disciple

Words Are a Big Deal

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” – Acts 20:32 If you want to become the kind of person you were born to be, here’s something to think about: Words form the foundation of your life, so it’s important to consider what kind of words you want to surround yourself with. Words are a big deal, aren’t they? As a pastor, there are certain words that I cannot say from the pulpit. If I did, I would be defrocked and lose my job. Each of us has a responsibility to be accountable for the words we speak, and that’s a good thing. I believe there are certain words that I say every week that change people’s lives for the better, and that’s a positive thing. Words are powerful.

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Focus on the Solution

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” – 2 Corinthians 1:21,22 Today, we conclude our series on understanding the significance of our daily thoughts. A tune-up of our present thoughts is always in order because they can dictate our future! What we consume and think about is an excellent indicator of what our future can become. Our last focus is to “Turn our thoughts onto the solution, not the problem.” We may come up with short-term solutions to problems, but over the long term, the solution for your life is Christ in you. The Christ-centered solution is to work hard on yourself, more than anything else in the world. First-century Christians were not called Christians. They were called

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Skills Can Be Learned

“I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.” – Proverbs 4:2 Today I want to start with this thought: We can learn most of the skills needed for success. I often share that your philosophy is perfectly designed to produce the results you’re getting. What if your ideals, standards, or beliefs are not producing the results you’re seeking?  Whose fault is it? What do you think should change in your life if what I’m saying is true? A great place to start is to change your philosophy, worldview, and how you see things. Considering the abundance of available skills that can be merged into our lives is essential. Being happy is a skill, and there are books on being happy. I know, I wrote one! Being a friend is a skill; being healthy and becoming successful is a skill. Spiritually speaking, leading a holy life is a

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The Power and Honor of Being a Disciple

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ ” – Matthew 4:18-19 Jesus lived in the ancient city of Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and was considered a famous Rabbi who exemplified the characteristics of a great teacher. In this region, it was a big deal to be a sage, a Rabbi, or someone who knew the Torah (first five books of the Bible), and had a group of people following them. Many great Rabbis in Jesus’ day had different interpretations of the Torah and its most important commands. This was called a Rabbi’s yoke. If a Rabbi was famous, he would pass on his yoke,

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The Hard Road to Jesus’ Easy Yoke

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24 We’ve been talking about walking in the easy yoke of Jesus. We’ve discussed how doing life attached to Him sets us free from the need to pretend that we’re perfect as we keep trying harder to win the approval of others. I’m sure by now, you’re fully convinced that’s the best way to live your life. However, you may wonder why certain Scriptures seem to contradict this idea. There is no denying that Jesus, in addition to teaching rest, also instructs us to do things like take up our cross and follow Him or be crucified with Him. How, then, do we explain what seems to be a contradiction? Is Jesus’ yoke easy or is it hard? Does

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Sheep Clothed as Wolves

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18 Many of you have heard about wolves in sheep’s clothing, but today, I want to talk to you about sheep in wolves clothing. Some people may be curious as to how a man from a strong Reformed family ended himself at Oral Roberts University…well, let me tell you. I relocated to Oklahoma when I was 15 and attended a Pentecostal Christian school. My sister started going to ORU while I was in high school, and she invited me to these beautiful worship nights that they had on campus — I believe it was initially called Vespers. Anyway, it began at 7:00 or 8:00 p.m., and it was a time of incredible spontaneous worship to God that greatly aided my

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Vulnerability with Him

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2 As we seek to become resilient and less fragile in our walk with God, we should keep in mind that vulnerability and humility is a difficult task. Stop pretending to be perfect; it’s not going to help anyone. You don’t have to be vulnerable in front of everyone, but you should have a few individuals in your life who are familiar with both your good and bad sides. Be open and honest about the issues you’re dealing with, and you’ll grow stronger as a result. Try to be strong and tough if you want to be vulnerable and weak, and if you want to be powerful, be transparent, modest, and broken. Don’t feel ashamed of your vulnerabilities because the light of Jesus shines brightest and most brightly through the flaws. Devote yourself

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ABNORMAL…

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” -Romans 12:2a

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