On Sunday June 2nd as Pastor David Platt was near the end of the 1:00PM worship service at the McLean Bible Church in Virginia something very unusual took place. He received word that the president of the United States was on his way to the church. With the tragic events of the previous week in... Continue Reading →
Confessions of an Adoptive Parent
This summer marks my ninth year as an adoptive parent. The summer of 2010 was such an exciting time for our family as we boarded a plane heading to the Far East. That trip would change our lives forever but I am unsure that any of us, including our adopted son, understood the challenges that... Continue Reading →
Having a Sustained Joy for the Journey: Being vs. Doing
Being a follower of Christ is a journey and too many followers sit as abandoned cars on the side of the road to heaven simply because they either lost faith or the joy of the journey. As believers in Christ, God has saved us for eternity but has not immediately taken us to our eternal... Continue Reading →
Waiting on the Walls to Fall
Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor…” (Joshua 6:2) For years the people of God were strangers and sojourners, living in a foreign... Continue Reading →
The Great Omission
The most often quoted, preached and taught verses anywhere in the New Testament may very well be the section of scripture referred to as “The Great Commission.” Matthew 28:18-20 has been used by thousands of preachers, church and denominational leaders to rally the Christian army to evangelistic fervor. Besides John 3:16 no passage has been... Continue Reading →
Church Health and Pastoral Tenure Longevity
Without a doubt, one of the greatest needs we have in the American church is to turn around declining churches. In June 2017 Thom Rainer released new data which suggests that 65% of Southern Baptist Churches are either in plateau or decline. On one hand this is much better than the often used data of... Continue Reading →
5 Steps to Create Missional Alignment in your Church
About once a year I will notice that my vehicle has a tendency to pull in a certain direction while I am driving. While it is my intent to go straight, it seems that I struggle to keep the wheels from veering to the left or right. When this occurs I know it is time... Continue Reading →
The Importance of Identity
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear... Continue Reading →
Eden to Calvary: The Scarlet Thread of Redemption
It truly is a remarkable statement, “And they (Adam & Eve) were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:25. Instead of focusing on the lack of clothing we are called to focus on the final four words of that verse, “…and were not ashamed.” That is the last time... Continue Reading →
Effective Disciple Making: Invite Everyone, Invest in a Few!
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 Great disciple making movements are not created through large scale invitations to crowds. Great disciple making movements begin small and grow big. Effective disciple making doesn’t depend on... Continue Reading →