Tag: character
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Substantial Character
Daniel 6:1–24; Philippians 2:3–16 Adventure! Drama! Let’s see the big scene! Daniel and the Lion’s Den is a dramatic story. No question about that. It’s a great one for kids. Daniel, himself, is a great character. Daniel has great character. If you read the story carefully, you’ll notice something interesting. Daniel only has spoken words…
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Calling One; Calling All
Luke 3:7–16; 2 Peter 1:3–15 What is calling? For pastors, their calling is…being a pastor. Even how “being a pastor” changes depending on character, passions, and context. However, due to the influence of the Roman Catholic church (statement not fault-finding), most Protestant traditions (there are some exceptions) use the word “calling” for only one “calling”…being…
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La, La, La, I Can’t Hear You
Jeremiah 26:1–15; Romans 5:1–10 (read online ⧉) The news is filled with doom. Doom, doom, doom. Many of our movies and entertainment are filled with doom. In the middle of doom, hope is a breath of fresh air. On the other hand, some times a message of doom in a time of despair isn’t doom…
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Will You Follow
Matthew 8:5–13; Matthew 8:18–23; 1 Corinthians 12:12–28 (read online ⧉) Amazingly…no, really…amazingly…people aren’t perfect. Leaders are people. Therefore, leaders aren’t perfect. Yet, when we look at our leaders, whether they are political, corporate, or church leaders, we often expect perfection. Political leaders are the most afflicted with this. It often takes only one mistake (or…
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Longing for the End
Psalm 31:9–16; Job 13:13–19; Philippians 1:21–30 (read online ⧉) As we are about to enter yet another week full of COVID-19, exhaustion is setting in for many people. Some people are discovering how empty their lives are without work. Some people are discovering how empty their lives are without others around them. Others are wanting…
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Mindful Restoration
Psalm 118:19-29; Jeremiah 33:1-9; Philippians 2:12-18 (read online ⧉) Through Jeremiah, God is promising restoration of Jerusalem. This is not “just” spiritual restoration, but physical restoration, as well. As we read the passage, it would seem that God is going to do this regardless of the state of the hearts of the people. However, there…
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Promises, Promises
Genesis 21:1-7; Psalm 105:1-11, Psalm 102:12-28; Hebrews 1:8-12 (read online ⧉) God is a promise-maker. God is a promise keeper. He promised Abraham and Sarah that there would be a child of theirs. Fulfillment was a long time coming, and at a time they thought it couldn’t. God took shame and turned it into laughter.…
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Whose Will
Genesis 12:1-7, Hebrews 11:1–12 (read online ⧉) “I will” is a major component in God’s sending statement for Abram. God will be doing a lot. It’s not, though, as if Abram will be doing nothing. He’ll be doing a lot of traveling, caring for his herds, caring for his people. In fact, much of his…