Equipping Saints for the Work of the Ministry Part 2 of 7 – The Practice of Prayer Introduction Figure 1: Using a label I can make it easy to get to the prayer section of my journal. So I am supposed to spend time with God. What does that look like? Figure 2: Prayer Journal...
Introduction This is the second installment on our series of Equipped for Success. The first was an overview and encouragement to not shy away from the making of resolutions, from the decision to do good work, and the Christ-centered endeavor toward excellence in everything. In this part we look at the priority of prayer in...
Figure 1: Reasons for Failing on Resolutions At the time this post is being written people are setting off fireworks, gathering with friends to welcome the new year, and considering resolutions. Are you considering a resolutions for the new year? Maybe you are not considering a New Year’s resolution. After all, most people do not...
The Master’s Plan – Supervision (Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10) Introduction Are we seeing the big picture of the Master’s plan? By itself the example of Jesus praying and selecting the twelve is powerful instruction on prayer and selecting people to work with (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16). But selection is not, when taken by itself, a...
The Master’s Plan – Demonstration (John 13:15) The Pervasive Place of Prayer (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13) Jesus did not hide the fact that prayer was an indispensable part of His ministry. He advised all men to always be in prayer (Luke 18:1-5). And He prescribed prayer as the only effective counter to the weakness of...
The Master’s Plan – Impartation (John 3:16; 15:13; 1 John 3:16) The Son reveals the Father (John 1:18). Insofar as the disciples look at the Son they behold the Father and become familiar with the Father’s character (John 14:6-9). One aspect of the Father that is disclosed and depicted by the Son is the graciousness of...
The Master’s Plan – Consecration (Matthew 11:29) Jesus did not shoot from the hip. His goal of reaching the world with enduring help and eternal hope was not based on random acts of kindness or sentimental moods. He had a plan for defeating the devil, dealing with human depravity, and developing His church. At first...
The Master’s Plan – Association (Mark 3:14) Before meeting Him they were fishermen — men professionally engaged in catching fish. (Why? Perhaps for the halibut.) Jesus’ goal was to make them fishers of men (Mark 1:17; Matthew 4:19; Luke 5:10) — men equipped, empowered, enabled, and trained to catch something immeasurable more important to the...
Not In Honduras Part 2 of 4 The past has a way of catching up to us. Sometimes it is an snide remark from someone who knew us before our new life in Christ. “Roderick, I remember when you used to be quite the _____________!” (You can fill in the blank.) At other times it...
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. Barnabas and Saul have been away from the church in Antioch on a mission to Judea. These two men of God were sent out of the predominantly Gentile church in...
