Jesus Scared People – Household Words:

INFANT LOWLY. Revelation 1:13-16.

Some think of Jesus as a baby. Consider the songs: “little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,” “I played my drum for him… then he smiled at me,” “Sweet little Jesus boy, born in a manger way down.” Others think about Jesus the man, but emphasize only his suffering. Indeed, we call him “theContinue reading “INFANT LOWLY. Revelation 1:13-16.”

A MAN OF PRAYER IS A MAN OF COURAGE. Luke 13:31-33.

No one faced worse than Jesus. Yet He faced it with courage. He drew amazing strength from amazing prayer. His prayer time was not mere “quality” time, but also a significant QUANTITY of time. He got up before dawn. He stayed up all night. He went away to places of solitude. Consider Gethsemane: Jesus beganContinue reading “A MAN OF PRAYER IS A MAN OF COURAGE. Luke 13:31-33.”

Preacher Scandals and the Fear of the Lord. Luke 12:5-7.

Preacher scandals are sadly common. As with any class of claims, a few are groundless. But many are based on misconduct—from abusive leadership to embezzlement, adultery, pedophilia, and more. There are websites and newsletters reporting the alleged misdeeds of America’s pastors. Here are two things to keep in mind: First, stories of disgraced men ofContinue reading “Preacher Scandals and the Fear of the Lord. Luke 12:5-7.”

DOES TODAY’S CHRISTIAN FEAR THE LORD? Mark 4:38-41; 2 Corinthians 5:10.

One of the most dramatic scandals of my life was the implosion of the ministry of Jim Bakker. Throughout the 1980s, Bakker preached on a high-profile television show. He and his wife generated millions of dollars in donations. As is all-too-common, they promised donors that God would make the donors rich, but the ones gettingContinue reading “DOES TODAY’S CHRISTIAN FEAR THE LORD? Mark 4:38-41; 2 Corinthians 5:10.”

“GRIPPED BY GREAT FEAR.” Luke 8:37.

When you read the Gospels, it’s easy to envy those who knew Jesus on earth. How amazing to sit with Him at the Last Supper, or pray with Him in the garden? Or to pass out miracle-food to 5,000 people? Or see Lazarus come out of the grave? But it was not all sunshine andContinue reading ““GRIPPED BY GREAT FEAR.” Luke 8:37.”