“Majority Rule” Isn’t Always Right
Published February 15, 2012Baptist church polity is generally based on “majority rule”. Whichever side has the most votes on an issue wins. Generally, majority rule is a good idea, because there is wisdom in Godly counsel (Prov 11:4). But majority rule isn’t always best.
Read Your Bible More and More
Published January 30, 2012Note: This post was copied from John Piper at Desiring God:
Don’t rest on past reading. Read your Bible more and more every year. Read it whether you feel like reading it or not. And pray without ceasing that the joy return and pleasures increase.
Where’s the Beef?
Published January 30, 2012One of our people asked a question about a recent Bible reading as we are reading through the Bible this year.
“In Exodus 16:3, the Israelites begin complaining about how hungry they are. What happened to all of the animals that they had in Egypt? I don’t recall reading that anything specific happened to the animals. Do you think they left them behind for sake of speed?”
Acceptable Offerings
Published January 2, 2012My family asked an important question as we talked about today’s Bible reading in Genesis 4:3-5.
Why did God accept Able’s offering, but didn’t accept Cain’s?
Good question! What do you think?
How to (not) Gain Favor with God
Published August 3, 2011In today’s reading in Judges 17, we come across a young man named Micah. Micah’s name means, “Who is like God”. But Micah isn’t much like God. He steals silver from his mother and then when he ‘fesses up, his mother dedicates some of the silver for Micah to make into two idols. Micah hires out a Levite to be a father-figure and priest for his private shrine. He is convinced that God is pleased and will prosper him for having a Levite for a priest.
How bizarre!
But is it?
Posted in Accountability, Bible, Encouragement, Ethics, Faith, Grace, Prosperity Gospel | 
Leave a commentGrace and …
Published July 28, 2011We come to Acts 15 and find a group of believers who felt that grace wasn’t enough to save someone. They said that you must be circumcised in order to be saved. Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Bible, Encouragement, Ethics, Faith, Gospel, Grace, Kingdom of God | Leave a commentThe Prison Gates Opened of Their Own Accord — Really?
Published July 25, 2011(These thoughts are from John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. © Copyright Desiring God)
One of the great benefits of vacation is that there are no deadlines for being done with devotions. I can start and go as long as I want. If the Bible plan says four chapters (which it does), I can read eight. If it takes 20 minutes to read four chapters, I can take two hours. That’s the way I really like to read the Bible. Roll it around in the mouth of your mind before you swallow it down into your soul.
Gideon Tests God
Published July 23, 2011People often look to Gideon as a model for faith. God gave him a task and he asked for a sign. Continue reading
Have I Committed the Unpardonable Sin?
Published July 21, 2011“But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” Mark 3:29 (ESV)
Many people read Mark 3:29 and worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin. What is the sin of Holy Spirit blasphemy that makes it unforgivable?
Some of the Saddest Words in the Bible
Published July 19, 2011Today’s reading contains some of the saddest words in the entire Bible. “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. ” Judges 2:10 (ESV).
Why did the generation not know the Lord? Simply because their parents didn’t tell them.