December 2012 Blog Posts (40)

How to Deal with Sin in the Church – Matthew 18:15-19

Introduction: In this passage of Scripture Jesus gives us seven principles on how to deal with those who sin in the church.  There is one overarching lesson He gives without saying it: Never let the sin go for any reason.  Not political correctness.  Not for fear of being criticized yourself.  Not because you may lose the person to the church. (If they have sin they aren’t really a part of the church – the Body of Christ.) …

I would guess that most of our churches have a formal or informal group of people who minister to others after or during the service(s). And we all know that these people are truly pastors in some sense of the word as they love on and care for people through the power of prayer.  Thank God for people who love prayer ministry.

However, some well-meaning folks need a little coaching particularly in what…

When I entered the Twitter world in May 2012 with @BestBibleTweets, I set a goal that seemed audacious at the time: gaining 4,000 followers within one year. However, that goal was surpassed in just six months, and I’m now reflecting on having reached the new milestone of 5,000 Twitter followers.

Although this accomplishment is exhilarating in many ways, it’s also a time of sober reevaluation. At each new…

Whether you make New Years resolutions or not, I hope you'll benefit from this article.

 10 Tips For Your Resolutions

Eddie Smith

Can you believe it? It's almost 2013! What in the world happened to…

In his book “Fearless” Max Lucado writes, “Prayer is the saucer into which parental fears are poured to cool. Jesus says so little about our parenting, makes no comments about spanking, breast-feeding, sibling rivalry, or schooling. Yet his actions speak volumes about prayer. . . Bring your children to me. Raise them in a greenhouse of prayer.” ¹

A…

“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying,

‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.” – Jeremiah 6:14

A family member, who would like to remain anonymous, recently got the flu. Her head and throat ached, she was badly congested, and her cough was horrific. So she asked me to get her some cough drops among the other medications she needed to relieve her distress.

I virtually…

Yesterday I got the following letter from a friend:

Yesterday, the president of Egypt made a decree appointing me a Senator in the congress. I was hesitating at the beginning to confirm the appointment, but now with prayers and thinking , I am more inclined to go

Into the post. The situation is terribly difficult and critical, working in a congress of 80% radical Muslims majority. Too many tasks and laws are put in front of this conference, which may last for few months only! …

Christmas: A Lot to Think About

By Rick Ezell

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19 NIV).

Mary had a lot to think about.

Did you ever think about what it would be like to be chosen for a special, but very difficult task? 



Mary was living in the midst of biological impossibilities. This alone gave Mary plenty to think about. For the reputation of having a child…

Immanuel

עִמָּנוּאֵל‎ (H6005 Strong's Number)

A close look at meanings of the letters of Immanuel utilizing both the Hebrew Alphabet and the Alphabet used in Abraham's time, shows that the name Immanuel, which is often interpreted "God with us" has a…

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 190 | Wed 19 Dec 2012



CHRISTMAS HERALDS HOPE FOR THE WORLD



by Elizabeth Kendal



We are 12 years into the 21st Century; 64 years on from the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 23 years past the fall of Communism in Europe and the end of the Cold War. Yet the world is not a safer place, especially for Christians. For, while positives have progressed, so too have negatives. And while proud,…

Does the song, “I’ll be home for Christmas”¹ Frank Sinatra made popular in the 50’s make you blue and gloomy? Does the thought that you are not going to see all of your children and grandchildren during this Christmas season make you sad? Grandparents love to be with their loved ones to celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. My husband and I will miss several of our family members this year at our family gathering, so we can identify with you if you are…

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The last three days have definitely been, “a time to weep . . . a time to mourn” (Eccl. 3:4). Another mass shooting, this time in the Sandy Hook Elementary School of Newtown, CT.  Like many who have been involved in one of these mass shootings and its aftermath (and many others who have not), I sat glued to the TV, listening to reports that were correct, incorrect and partly correct.  Emotions that lay buried, rushed back with images of crying children, frantic parents, worried…