Summary God has clear expectations for how believers handle His Word. Reading the Bible is only the starting point. Scripture calls Christians to study diligently, understand accurately, obey faithfully, and teach others. Jesus rebuked leaders who failed to know Scripture, and God warns believers against remaining spiritually immature. True faith works hard at God’s Word so it can be rightly understood, lived out, and passed on to others. Others’ expectations shape our lives

Summary Jesus diagnoses spiritual heart health by listening to words. Scripture teaches that speech flows directly from the heart and will be evaluated by God. Healthy hearts, renewed by Christ, produce life-giving, truthful, and gracious words that build others and advance the gospel. Though believers are imperfect, their speech reflects transformation. In contrast, unhealthy hearts overflow with corrupt, self-serving words, revealing inner spiritual decay. If your resting h

Summary Human fixes are temporary, but God permanently restores broken lives. Scripture reveals that all people are morally and spiritually broken by sin, yet God transforms those who repent and trust Him. Change is slow but certain as the Holy Spirit produces Christlike character. God also heals broken hearts and promises future bodily restoration. True wholeness begins by admitting our brokenness and seeking God’s healing grace. The handle of our white plastic laundry baske

Summary Prayer reveals spiritual maturity. While praying for health is biblical, prayers dominated by emergencies often expose shallow dependence on God. Jesus taught that answered prayer is tied to abiding in Him and bearing lasting fruit. Mature believers pray for God’s glory, spiritual growth, unity, endurance, and gospel impact. Our prayer focus exposes what we value most and whether we live dependently on Christ in every area of life. His name was Bill. I liked him. He w

Summary Facelifts chase fading beauty at great cost, but gracelifts offer lasting worth for free through God’s grace. Appearance-based self-esteem is fragile, while grace provides sufficiency for every need. Salvation and daily strength come by grace through faith as we follow Jesus. Trusting God’s all-sufficient grace brings peace, steadies anxious hearts, and anchors identity in what is eternal rather than what fades. There were 234,374 total facelifts in the US in 2020, bu

Summary Peter’s walk on water reveals how faith functions in the Christian life. Trust in Jesus enabled Peter to step out and experience God’s power, but fear and doubt caused him to sink. Faith acts as the conduit for God’s power and is visible through action. Though believers often fail, Jesus forgives and invites us to learn from those moments and step out again when He calls us to trust Him. I have often joked that I can walk on water. I did best in January and February w

Summary Many have lost hope and taken their own lives, considering their lives to be of no value. The Apostle Paul laid aside worthless, self-oriented living to embrace God's purpose for his life. Scripture warns believers not to lose their saltiness and become worthless as God's instruments. A life that matters is one spent living for Jesus, who died and rose again for us. A World Losing Its Sense of Worth More than 720,000 people in the world take their lives each year, wit

Summary Dress codes shape life, work, sports, and worship, but heaven’s dress code never changes. Jesus’ parable reveals that human effort cannot qualify us for God’s kingdom. Only Christ’s righteousness, freely given through faith, meets God’s standard. Our sins were credited to Jesus, and His perfection to us. Eternal acceptance depends not on fashion or tradition, but on wearing the righteousness of Christ alone. Dress Codes We Learn to Accept Dress requirements can be ver

What does it mean to follow God?

Summary Biblical wisdom is inseparable from truth. Proverbs teaches that the wise are truthful, guard their hearts, speak godly words, and live sexually pure lives. These qualities reflect Jesus Himself. In contrast to a culture that excuses dishonesty, godly wisdom shapes thoughts, speech, and conduct, making wisdom both visible and audible in daily life. Can we be wise without being truthful? Steven Ussery said, “ Nope. True wisdom includes the fact that honesty is, after a

