Jesus gives us the most important aspects of church leadership The first aspect of leadership is found in the Gospels. Jesus emphatically told us: Don’t let anyone call you teacher, for you have one teacher—the Messiah [Matthew 23:10] We need to keep this at the forefront of our minds as we study church leadership. For Jesus is the leader. He is the head and we are merely the body—His Bride. At best we are stewards of gifts … Continue reading →
For a long time my heart has been directed toward people in the pews of mainline churches left without teaching, training, or encouragement in righteousness, power, and love in the Lord. I spend much time thinking about them, praying for them, asking God to reach them. Today, I was listening to a televangelist who was prophetically talking about God gathering a remnant as we all prepare for the end and the revisiting of the Messiah to the earth. … Continue reading →
I’m working on 1 Timothy and ended up writing a little blurb about Godly training. I thought I’d put the list up and see if you think I missed anything, or messed it up. Reading scripture: Increasingly we find that simply reading scripture like a well-loved novel has great benefit. It is literally feeding your soul with raw materials for the Holy Spirit to use in your life. Studying scripture: This takes the raw food received in … Continue reading →
I have been spending a lot of time in prayer, seeking the face of the Lord, trying to follow His lead to write Bible studies and develop materials to make those studies real, helpful, and empowering. As I am working on these things, my heart continuously goes out to people in mainline churches with no spiritual resources—no way to hear the true powerful gospel. The movements of power in the 1960s and 1970s are distant memories. The … Continue reading →
This is a short excerpt from the new: Finding the Power to Believe Here’s a short passage from my new verse by verse Bible Study of Philippians. The Modern Viking Paraphrase [MVP] is my interpretation of the core message of the scripture. It is a compilation of many translations. _________________________________ Verse 4:6 Don’t worry or get upset about anything, but no matter what is going on let the Lord know your opinion about everything, not forgetting to … Continue reading →
A suggested Bible study order for new believers is merely meant to be helpful. Later on, I would suggest that you just ask the Lord what to read next. Read entire books to get everything in context. This page has been in the top three looked at every day for ten years. The booklet to the left has a link to a free downloadable PDF which adds more information to what is on this page. How should … Continue reading →
Why a verse by verse bible study? The Easily Understanding Scripture series is not how the Bible is commonly taught in the world today. The books in this series are not a sermon or a directed teaching. They are a simple explanation of the scripture, whether they are verse by verse or topical. More importantly, they are designed to readable. Modern study bibles are marvelous gatherings of commentary—but often the Bible itself is lost in the clutter. Easily Understanding … Continue reading →
This is an excerpt from my new book, “Finding the Power to Believe”. Philippians Verse 2:12 “Therefore, as you have always obeyed, not only when I was there but also now that I am not, work out your salvation in deep reverence and careful caution” [MVP] This is serious stuff. You need to be on guard, watching and cooperating with the Lord. It is a work—it doesn’t just happen magically overnight. It will take you the rest … Continue reading →
One of the more common heresies running around the church today is that we must always speak positively, that negative confessions are, by definition bad. The truth of the matter is quite different. II Timothy 3:16 {NKJV} “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” God tells us the purpose in the next verse [let’s use New Living this time]: “God uses it to prepare and … Continue reading →
Guilty as charged! Maybe it’s just me, but I rarely find a place where I can really say what I feel. A lot of it is my shyness and timidity on social situations. I can hear the laughing and the “yea, right!”s—but I ask you, “How many of you have seen me in a social situation?” Surely you can see my motivation to teach and write. However, as a writer and teacher, I really need to be … Continue reading →