"Lord, Teach us How to Pray"
Only when we understand and acknowledge God's character and priorities can we properly pray for our own needs. The Lord's model for us gives the right perspective and balance for our prayers.
Religious Clowns and Circus Performances
When our relationship with God becomes a matter of performance and pride, it is time to reexamine that relationship. Our focus and desire should always be on pleasing God, not impressing people.
Raising the Bar on Marriage and Divorce
Righteous living is not a legal matter but a heart matter. It is concerned not only with doing what is legal but also with doing what is most honoring to God in all our relationships and activities.
The Perfect Time for Salt and Light
Righteousness means not just right actions but proper thoughts and attitudes as well. Consequently, the perfect righteousness required to enter God's kingdom is unattainable by our own efforts. It is ours only by God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
From Harassment to Happiness
When Christ's followers live godly lives, they are assured of two things: God's reward and the world's hatred. They also experience a clear conscience and true happiness.
Happiness is Purity and Peacemaking
Only those who have been justified through faith in Christ and are at peace with God can be the true, merciful peacemakers this world really needs.
Surprising Steps to True Happiness
Genuine happiness, or blessedness, in life comes, not from pursuing it as a goal, but as a result of humbly recognizing our need for God and selflessly and passionately seeking to honor Him. This is the lesson of Jesus' Beatitudes.
Choosing Ordinary Disciples
Jesus' disciples illustrate that while we all have the same message, we also have unique ministries. Some ministries are prominent, and others largely unrecognized. The Lord, however, is more concerned with our faithfulness in ministry than with the kind of ministry we have.
Unlikely Disciples -- Amazing Grace
Following and serving Jesus is not reserved for the most talented, qualified, and experienced believers. What He is looking for are people who are willing, available, and faithful. He will take care of everything else.
Wearing the Dust of the Master
As Christians, we are all disciples of the Lord. As such, we should humbly recognize our need for the Lord's ongoing work in our lives and be willing to learn and grow with a focus on what we can become by God’s grace.