Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Story Daily Devotionals: What is that to you? You follow Me!
The Story Daily Devotionals: What is that to you? You follow Me!: Today is the day before Easter, the last day of my devotionals from the Chronological Gospels leading up to Easter...
My goal is to join the hearts of people with the heart of the Father. For three decades now, I served in full-time vocational ministry, currently serving as senior pastor at GracePointe Church in Springtown, Texas. I continue to write, having published my first book, The Gospel of John, One Day at a Time. I am now working on my second book. As a Journalism graduate of Texas Tech University (Bachelor of Arts), I worked as a journalist and editor for several Texas newspapers for more than a decade. Prior to serving as pastor, I served at my alma mater, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Religious Education) as associate director for news and information. I continue to work as a free-lance writer for various Christian outlets.
Friday, March 29, 2013
The Story Daily Devotionals: A parallax view of Resurrection Sunday
If you think you know the story of the Resurrection, answer this: Did Mary Magdalene go by herself or with other women? Before sunrise while it was still dark or after the sun had risen? How many angels were at the tomb? Were they inside or outside? Who saw Jesus first?The Story Daily Devotionals: A parallax view of Resurrection Sunday: Chronological Harmony of the Gospels Leading to Easter 3/29/2013
My goal is to join the hearts of people with the heart of the Father. For three decades now, I served in full-time vocational ministry, currently serving as senior pastor at GracePointe Church in Springtown, Texas. I continue to write, having published my first book, The Gospel of John, One Day at a Time. I am now working on my second book. As a Journalism graduate of Texas Tech University (Bachelor of Arts), I worked as a journalist and editor for several Texas newspapers for more than a decade. Prior to serving as pastor, I served at my alma mater, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Religious Education) as associate director for news and information. I continue to work as a free-lance writer for various Christian outlets.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Story Daily Devotionals: Were You There?
The Story Daily Devotionals: Were You There?: Chronological Harmony of the Gospels Leading to Easter 3/27/2013
My goal is to join the hearts of people with the heart of the Father. For three decades now, I served in full-time vocational ministry, currently serving as senior pastor at GracePointe Church in Springtown, Texas. I continue to write, having published my first book, The Gospel of John, One Day at a Time. I am now working on my second book. As a Journalism graduate of Texas Tech University (Bachelor of Arts), I worked as a journalist and editor for several Texas newspapers for more than a decade. Prior to serving as pastor, I served at my alma mater, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Religious Education) as associate director for news and information. I continue to work as a free-lance writer for various Christian outlets.
Monday, March 25, 2013
The Story Daily Devotionals: The High Priestly Prayer of John 17
The Story Daily Devotionals: The High Priestly Prayer of John 17: Chronological Harmony of the Gospels Leading to Easter 3/25/2013 (Click on link below for readings and a devotional) John 15:20-J...
My goal is to join the hearts of people with the heart of the Father. For three decades now, I served in full-time vocational ministry, currently serving as senior pastor at GracePointe Church in Springtown, Texas. I continue to write, having published my first book, The Gospel of John, One Day at a Time. I am now working on my second book. As a Journalism graduate of Texas Tech University (Bachelor of Arts), I worked as a journalist and editor for several Texas newspapers for more than a decade. Prior to serving as pastor, I served at my alma mater, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Religious Education) as associate director for news and information. I continue to work as a free-lance writer for various Christian outlets.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
What Is Your Life Need?
Key Principle #11: conversion (part 1)
Acts 9:1-30
The first part of Acts 9 details the conversion of Saul to Christianity. Most conversions are not so stark and dramatic as his, but all have the same result. Whether you were saved at a young age or as an adult or somewhere in between, the same need or needs that led you to Christ will be similar to others who need salvation. A good way to prepare your testimony is to remember the major need in your life which led you to be saved. Then share how Christ met those needs of your life.
Basic Life Needs
Before Christ:
What was the need in your life that you had which led you to the
realization that you needed salvation? The following are some common Life Needs that lead to salvation:
“Fear of death” They say that there is no assurances
in life except for death and taxes. I have never met anyone whose taxes
actually led them to Christ, I have known many who have said that a fear of
death has brought them to Christ. Death is an unknown and Christ spoke more of
eternal life than he did even of the term "heaven." As a result, many
can say that their life need for coming to Christ was a fear of death.
“Assured of heaven” While this is similar,
longing for an assurance of heaven is another life need that may lead a person
to Christ. Many know that their loved ones who have passed on are in heaven,
but they themselves are not quite sure of what it takes to go to heaven. Many
evangelism programs actually have the question "Do you know for sure if
you were to die, that you would go to heaven?" or some question like it.
“Lack of purpose” Some
people have come to a point of asking “What is the point of life.” Their life need is that they need a life need. A purpose
of living is found in Christ, giving believers a significance in that they know
that God created them and can come and live inside them to help them fulfill
their reasons for existence.
“Direction in life” Others need some type of direction. Perhaps
they have experienced loss, a divorce, a sickness and have somehow lost their
way. Christ offers direction from perhaps a hard or meaningless life.
Repentance is a key word in the life of a person who comes to Christ for this
reason, as it means “to turn around and head the opposite direction.
“Need for love”
Abandonment issues is a very strong need in the lives of some people. Perhaps
they have felt alone, misunderstood, not worthy of love, or rejected. The very
verse of John 3:16 or Romans 5:8 can be a powerful influence in such a person’s
life. Knowing that God loved us enough to give send us His Son, and that God
demonstrated His love for us even while we were still sinners means that He has
a selfless love for us.
“Need for forgiveness” If you have done
terrible things, you may have an overwhelming sense of guilt. In reality, all
of us have sinned so badly that we deserve eternal separation from the holiness
of God. As a result, it may be a horrible sin or any number of sins that would
trigger a person’s life need of forgiveness and restoration to a holy God.
“Godly example” I wish that was everyone’s testimony: that
they had seen another Christian whose very lifestyle and testimony was what
drew another person into faith in Christ. “Whatever they have is what I want”
is the testimony of those who come to Christ for this life. Developing a
personal testimony including a life need and how Christ met that life need is a
great way to lead another person to Christ.
You may have another life need that drew
you to Christ or it may be some combination or variation of one of the above
needs. Write down what your life need was that led you to Christ as Savior.
Life Needs Met
After Christ:
After you have identified what your "Life Need" was that led you to Christ, write down how Christ has met those needs of your life. More than likely the same needs that led you to Christ will be similar to those with whom you share about salvation. Prepare your testimony so that you will share how Christ met your needs. (We will flesh this portion of your testimony out in part 2).
Pray this prayer to God: “I confess Father that Jesus is
the only way for me to be saved. Help me to not be ashamed of my testimony and
that I be a witness to others by saying, ‘Here am I, Lord.’ In Jesus Name I
pray. Amen.”
My goal is to join the hearts of people with the heart of the Father. For three decades now, I served in full-time vocational ministry, currently serving as senior pastor at GracePointe Church in Springtown, Texas. I continue to write, having published my first book, The Gospel of John, One Day at a Time. I am now working on my second book. As a Journalism graduate of Texas Tech University (Bachelor of Arts), I worked as a journalist and editor for several Texas newspapers for more than a decade. Prior to serving as pastor, I served at my alma mater, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Religious Education) as associate director for news and information. I continue to work as a free-lance writer for various Christian outlets.
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