Dr. Jim McCullen/contributing writer Doubting Jesus’ Power • John 9:8-11,13-17, 35-41 • Nov. 10 Introduction: About 25 years ago I was reading in a theology book and was stunned by this thought: No one in the New Testament healed the blind but Jesus. It further implied this healing was reserved for the Messiah. At first I rejected that thought but later learned it was correct. While in Jerusalem on a Bible Lands Tour I asked a knowledgeable shop owner if he knew the Messiah was going … [Read more...]
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Free ‘Holy Way’ booklet helps Missouri Baptists prepare for KC
JEFFERSON CITY – MBC Executive Director John Yeats is inviting Missouri Baptists to join him in eight days of preparation for this year’s Annual Meeting, to be held Oct. 28-30 in Kansas City. To help in preparation, Yeats has released a booklet, “The Holy Way: Renewing our Covenant Commitments to Jesus Christ.” The booklet is available as a free download in PDF and eBook formats at mobaptist.org/annualmeeting. “The booklet lays out a process to help God’s people prepare to renew their … [Read more...]
Developing an attitude of gratitude in children
Pat Lamb, Educator and Author “O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.” – Ps. 30:12 Recently, while visiting the family of our youngest son, our three-year-old grandson wanted to play with my iPad. As I helped him wiggle his little warm body up on the couch and pulled him in close, I bent down and kissed him on the top of his head. I was surprised when he quickly reached up his little hand and gave me four soft little love pats on the front of my shoulder. I was so … [Read more...]
Ultimate thrills: Life in Jesus’ power
Thrills. Different people find them in different ways, from different places, according to different personalities and various likes, dislikes and individual pain tolerances. Personally, I get a real charge from an all-day trip to the mall. I get a real “charge.” – Get it? … Never mind. Anyway, if you offered my husband a choice between going to the mall and being covered in poison ivy, you might as well go ahead and pass him the calamine. He said the other day—in a perfectly serious … [Read more...]
‘Woo pig! Soooie!’
There is a story about an Arkansas pig farmer told by Ron Dunn, the international Bible teacher and pastor of a previous generation whose message continues through his books and recently released biography. During the days of Ron’s boyhood, he and his family lived in Arkansas, where “hog calling” is an art form. You may have heard about the hog calling competitions where both men and women belt out at the top of their lungs, “Woo pig! Sooooooie! Woooooooo pig!” Now that the University of … [Read more...]
The convenience of blaming God
When our kids were young and complained about being on the wrong side of circumstances, my wife and I urged them to repeat this line: “When things go badly for me, it’s usually my fault.” In other words, we challenged our son and daughter to own their part of a bad experience. If a teacher singled them out from a group of misbehaving students, they were to understand that their behavior was wrong, whether done individually or in a group. If they got into an argument with a friend, they … [Read more...]
Choosy folks choose wisdom
Ice cream is beautiful. I don’t see any reason to scream for it, but I have no problem asking for it—even if I have to get a little loud. Every once in a while I just have to have something cold, creamy and beautifully calorically corrupt. The choice is never difficult. It’s got to be chocolate. But I remember when the kids were younger, sometimes the choosing was no small deal for them. There was one time in particular when Daniel was around 12, he took a good ten minutes to … [Read more...]
Children need guidance while making friends
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. – Prov. 18:24 One of the most frightening things for children as they return to school in the fall is the fear of not having friends. It is this fear that often drives children to grasp at straws and do anything they can think of simply to have any kind of friend. We need to help children change this way of thinking. Instead of being afraid no one will like them and be friends … [Read more...]
Be very careful because anger can sting
It was the wasp nest to end all wasp nests. Maybe it was the fruit punch the kids had spilled on the back deck that first attracted them. But by the time we followed the cloud of bugs to the back of the house – oh, my goodness – it was the biggest nest I’d ever seen. It was obvious these bugs had already finished an adjoining guest house and were beginning construction on the stables and tennis courts. I’ll just tell you flat out that anytime a nest is bigger than my head, I automatically … [Read more...]
God revealed; Jesus identified
God Revealed • John 1:1-18 • Sept. 1 Introduction: In the United States today we have many opinions and belief systems. Some believe in God and some do not. We have some groups of scientists who are Christians and some who are atheists, but those who are Christians seem to me to be more logical. Of course, you might guess I would say that. We went with our daughter’s family to the Creation Museum near Cincinnati. It is a great help to any interested in the facts. Truly God has been … [Read more...]
JOHN YEATS: Juvenilization is a challenge to spiritual maturity
I’ve learned a new word –Juvenilization. I never thought of this as a legitimate word or a concept until recently when my son, who is a pastor in Texas, called and said, “Dad, you have to read this book! I’m leading my staff through it.” The book? The Juvenilization of American Christianity by Thomas E. Bergler. As a student of history, I found it a fascinating read. Thomas Bergler is a Midwest historian. His work is primarily a mosaic history about the impact of modern youth ministry in … [Read more...]
Spiritual maturity, trusting the disciple-maker
Can spiritual maturity be achieved in a one-way lecture-based environment? School teachers grimace at the thought of teaching children in a large classroom in which one lesson is expected to apply to everyone. Speaking without listening is not communication if it lacks a feedback loop. Just as each student has a unique learning level, each follower of Jesus has a spiritual growth story. How can a preacher or small group leader know what is being caught no matter how deep theologically he … [Read more...]