Attending “Polishing the Pulpit” (PTP) this week was an incredibly uplifting and encouraging experience. We really appreciate the elders support for encouraging us to attend! Having attended PTP since the early 2000s, it is remarkable to reflect on how much this event has grown. In those early years, back when celebrating the 10-year anniversary was a major milestone, the stage was graced by dynamic gospel preachers like Wendell Winkler, Johnnie Ramsey, Tom Holland, and J.J.

Our eternal destiny hangs in the balance, yet endless confusion surrounds the topic of baptism. Satan has deceived millions into believing that baptism is merely an optional outward sign, an unnecessary work, or that sprinkling and pouring are valid substitutes for God's clear command. There is no time to waste today on human opinions. Eternity is too long and our souls are too precious to rely on anything less than the pure truth. We must turn immediately to the New Testamen

To study the Book of Proverbs is to step into the royal court of ancient Israel’s most prosperous era. Written and compiled largely by King Solomon, a leader famous for his staggering wealth and sharp mind, this ancient text gives us a front-row seat to the intersection of royalty, riches, and stewardship. Solomon knew firsthand the heavy weight of influence and the dangerous lure of material gain. His observations aren't just ancient religious advice; they form a masterclass

When we think about spiritual gifts, our minds often jump to dramatic, miraculous manifestations—prophecy, healings, or speaking in tongues. These sensational gifts easily grab our attention. Yet, when the Apostle Paul outlines the practical life of the Church in Romans 12, he places quietly powerful, non-miraculous gifts right alongside them. Among these everyday graces is a spiritual gift that directly reflects the generous nature of God Himself: benevolence, or the gift of

In our walk with God, growth rarely happens in isolation. God beautifully designed the Christian life to be lived in community, where the wisdom of one generation pours into the passion of the next. True biblical mentoring is not just about professional coaching, corporate networking, or casual life advice; it is the sacred work of discipleship intentionally walking alongside someone to help them look more like Jesus Christ. Whether you are looking to step into a mentor's sho

When we open the pages of Scripture, we naturally expect to find God speaking to His chosen instruments. We look for His voice in the quiet whispers to Elijah, the dramatic burning bush of Moses, or the late-night call to a young Samuel. It is a comforting narrative: the Holy God communicating with holy people, guiding the faithful, and building His kingdom through the righteous. However, a closer examination of the biblical narrative reveals a startling and disruptive truth.

In January I was challenged to produce some material on the Holy Spirit and the miracles of the Bible. I quickly compiled some research on how to identify "biblical miracles" and why modern day "faith healers" prey on unsuspecting believers. You can read my blog on this subject (click here). This past Sunday night we chose to dive a little deeper in our Men's Study to answer some important questions: What happened in the ministry of Jesus? Why did God allow the supernatural g

We live in a world deeply fascinated by the supernatural. Turn on any streaming service, browse a bookstore, or look at pop culture trends, and you will find an endless obsession with the spirit world, demonic possession, and dramatic exorcisms. But as Bible students, we have to look past Hollywood’s smoke and mirrors and ask a fundamental question: “What do the Scripture actually teach?” When we open the New Testament, we notice a striking phenomenon. There was a sudden, int

We are on the cusp of an extraordinary milestone. On July 4, 2026, the United States of America marks its 250th birthday. Across the nation, fireworks will paint the night sky, parades will march down main streets, and families will gather over backyard barbecues. It is a moment of profound celebration—a Semiquincentennial. But as the smoke from the fireworks clears, a deeper question calls for our attention: *Do we truly understand the cost of the ground we stand on?* When

We live in a culture obsessed with optimization. We optimize our schedules to squeeze out every drop of productivity. We optimize our budgets to maximize personal comfort. We pack our lives so tightly that we leave zero margin. But what happens when God places a need right in front of us? If our calendars are booked to the minute and our bank accounts are stretched to the limit, we cannot respond. We may have the desire to help, but we lack the capacity. God does not call us

