Serious About Scripture

Mentoring and motivating Christ’s people to live his words

Leaving the Work Undone

One of the saddest notes in biblical history is found in the book of Joshua. The children of Israel were coming into the land that had been promised to them after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God had set everything up. He put dread into the heart of the people in the land, His usual pre-war tactic. He provided an able leader, Joshua. And He promised, and God’s promise is always enough. It was as good as done.…

Spiritual Inventory for Pastoral Visits

Name_______________________________ Date_____________ Spiritual Inventory for Pastoral Visits For systematic pastoral visitation of church members____________________“Warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all men.” 1 Thess. 5:14 “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the…

Witness of the Spirit

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God . . .” Romans 8:16 This “witness” which leads to assurance that we are in God’s family is not a direct or immediate feeling or sense that we are God’s children—some inner confidence that may be entirely misplaced by being based on nothing but the notion itself. The believer will not say merely, “I know that I know that I know.” In fact, having confidence in…

Power Implies Authority; Authority Demands Obedience (by Rod McDonald)

Jesus demonstrated unusual power. It astonished people. It was evident in his making the blind see, raising the dead, healing the lame, and so much more. Multitudes came to him from great distances, and he sometimes healed them all. Dismiss the Bible as the Word of God and regard it merely as a historical record, and the fact cannot be denied: Jesus performed miracles. Some who witnessed this power were merely entertained. Others sought to get something from Jesus. But…