The problem is not that people don’t want to be better. They just don’t know how to get there. Many Christians simply give up because they think they have no other alternative. It’s the attitude of, “Given my sinful nature, I don’t have a choice. I won’t get any better no matter what I do.” It’s so easy to get cynical if you’ve ever tried to be good. The truth is, while growth is hard, it’s also possible. Peter, who had as much trouble growing as any Christian who has ever lived, has some good news for us in 2 Peter 1:3-11. It’s Not You Growth comes from God: “…as his divine power has given to ..read more

So, if Christians already have the Holy Spirit living in them (1 Cor. 6:19), how can they better experience his presence? The book of Acts gives us a clue in its account of what happened when Peter and John gathered with their fellow believers after being released by the Jewish council: And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31) Here are five things you can do today to be filled with God’s Spirit: 1. Receive. Receive Jes ..read more

We have two of his paintings. He is also a thoughtful theology student. Henry never knew he had any talent for painting or interest in theology until he went to prison. Henry is a student in our Seminary-in-Prison program. In one of his paintings that we have on the wall in our living room, a painting that is both artistically beautiful and theologically rich, there is a lamb in the foreground. It is a very young lamb. He has come through a dark forest, crossed a swamp, and now stands at the edge of a briar patch. His legs are caked with mud. He is dirty all over. His wool is matted and scruff ..read more

Mistakes and blunders checker my past, like a used dart board. If you’re like me, you prefer to focus on the future. After all, it’s what we feel we can control. There’s a reason why our windshields are larger than our rearview mirrors. We figure that if we can sway the narrative that we’re honestly and consistently striving to be better, more holy, more rich, more successful (at least, more than our friends), then we’ll have a life worth living. As a byproduct of our western individualistic culture, I have a “me” problem. As a chronic navel-gazer, I’m much more likely to stare down at the scu ..read more

He survived and called all his friends to see the result of his pecking prowess. That’s woodpecker arrogance on steroids. Many Christians face the opposite—humility on steroids. They don’t even peck. Pastors and religious leaders often quote that 20 percent of Christians do 100 percent of the work. I don’t know where that statistic comes from, but it’s probably close to the truth. The reasons for the 80 percent lack of involvement are probably multitudinous, but at the heart of this is a belief that to be an effective Christian, one must meet certain requirements . . . which so many Christians ..read more

By my early thirties, I started to ache for a relationship with my dad. At that point, we barely saw each other beyond Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July. After much prayer, I invited my dad to lunch on his birthday. We had a great time, and it became an annual tradition. A few years into this, we left the cash register and walked to our vehicles, which were coincidentally parked next to each other. Without any forethought, I said, “Dad, can I give you a hug?” Before I had time to think about it, Dad charged me like a bull. He threw his arms around me and squeezed so tight I felt ..read more

Watch the full sermon here The post The Shocking Debut of Jesus’ Ministry | Key Takeaways appeared first on Key Life ..read more

I struggled to put on some clothing and made my way to the house. When I got there, the smoke was heavy, the smell was horrible and the cries were even worse. Every member of the family had escaped the burning house except the father. I will never forget standing before that burning house, holding the hand of the teenage daughter. I will never forget the teenager watching as they carried her father’s body out of the house, draped over by a sheet so that the family wouldn’t have to look at the stark reality of death. I will never forget her looking into my eyes and asking, “Pastor, why? Why di ..read more

Life is good. Michigan professors love my Marxist analyses. I plan to stay at U of M and get a PhD. The university library subscribes to Pravda, the Moscow newspaper. My Russian knowledge is good enough for me to read about “unyielding war against religious patterns of thought.” I’m an addict who favors “suppressing, once and for all, of those relics from the past,” as Pravda puts it. On Halloween, students in Nixon masks stalk the Diag, the walkway cutting across the central section of the University of Michigan campus. The next day, November 1, 1973, begins as normal with my reading of Prav ..read more

Well, it’s true and it’s a glorious thing. The growing in holiness part doesn’t always seem blissful. But it means that God isn’t finished with you yet, either. The purpose and hope in marriage isn’t defined by you or your spouse, but by God. THE BRIDE & GROOM’S SINISTER MINISTER Let’s talk about weddings. I’m no veteran, but of the seven or so years I used to be a volunteer, I had the privilege of officiating a handful of weddings. It’s fun to be part of a couple’s huge life event. Two lives come together in the sight of God, family, and friends; it’s a pretty big deal. I love the excite ..read more