Steve's Blog
“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.” Luke 6:27–28 (The Message)
Recently I was in conversation with several pastors. One of them reported that he had spent his previous Monday speaking with members of his church who were critical of the earlier day’s services. Some complained about the music. Others had Covid-19 and social...
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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV)
The car salesman exclaims, “This car is fully equipped. It has every option.” The car may have features you never thought you needed, but now you decide that you cannot live without heated seats with the built-in massage feature. Equipping the child of God for service may not be as gla...
It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:26 (NASB 2020)
I do not want to put you on the spot or embarrass you, but do you read the ending first when reading a book? Reading the end of a book first would be a serious breach of protocol for some people. For others, it is about removing the suspense.
We know what transpired before Resurrection Sunday. We observe Good Friday, remembering the price Christ paid to cover our sin. It may be a solemn time, but...
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Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Is holiness a subject that anyone should bring up in “polite company?” If they even know what you are talking about, there is a good possibility that they will not have a proper understanding of what holiness really is all about.
If people have an adverse reaction to the concept of holiness, it may not be that they are opposed to holiness, but instead, they are ope...
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“Sir, we want to see Jesus.” John 12:21
In the days leading up to the crucifixion, some men wanted to see Jesus. They did not approach him directly but instead sought to use Philip as an intermediary. We cannot be sure, but perhaps they felt uncomfortable, as Greeks, to approach Jesus. Philip, having a Greek name, seemed like a possibility.
We do not know why these men tried to see Jesus. Some men wanted to see him so that they could worship him. While others, like Herod the Great, felt th...
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We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NLT)
Words and concepts often have surface meanings that belie vast depths and rich significance. As a student of Scripture without training in Greek and Hebrew, I may, at times, overlook great treasures. For example, the word “encouraged.” At E4 Ministry Network, it is one of our core values. If asked to de...
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