June 3, 2025
The Sheep’s Psalm
Here we celebrate the unspeakable liberty and joy of being a sheep within the fold of Christ, and here we proclaim the Lord’s overcoming death, until he comes again.
Articles for tag: Abundant Life
January 8, 2024
Jan. 14 Lesson | I AM the Good Shepherd
The biblical world had a love/hate relationship with shepherds. Shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34), and by the first century BC they were the ragamuffins of society (Luke 2:8-20). But Scripture has high regard for shepherds. . . .
June 8, 2020
Has-Beens
By Stuart Powell The term has-been is a demeaning way to describe the diminished status of once-popular personalities—athletes who can no longer compete, actresses who have not aged well, singers whose vocal ranges shrank with their fan base. A has-been’scurrent status is a dim shadow of what it once was. As Christians, maybe we should consider becoming a has-been as a liberation rather than a demotion. Compare the “glory days” of our life prior to knowing Christ with the abundant life of our present faith. Would we willingly adopt the term has-been to become more like Jesus? In 1 Corinthians
December 31, 2019
New Things
By Stuart Powell A spirit of optimism permeates our culture at the beginning of every year. The idea of newness is everywhere. However, it seems the “newness” quickly fades. Our government is still in strife. Our boss still makes unreasonable demands. Most of our resolutions are quickly broken. The temptations and sins that plagued us last year haven’t vanished. The old stuff that caused us to long for last year to end looks amazingly similar to the new stuff in our New Year. Israelites in Isaiah’s day faced similar struggles against the sinfulness of their age. They looked to God
October 22, 2019
Above All Else
By Beau Bruton Jesus told us, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else” (Luke 12:31, New Living Translation). It’s something all Christians should do. But life gets in the way; things happen—work, family issues, health problems, you name it. The world tries to pull us away from God’s kingdom, but Jesus draws us closer to it. The world hands us problems, trials, lies, and deception. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; [but Jesus said,] I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). So, what should we do
July 3, 2018
A Life in Contrast
By Jon Wren Several years ago in Maine, authorities arrested a 47-year-old man after catching him stealing food and supplies from a local camp. Upon investigating, it was discovered the man had a much more complicated and interesting story than originally suspected. Specifically, authorities learned the man had spent 27 years living in the woods in total seclusion, detached from all human contact. The “North Pond Hermit,” as he was called, sustained himself for almost three decades by breaking into and stealing from local campsites, restaurants, and businesses. His entire existence had centered around isolation and theft. Can you imagine
December 19, 2015
The Gospel in Minor Key
By Mark Scott These sometimes-overlooked prophets are anything but minor when it comes to the Christmas message. The Melody The Major Prophets of the Old Testament get lots of press at Christmastime. Rightly so. They carry the melody line in the Christmas story. Isaiah gave King Ahaz the gospel with these words, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14*). Isaiah gave the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali even more good news: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
September 16, 2015
Just Breathe
By Jim Tune Breathe on me, Breath of God, Until my heart is pure, Until with Thee I will one will, To do and to endure. “”Edwin Hatch, from the hymn “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” Job reaches the limits of his ability to endure. He plunks himself down, ruined, infected, septic. He has lost everything: his children, livestock, livelihood, house, and now his health. He is abandoned on the ash heap, scraping his wounds with the sharp-edged fragments of clay pots. Job is dying: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the valley of the shadow of death, but
October 9, 2012
Learning from Trials: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 4)
By Brenda Garrison Nine Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and Life: A Psychologist Probes the Mystery of Why Some Lives Really Work and Others Don”t Dr. Henry Cloud Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004 As a mom, I want my daughters to live the abundant lives Jesus promised us. One way I encourage them to do so is by giving them books that have spoken to me. One of our favorites is Nine Things You Simply Must Know to Succeed in Life and Love. In his book, Dr. Henry Cloud teaches nine principles that anyone can implement
October 21, 2007
It Does Get Better Than This!
By Tim Harlow Do you want to go to Heaven? How about today? Hugh Poland tells about the time his 5-year-old daughter Kayse was anticipating her first day of kindergarten. Her 3-year-old sister Jayme was catching the excitement as the great day approached. But on the day before kindergarten was to start, Kayse fell and skinned her knee. Tears began to flow and Jayme, seeing the blood on her big sister”s knee, tried to comfort her by saying, “Don”t worry Kayse, if you die you”ll go to Heaven.” But Kayse wailed even more. “I don”t want to go to Heaven.
September 18, 2005
Kingdom-Driven Church
Many Christians describe gospel “benefits,” but Scripture repeatedly summarizes the good news as God’s kingdom. John Nugent explains what the kingdom means and why recovering kingdom language can strengthen the church’s witness today.
