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Discover how God can use our pain to help those around us
It’s hard to remember others when we’re focused on our own pain and discomfort. Let's review a humbling passage in Scripture that reveals how God can use our pain to help those around us. A radical change in perspective.
How God may use our trials to teach other people important lessons as well
Painful circumstances or difficult seasons in our lives can teach us valuable lessons we otherwise wouldn’t have known. A fresh perspective on God’s plans.
Let’s look at a puzzling passage in Scripture, where Jesus ignored the pleas of a needy mom
People may ignore us. Maybe even give us the cold shoulder. But if there’s one person we can always count on to listen, it’s God, right?
An Ordinary Day
While exploring a museum exhibit titled “A Day in Pompeii,” I was struck by the repeated theme that August 24, ad 79 began as an ordinary day. People were going about their daily business in homes, markets, and at the port of this prosperous Roman town of 20,000 people. At 8 a.m., a series of small emissions were seen coming from nearby Mount Vesuvius, followed by a violent eruption in the afternoon. In less than 24 hours, Pompeii and many of its people lay buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash. Unexpected.
The Wonder Of The Cross
While visiting Australia, I had the opportunity on a particularly clear night to see the Southern Cross. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, this constellation is one of the most distinctive. Mariners and navigators began relying on it as early as the 15th century for direction and navigation through the seas. Although relatively small, it is visible throughout most of the year. The Southern Cross was so vivid on that dark night that even I could pick it out of the bundle of stars. It was truly a magnificent sight!
How to make the good news of God’s grace our own
The gospel of Jesus is good news indeed. But until it becomes your personal story, it remains simply a bold headline!
Why we all need the grace and healing of the Savior
If your nose doesn’t run and your throat doesn’t itch, there’s no reason to see a doctor. It’s only when you know that you’re sick that you look for a remedy!
Discover the need for a Savior
According to the world’s standards, we may seem like decent people. But if we gauge ourselves according to Jesus’ standards, we’ll find we badly miss the mark! take a hard look at Jesus’ criteria for righteousness in the Sermon on the Mount.
Let’s look to Jesus for the blueprints on building a firm foundation for life
There are many things to build our lives around. But when the storms rage, will what we’ve built stand, or collapse? Another practical discussion.
The ideal way to wrap up any message!
A good preacher knows that you need a good start to a sermon, and a strong finish as well! Let's study how Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount.
As Below, So Above
The Roman paganism of Jesus’ day taught that the actions of gods in the heavens above affected the earth below. If Zeus got angry, thunderbolts shot out. “As above, so below,” went the ancient formula.
Jesus, though, sometimes inverted that. He taught: As below, so above. A believer prays, and heaven responds. A sinner repents, and the angels rejoice. A mission succeeds, and God is glorified. A believer rebels, and the Holy Spirit is grieved.
Does God Perform Miracles Today?
” . . . the prophets who through faith . . . escaped the edge of the sword” (Hebrews 11:32b-34).
- Sometimes when we trust God, He works for us in ordinary ways.
- To help listeners see that not all of God’s dealings have to be miraculous.
Do you think God works miracles today?
Do you think there is a possibility that we overwork the term “miraculous”?
Do you think that God often works in what seems to be the ordinary?
Magic Or Miracle?
Magician Harry Houdini often performed an amazing escape. He was handcuffed, put inside a sack, and locked in a trunk—but he always managed to free himself. Some claimed that he had supernatural powers, but Houdini himself said that all his tricks could be explained.
When a museum in Wisconsin opened an exhibit that showed the secret of Houdini’s famous escape act, many magicians said it violated their code of ethics that prohibits revealing how tricks are performed. The exhibit proved Houdini was a magician, not a miracle worker.
Christingle
In the Czech Republic and other places, the Christmas celebration includes “Christingles.” A Christingle is an orange, representing the world, with a candle placed in the top of it to symbolize Christ the light of the world. A red ribbon encircles the orange, symbolizing the blood of Jesus. Four toothpicks with dried fruits are placed through the ribbon into the sides of the orange, representing the fruits of the earth.
In His Presence: Spending Time With God
Sometimes the hectic demands on your day can crowd out your time with God. Find out how you can develop a regular time of Bible reading and prayer, as author Dennis Fisher offers a practical guide to help you keep your appointments with God. You’ll gain a fresh perspective on your quiet time as an opportunity to reconnect with the God of grace who is waiting to spend time with you.
