going to the person, mourning with them, and spending time together. Our physical presence... Read more →

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). A lot of life’s letdowns have a greater purpose. That five-minute delay looking for your misplaced car key? Maybe the Lord kept you out of a deadly... Read more →

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph’s presence at Christ’s... Read more →