The Survival Float
Sunlight glittered on the swimming pool in front of me. I overheard an instructor speaking to a student who had been in the water for quite a while. He said, “It looks like you’re getting tired. When you’re exhausted and in deep water, try the survival float.”
Certain situations in life require us to spend our mental, physical, or emotional energy in a way that we can’t sustain. David described a time when his enemies were threatening him and he felt the emotional weight of their anger. He needed to escape the distress he was experiencing.
As he processed his feelings, he…
Recognizing our need for God!
“You gotta have faith!” Tough to argue with that, but what does that mean, exactly? Today on Discover the Word, the group and guest Darrell Bock discuss how faith is more than a belief in the truth. At faith’s core is the humble recognition of our need for God, 24/7. Join us for Discover the Word!
My Struggle With Alcohol: The Spirit That Never Satisfies
I used to drink a lot. Once, I had one too many that I stumbled about the streets and passed out outside a shopping mall in the wee hours. Some kind strangers woke me up and asked if I needed to be sent to the hospital.
A Pleasing Aroma
A perfumer who works in New York declares that she can recognize certain combinations of scents and guess the perfumer behind a fragrance. With just a sniff she can say, “This is Jenny’s work.”
When writing to the followers of Christ in the city of Corinth, Paul at one point used an example that would have reminded them of a victorious Roman army in a conquered city burning incense (2 Cor. 2:14). The general would come through first, followed by his troops and then the defeated army. For the Romans, the aroma of the incense meant victory; for the prisoners, it…
What’s your spiritual temperature?
No one likes going to the doctor. But the more we hurt, the better that visit looks! Today on Discover the Word, the group and guest Darrell Block examine Luke 5:32, where Jesus uses the analogy of a doctor visit to help us take our spiritual temperature. Are you in need of a visit to […]
Africa: The Secret Behind Faith and Hope
Whenever I visit other continents, a question I am often asked is, “What is the hidden secret behind faith and hope in Africa?” That’s when I share about the power of thanksgiving and prayer—the fuel that drives the church in Africa towards faith and hope.
Helping Each Other
“The body of Christ” is a mysterious phrase used more than 30 times in the New Testament. The apostle Paul especially settled on that phrase as an image of the church. After Jesus ascended to heaven, He turned over His mission to flawed and bumbling men and women. He assumed the role of head of the church, leaving the tasks of arms, legs, ears, eyes, and voice to the erratic disciples—and to you and me.
Jesus’ decision to operate as the invisible head of a large body with many parts means that He often relies on us to help one another…
Forgiveness is a transition
Most believers would say that John 3:16 is the most important verse in the Bible. But today on Discover the Word, the group, along with author and seminary professor Darrell Bock, gives us new insight into another 3:16 . . . Luke 3:16. In a sense, it may be as important as John 3:16, as it […]
What Singleness Taught Me About Love
While having lunch with a girl friend one day, we touched on our favorite topic as single girls: relationships. Contrary to what many romantic drama serials and movies portray, the life of a single professional woman (especially if she is a Christian) is far from one of romance and constant social activity.
Social Media - Friend or Enemy?
There’s no use complaining about social media. Like wealth, it is here to stay. Like wealth, it is very useful. Like wealth, it can be a hard task‐master.
When I left SMBC in 2011, the student body presented me with an iPad. Frankly, I didn’t know what I was going to do with such a contraption. Now, nearly five years…
Beyond Time
During 2016, theater companies in Britain and around the world have staged special productions to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. Concerts, lectures, and festivals have drawn crowds who celebrate the enduring work of the man widely considered to be the greatest playwright in the English language. Ben Jonson, one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, wrote of him, “He was not of an age, but for all time.”
While the influence of some artists, writers, and thinkers may last for centuries, Jesus Christ is the only person whose life and work will endure beyond time. He claimed to be…
Is there reward in true repentance?
What do you think of when you hear the word, repent? Today on Discover the Word, we will, along with our guest Darrell Bock, discuss how our limited understanding of repentance keeps us from reaping its full benefits. As we read in Luke chapter one, the path to healthier relationships is often through the door […]
Is it Possible to Forgive Our Enemies?
One evening in 2015, an unassuming young man walked into a church. The regular attendees of the church’s weekly Bible study warmly welcomed him and proceeded with the meeting for an hour. Suddenly, that young man stood up, took out a gun, and shot everyone in the room.
Ready for a Change?
Self-control is probably one of the hardest things to master. How often have we been defeated by a bad habit, a lousy attitude, or a wrong mindset? We make promises to improve. We ask someone to hold us accountable. But deep inside, we know that we don’t have the will or the ability to change. We can talk, we can plan, we can read self-help books, but we still find it difficult to overcome and control many of the things that are inside us!
Thankfully, God knows our weakness, and He also knows the remedy! The Bible says, “The fruit of…