We live in a culture that measures worth by accumulation. The size of your bank account, the logo on your clothes, and the zip code of your home are treated as the ultimate indicators of success. But beneath the shiny surface of consumerism lies a quiet, destructive reality: materialism is a spiritual stronghold. When we buy into the lie that our lives consist of the abundance of our possessions, we trade the freedom of biblical stewardship for the bondage of greed. True stew

When we think of biblical generosity, our minds naturally drift to financial giving—dropping money into an offering basket, selling a piece of land like Barnabas, or writing a check to support a missionary. But there is a deeper, more demanding currency of generosity: the giving of oneself. The apostle Paul redefined generosity not by how much money he gave away, but by how much financial compensation he willingly refused. As a pioneer missionary, church planter, and apostle,

We live in a culture obsessed with image. From perfectly curated social media feeds to carefully managed professional reputations, it has never been easier to manufacture the appearance of righteousness. But this struggle is not new. Long before digital filters, a first-century couple attempted to filter their own lives, trying to present a pristine image of radical generosity to the early Church. The story of Ananias and Sapphira, recorded in Acts 5:1–11, stands as one of th

When we think about radical, headline-grabbing generosity, our minds usually drift toward the ultra-wealthy—philanthropists writing multi-million dollar checks or tech moguls launching massive charitable foundations. We tend to think, “If I just had a little more room in my budget, then I’d be truly generous.” But nearly two thousand years ago, a group of believers turned that entire mindset completely upside down. In his second letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Pa

When we think of biblical heroes, names like Abraham, Moses, David, or the Apostle Paul instantly come to mind. We think of thunderous miracles, epic battles, and deep theological letters that changed the course of Western history. But if we pull back the curtain on the early church, we find that the gospel was sustained by unsung heroes—ordinary believers whose radical generosity kept the wheels of ministry turning. Among these quiet giants stands a man named Epaphroditus. M

We live in a world obsessed with efficiency, margins, and return on investment. From corporate boardrooms to personal budgets, we are trained to measure the worth of an action by its utility. “Is it practical? Is it cost-effective? Will it yield a measurable benefit?” This analytical mindset is so deeply ingrained in us that we accidentally carry it into our spiritual lives, calculating exactly how much time, energy, and money we can safely afford to give God without disrupti

We often talk about repentance as an abstract, deeply internal, and emotional experience. We think of tears at an altar, a quiet prayer of confession, or a subjective feeling of guilt lifting from our shoulders. While repentance certainly begins in the quiet chambers of the human heart, true biblical repentance refuses to stay hidden. It has a weight to it. It occupies space. It leaves an undeniable, tangible footprint on the physical world. If you want to understand what tru

Imagine preparing a special dinner for someone you deeply respect—maybe a mentor, a world leader, or your boss. You wouldn’t serve them the stale bread sitting on your counter, the bruised fruit from the bottom of the bin, or the meat that has passed its expiration date. Doing so wouldn’t just be a social faux pas; it would be an insult. It would communicate, “I value you so little that you only get my trash.” Yet, this is exactly the scenario that unfolds in the opening page

We live in a world that often measures giving by what can be gained in return. Networking, strategic partnerships, and transactional kindness dominate our social landscapes. But thousands of years ago, in a small village nestled in the Jezreel Valley, a woman rewrote the script on what it means to be truly generous. Known to history simply as the Shunammite woman, her story is captured in II Kings 4. She wasn't a queen, a prophetess, or a military leader, yet the Bible takes

When we think of the great builders of history, we usually think of people who commanded massive empires, wielded bottomless treasuries, or taxed their subjects into oblivion to erect monuments to their own greatness. Then there is Nehemiah. Nehemiah didn't rebuild the walls of Jerusalem by bleeding the people dry. He did it by pouring himself out. His story in the Old Testament is widely studied as a masterclass in project management, strategy, and grit. But underneath the l