Summary Biblical wisdom flows from humility. Wise people live to glorify God, reject pride, seek counsel, do good intentionally, and promote peace. They recognize their dependence on Jesus and imitate His humility, service, and peacemaking. Rather than self-promotion, their lives reflect Christ through obedience, reconciliation, and a sincere desire to honor God and serve others. Humility and wisdom share common characteristics. Humility is a requirement for wisdom (Proverbs

Summary Biblical wisdom is visible in righteous behavior, integrity, and peaceful living. Proverbs teaches that wise people do what is right, walk in the light, live with unwavering moral integrity, and trust God rather than fearing harm. Wisdom is not merely spoken but demonstrated through consistent, godly conduct that honors the LORD and reflects confidence in His justice and care. Biblical Wisdom in Action Wisdom in Proverbs is audible and visible. It is biblical wisdom i

Summary Biblical wisdom is Jesus-likeness lived out daily. Wise people follow Christ’s example, displaying joy, loyalty, kindness, and integrity. Their obedience brings deep joy, faithful relationships, compassionate living, and a good reputation with God and others. Proverbs reminds us that true wisdom is not merely skill or knowledge but a life that reflects Jesus in character, conduct, and devotion. I admire people who can fix broken things and solve everyday problems. But

Summary Biblical wisdom equips believers for godly self-management through discipline and self-control. Wise people steward time well, manage stress through prayer, adapt to change, and align their lives with God’s purposes. Discipline shapes choices and welcomes correction, guiding believers away from harmful paths. Unlike fools, the wise live humbly, respond to instruction, and grow through God’s loving correction. Wise self-management benefits God, others, and ourselves. W

Summary Just as a garden begins with one shovelful of dirt, biblical wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD. Reverent awe for God shapes obedience, turns us from evil, and provides security and blessing. God is the source of all wisdom, and choosing a God-centered life lays the foundation for lifelong spiritual fruit and faithful living. In 1996, I dug up a small part of the yard to plant cherry tomatoes. My garden was four feet long by four feet wide. It was a small beginni

Summary Biblical wisdom is God-centered skill in godly living. It begins with fearing the LORD and shapes every area of life. Unlike fools who resist correction and live self-centeredly, the wise live visibly and audibly for God. Jesus perfectly modeled this wisdom, producing God-honoring fruit. True wisdom leads believers to know God more deeply and live lives marked by devotion, purity, and peace. What is biblical wisdom? As a young, inexperienced pastor, I gleaned advice f

Summary The prosperity gospel distorts Scripture by equating faith with material gain. God does not promise wealth but provides spiritual riches, daily provision, and contentment. Abundance is given to glorify God and bless others, not satisfy greed. Scripture teaches that judgment will focus on spiritual fruit and generosity, not possessions. True wealth is found in following Jesus and remaining devoted to Him. Biblical Abundance Versus the Prosperity Gospel Our hearts yearn

Summary Scripture draws a clear line between the godly and the ungodly. Godly people abide in Christ, turn from sin, pursue righteousness, and rely on God’s power to live transformed lives. The ungodly are driven by sinful desires and reject truth, yet they are not beyond rescue. Through faith in Christ, the ungodly can be justified, changed, and made godly by God’s grace. Two letters make all the difference—un. Everyone wants to be fortunate. No one wants to be unfortunate.

Summary Imitation reveals worship. True worship is not confined to music but is lived daily by becoming like Jesus. Apart from Christ, people imitate the devil's pride, but transformed thinking leads to Christlike living. Believers worship by imitating Jesus’ humility, self-denial, obedience, love, and patient endurance in suffering. Following Him means submitting our lives to His leadership and reflecting His character in every area of life. As a boy, I pretended I was vario

Summary Persistent feelings of inadequacy marked my ministry journey, yet God used them to teach dependence on His grace. As trust shifted from self to God, His strength consistently met every need. Scripture reminds us that God’s power works best in weakness. Through prayer and reliance on His promises, believers can face challenges with confidence, knowing Christ’s grace is sufficient in every situation. During my first pastorate, I frequently felt inadequate. I had an unea