Steven Wales

PERFUME: What Do You Smell Like? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.

Do you wear cologne? Perfume? After shave? Do you know anyone who wears a LOT? I once worked for a woman who wore so much perfume, I always knew when she was in the office. I knew if she passed my door. I knew if she stopped at the copier. And she didn’t smell bad.Continue reading “PERFUME: What Do You Smell Like? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.”

COMFORT. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.

Have you hurt so deeply nothing could mend it? Has grief, disappointment, or loneliness made you question everything? Have you failed so badly, you lost all hope? Have you wondered whether life was worth the trouble? If not, thank God—and pray for compassion toward those who have. Young people may be tempted to dismiss thoseContinue reading “COMFORT. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.”

Be a Pipe, Not a Bucket. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When God blesses, the blessings go THROUGH you to others. They don’t collect in a bucket. Ask God to show you ways that you can be a blessing to others today. We are blessed to be a blessing. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comfortsContinue reading “Be a Pipe, Not a Bucket. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4”

Why Do U.S. Churches Struggle to Appeal to Men? 1 Corinthians 16:13

Many say the church does not challenge men. JESUS challenges men, no doubt. And the Bible challenges everyone. But what do most churches ask from men? Come listen to meetings. Join a choir. Teach stories and crafts to children. Be a parking lot attendant. Go visit people in the hospital. These are not the kindContinue reading “Why Do U.S. Churches Struggle to Appeal to Men? 1 Corinthians 16:13”

THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10.

Who was the greatest apostle? And the least? The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is as close as the Bible gets to a HALL OF FAME, but it does not answer these questions. Who wrote the most books in the Bible? Whose letters explained most of the deepest truths? Who traveled farthest in his missionary journeys?Continue reading “THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10.”

BOXING WITH DEATH. 1 Corinthians 15:52-57.

Boxing requires offense and defense. Boxers can protect themselves by keeping their hands in front of their face and body. But when you “put up your dukes” in defense, you can’t punch. You can also dance around the ring: if he can’t reach you, he can’t hurt you. But if you keep your distance, you’llContinue reading “BOXING WITH DEATH. 1 Corinthians 15:52-57.”

Don’t Waste Your Time. 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Have you ever wasted an hour or a day? I don’t mean by being lazy (although that too is unfortunate). I mean have you ever worked hard on something, only to have to start over? I’ve lost a few days’ work to computer problems over the years. And we’ve all been through all sorts ofContinue reading “Don’t Waste Your Time. 1 Corinthians 15:58.”

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? 1 Corinthians 14:26.

How many TV shows have made jokes out of this old question? It’s a cliché—yet it may be the most important question on the minds of people in a post-modern world. Why am I here? What should I do with my life? What is my PURPOSE? Believers have answers. We believe in a God whoContinue reading “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? 1 Corinthians 14:26.”

GOD IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION BUT OF ORDER. 1 Corinthians 14:33.

Is your life orderly or a mess? Does it matter? Is a messy life a godless life? Not exactly. What one might consider unacceptable disorder another might consider a creative environment. I have lived both ways and believe a little disorder is acceptable. There is a line beyond which organization costs more than it’s worth—forContinue reading “GOD IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION BUT OF ORDER. 1 Corinthians 14:33.”

FEAR CORRUPTS SOUND MINDS AND GOOD DECISIONS. 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Corinthians 14:33.

Are you motivated by fear? Don’t say ‘No’ too quickly—MANY people are. In the flesh, people are motivated by fear or anger or pride or greed or ambition or appetites or some combination of the above. Fear motivates SO MANY decisions. The object of the fear is irrelevant: there is fear of illness, fear ofContinue reading “FEAR CORRUPTS SOUND MINDS AND GOOD DECISIONS. 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Corinthians 14:33.”