Excerpt from “Christ is Everything to His Followers.” Used also in counseling and prison ministry. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with …
One Day At A Time
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!…Praise be to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens….You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 66:20; 68:19.35) A Bumper Sticker Today I saw the “One Day At A Time” slogan again …
Perpetua: Hero of Faith in the Strong Savior
Excerpt from the class “Christ is Everything to His Followers.” Also used in pastoral care, counseling, and prison ministry. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me….My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those …
A Baseball Card and Our Value in Jesus
Excerpt from the class “Christ is Everything to His Followers.” Also used in pastoral care, counseling, and prison ministry. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 17:8) A baseball card from 1982 was called “Baltimore Orioles Future Stars.” It originally cost a penny and it’s now worth $100. Three rookie …
Christ our Treasure
Excerpt from the class “Christ is Everything to His Followers.” Also used in pastoral care, counseling, and prison ministry. In Christ all the treasures are stored (Colossians 2:3). Texas Tom was a billionaire who’s easily depressed. When he’s down, he doesn’t go to his pastor or a counselor. He goes to his banker and complains: “Nothing’s any good.” And the …
Joy in Jesus, Physician of Repenting Sinners
Remember, repent, and live for Christ. (Revelation 2:5, paraphrase) I love the Lord Jesus! When I fall, He lifts me up. When I fail, He forgives me. When I am weak, He is strong. When I am lost, He is the way. When I am afraid, He is my courage. Jesus takes to heart the sufferings of His friends who …
Joy in Jesus’ Emptying Himself for Us
Christ Jesus, though He existed in the unchanging essence of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but emptied Himself, by taking the nature of a servant, being born a human being. And being found in human form, Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8, …
Joy Before Jesus’ Awesome Throne
(Excerpt from teaching/training classes, used also in pastoral counseling and prison ministry) Even as a baby, Christ was fully God and fully human in one person. The Bible teaches that and I believe it and rejoice in it. Christ is my only hope in this life and in the world to come! He is the Creator God and the Sovereign …
Joy in Jesus’ Historicity
Adapted from Alisa Childers blog post. Used in response to questions at Jester III Prison and at Belhaven University in New Testament Survey. It may be helpful to you in evangelism and in defending the Christian faith. Christians believe in the Lord Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of sinners, and we receive and depend upon Him …
Joy in Jesus: Christian Self Image
(Excerpt from teaching/training classes, used also in pastoral counseling and prison ministry) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship (masterpiece, handiwork), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared …