Truth is being undermined by misinformation, political gain, and a rebellion against what is in the Bible
“Sean has a gift for taking tough concepts and bringing them down to earth in practical ways that make a difference.” —William Lane Craig, Ph.D.
Following Jesus has never been harder. In a culture that glamorizes sex, chases fame, and shames those who don’t fall in line, it takes a rebel to be a Christian.
In this book, Sean McDowell aims to encourage and inspire a generation of rebels who will dare to stand up to the madness in a just and loving manner
Sean McDowell. Saturate yourself in Scripture so you can be transformed into the person God wants you to be. And remember: the key is not how much you get into Scripture but how much Scrilture gets into you. Prayer is not primarily about getting things from God. It is about conforming our will to His.
In other words, the one thing we most need is to behold and be with and speak to and rest in God himself. We need to seek God and God alone as the supernatural spring of satisfaction this world can’t steal, grace this world can’t grasp, peace this world can’t take, and hope this world can’t shake. David Platt
There is an intimacy with God that can be experienced only after seeking him for hour after hour after hour, and we’re missing out if we’re not willing to spend that kind of time with him. David Platt.
Memorizing passages, praying, looking out for those who are suffering, respecting governmental authorities, living consistent with Scripture, surrendering to the live of our Father
Psalm 119:72: “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
But do we want God more than we want family or friends? Do we want God more than we want comfort or success? Do we want God more than we want money or possessions or any number of pleasures in this world? Do we want God more than we want to be liked? Do we want time with God more than we want sleep or exercise or a host of other things that fill our busy schedules? Do we want the Word of God more than we want food every day? David Platt
Of all people on earth, Christians should be the least cynical. After all, the Gospel gives us the greatest reasons to hope. Carey. Nieuhof
Vulnerability at any time, in any person, demands protection. Our response to vulnerable humans exposes who we are. Diane Langberg
Psalm 62:7: “My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.”
Our enemy is on a rampage. Evil hides in the shadows to attack the vulnerable places in our lives. But here's what's true: The enemy can't take your value, your voice, or your choice to follow Jesus. He can't diminish your worth, your calling, or your influence.
May the Lord establish in you a healthy, divine rhythm of life. May He strengthen you in mind, body, and spirit. Where you're broken, may He restore, where you're weary, may He refresh, where you're fearful, may He revive faith. Susie Larson
The Christian world has a lot of glitz and glamour and fame in it today. That is not the way our Savior went. Christianity is not to be a progressive religion, but its distinctive feature is to be its regressiveness. (Diane Langberg). Keith- Good evening prayer friends! As we come to our final two nights of prayer, again, thank you so much for your prayers, encouraging texts, and support over this upcoming event. We are humbled and blessed by you all! Something to pray over, which has been heavy on my heart this whole week: pray against “Christian stardom” or against any Christian “superstar” mentality. We have talked a lot as a staff over this, and sometimes events like these can foster a very distracting “Christian big shot” mentality. Having all these great speakers, and great men and women of God, can create a spirit of, “who’s who” in the Christian ranks. This is not to say that we have had problems or concerns over this directly, because we really haven’t, but I do feel like the Lord has put it on my heart to PRAY AGAINST THIS SPIRIT, mindset or attitude from anyone involved: whether main speaker, breakout speaker, musician, worship team, etc. and/or even me or staff. The phrase that keeps coming to mind, “Who am I, but a simple servant of Christ.” Thus, please pray that that would be the heart, attitude and mindset of everyone involved. We are all servants, no one is more or less important, just filling different roles in His Kingdom. Pray that there would be such a spirit of humility and grace coming from each speaker, worship team, etc. which will further open the floodgates of heaven for God to move. Bottom line: we don’t want this to be an event where kids walk away marveling and mesmerized by a certain speaker, but truly walking away having the words of Luke 5:26: “Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘we have seen remarkable things today.’” Amen!!! Thank you for your prayers!
“It (Christianity) is the only religion which goes back to gather up the lost things – the things which have fallen by the way and been left behind . . . Jesus alone has a message for the weak.” George Matheson
Tim Challies
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Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, and book reviewer.
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Get to Know Yourself
The very heart of the human condition is a faulty assessment of self. We think too much of ourselves, and think of ourselves too much. We overrate our importance and underestimate our depravity. Ultimately, we elevate ourselves to the place reserved for God.
In the face of such insanity, we need to know who we really are. We need to have a right assessment of self.
Who am I? It is a question we have all asked at one time or another, at least in one of its variations. And every man has his own answer. Every philosophy and every religion has its own response.
Most of them tell me to look inside. I am told to look within, to search myself for the truth, to search myself for my own identity. But I never seem to find it. I can’t quite seem to pin it down. The mere conviction that I can find answers within stands as proof of my faulty self-assessment. The simple fact is that I cannot know myself as I really am. I am too blind to see myself, too far gone to find myself.
Here is what I have learned: To know myself, I need to look outside of myself. My best assessment of self does not come from within but from without. It does not originate with me but with God.
The Bible is an inestimable treasure because of what it teaches me about God, but it is equally valuable for what it teaches me about me. It does not reveal only the truth about deity, but also about humanity.
If I want to know who I am, if I want to know why I exist, if I want to know where I’ve gone wrong, if I want to know my deepest meaning and purpose, if I want to properly assess myself, I need to look outside myself. I cannot know these things apart from God speaking through his Word. The Bible is different from every other book in this way: Where I read all those other books, the Bible reads me.*
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)
The Bible searches me and tells me where I have erred. It examines me and tells me what I need. It tries me and evaluates my every thought and attitude. Ultimately, it reads me and tells me who I am.
Who am I? I will never know until I open the Bible and ask.
*I think I have heard that phrase, or a similar one, attributed to R.C. Sproul, but I wasn’t able to track it down.
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