“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” (Matthew 5:1-2) Most Christians don’t realize that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount actually lasted for several days. That’s because many of us only associate the Beatitudes with the Sermon of the Mount. The truth is Jesus spent the better part of a week encouraging and instructing believers about other equally important issues like witnessing, obedience, prophecy, anger, lust, divorce, integrity, retaliation, loving […]

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) All of us have likely heard the maxim, “Confession is good for the soul.” It’s an old Scottish proverb but there is a word missing. The proverb actually reads, “Open confession is good for the soul.” I believe there is biblical truth to this maxim as well. In fact, the Bible supports the conclusion that absent open confession, salvation is […]

“I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.” (Proverbs 4:11-12) My wife and I walk together almost every day at the local high school track down the street from where we live. For the most part, I walk after work, but every now and then, my schedule allows me to get in an early morning walk. There’s something different about the early morning […]

“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45) When I was saved, I actually thought my problems would disappear. After all, the burden of sin had been lifted from my shoulders. The sense of euphoria I felt initially placed an unrealistic expectation of what God would do for me. When I came down, I realized I had been forgiven. However, the consequences from all those sinful choices I made were still with […]