John chapter 3 isn’t the only place we get to hear about ol’ Nicodemus. Later on we see him boldly standing up for Jesus. In John 7:43–53 Nicodemus questions the ... read more
I’ve heard John chapter 3 summed up comically as “Nic at Night”. Every time I hear that, it reminds me of the detail that Nicodemus intentionally met with Jesus &... read more
It’s often overlooked that arguably the most famous summary of the gospel in the entire Bible is right in the middle of the story we’ve been looking at this week: John ... read more
For so many of us deciding to follow Jesus means a change of behavior. “I’m gonna start this,” and, “I’m gonna stop that. ” But Jesus doesn&rsquo... read more
Question: How do you get in the Kingdom of Heaven?
Answer: You have to be born in.
It’s not the answer we generally think of and may even be an answer we don’t like. ... read more
One of the great joys of being a pastor is hearing how people became Jesus-followers. I have heard some incredible stories over my lifetime. Some make you weep, some are astounding... read more
This phrase from Jesus came on the heels of Zacchaeus’ quick change of heart. Zacchaeus was despised, and yet Jesus declared salvation. Zacchaeus’ priorities were diffe... read more
We aren’t privy to the conversation between Jesus and Zacchaeus, but the results are astounding. A really greedy person abruptly declares that he will give away half his weal... read more
As a kid, I sang a song in my church classes about Zacchaeus. The lyrics went, Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lo... read more
Imagine you are meeting Jesus for lunch today. Where would you go? How early would you arrive? What would you wear? Would you get the check? What time will He arrive? What will He ... read more
We’ve looked at jealousy this week as part of a message from the series, Wildfire—When Anger Burns Out of Control. We’re finishing with two counter-offenses to je... read more
As we continue our devotions this week thinking about jealousy, I thought it best to take our last two days to look at a couple of antidotes to jealousy. We’ll begin to... read more
Take a moment and read again today’s scripture above. Did you notice it? Right after Paul tells us about two things love is, he launches into a list of what love is not and l... read more
The Old Testament book of First Samuel, chapter eighteen, dramatically reveals what happens when jealousy goes unchecked. David has defeated the giant, Goliath, and word of his vic... read more
We’re in a teaching series called, Wildfire—When Anger Burns Out of Control. When I received my topic for the week, I wanted to pay a visit to the person who assigns th... read more
Can you imagine what your tear bottle is going to look like?
As a dude, I probably cry more than the average guy. I don’t cry because of anger, fear, or pain. I mostly cry h... read more
“The life of the village depends on the health of the stream. The stream is your soul. And you are the keeper. ” - John Ortberg
It wasn’t even two weeks into my f... read more
Do you love what you do for a living? I love asking that question because it is met with responses all over the spectrum. Our jobs are not our identity, but they do make up a big p... read more
I was asked by one of my friends with special needs, “Did God make me this way?” I flippantly answered, “Of course; you’re made by God. ” However, I di... read more
It was the bottom of the ninth on a beautiful fall day in Cincinnati, and the smell of peanuts and hot dogs filled the air. Dad and I had driven up late and missed the first couple... read more
It was July 1999, the World Cup championship, and the USA women's soccer team was in a shootout against China. The final kick of the shootout went to Brandi Chastain. She plac... read more
Have you ever seen the show, Undercover Boss? It’s a reality TV show where someone in upper-management of a major business goes undercover to work at an entry-level position ... read more
In the book of Genesis we learn the story of Joseph, who was hated by his brothers. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt and through a crazy turn of events Joseph... read more
What’s your biggest pet peeve? Do you get irritated at slow drivers and when people neglect their turn signals? Maybe it drives you nuts when the men in your house forget to ... read more
As I’m writing this devo, my husband is pacing around the house grunting, wincing, and giving an occasional “whew-eee” as he is trying to pass his kidney stone. I... read more
I recently read about a man named Nik Walenda, who regularly performs his daring stunts in front of huge crowds who gather to see his feats. And then afterward, he spends several h... read more
Don’t you just love to admit when you’re wrong? Uhm. . . No.
But there is value in admitting a mistake. We can respect ourselves when we’re honest about our faults... read more
Three words that have devastated lives, including marriages, families, and more: You deserve it. The enemy whispers these words in our ears, tempting us to go try to "get what&rsqu... read more
Ever notice the human tendency to want to relate up? The way we sometimes think about things—more, bigger, better, faster, stronger, higher—gets focused on relationship... read more
Anger is never the first emotion. I remember when a mentor first introduced me to this truth. He shared the way anger so often springs up on the heels of something else. That anger... read more
The place I feel most alive is sitting in a beach chair, toes dipped in the ocean. There is a sense of peace and tranquility there that is indescribable. Y’all, I was made fo... read more
At the end of his life, David knew his legacy was about to play out. His son, Solomon, built the Temple of the Lord. At the ground-breaking, David spoke the words above to Solomon ... read more
It might get scary. There. I said it. Living in freedom means we open up memory boxes long stored away. We learn that some of the things we formerly knew might be wrong, so we deci... read more
Welcome to the new world! The world where life takes on new meaning and depth of understanding. Friends, God created you to live a full life—right now, not just in the by-and... read more
Honesty is always a great starting point. I take a deep breath every time I say something like this. Because it might make you mad at me. But that’s okay because I didn&rsquo... read more
Let’s wrap up our week together by talking a bit more about depression. More specifically, about extending grace and compassion to the depressed. Some things are just hard to... read more
Someone asked me yesterday, “What do you say to yourself when you’re going through trials?” Here are five thoughts that came to mind:
1) Don’t live tomorro... read more
She was angry and devastated. Anyone who loses a child to a tragic accident would be. I had to remind myself to ignore her anger and feel her pain. “Why would God let this ha... read more
Jesus healed people in different ways—a prayer, a command, or just a simple touch. In our weekend message, He healed a leper. He could’ve stood 100 yards away; instead,... read more
Scott preached an excellent message yesterday about sickness, suffering, and healing. We’ll continue that theme this week.
If you haven’t read Lamentations lately, you... read more
The Israelites knew what it was like to be foreigners in a hostile country, so as God was bringing them into the Promised Land He was very clear that, in the land He was giving the... read more
Something intriguing to think about is what must have been going through Matthew’s mind as he witnessed, and then later recounted in his gospel, Jesus’ interaction with... read more
The Israelites, under the Law, were to take very specific measures toward caring for their neighbors in need. Laws like this found in Leviticus ensured that there would be food ava... read more
Did you ever take an economics class in school? I always found it fascinating, and I especially enjoyed macroeconomics: The large-scale systems and structures that make economies w... read more
Most of us are familiar with this story when, during the Passover celebration, Jesus entered the Temple in Jerusalem to find a bustling marketplace selling, among other things, ani... read more
I remember talking with my wife late last year about how tragic the year had been for so many people and expressing gratitude that our year had actually been a productive and prosp... read more
I fondly remember coaches in my younger years investing time and energy into challenging me to improve. As a soccer player, I chose to be a goalkeeper because of the lack of runnin... read more
Sometimes I find myself performing a task or involved in a situation that previously would have been an immense struggle. For example: My dog Woodrow is currently paralyzed in his ... read more
I am always fascinated when I run into an old friend and we catch up. Sometimes it isn’t anything profound. But other times it seems as if nothing at all has changed. You tal... read more
Have you ever thought that you needed to stop something to start something better? Hobbies and projects come to mind—you only have so much time in the day, money to invest, s... read more
