By Dan Lentz 1. What personal goal would you like to accomplish in the coming year? Read Philippians 1:12-26. 2. When you observe people who are “preaching Christ” or are very public with their faith, does their perceived internal motivation ever impact the effectiveness of their message? 3. In these verses, […]
By Sam E. Stone Philippians is a letter of encouragement. Although Paul wrote it while a prisoner of Rome, it is not a “Woe is me!” message. The Christians in Philippi and countless believers since have found in this letter reason to rejoice, no matter what life’s circumstances may be. Pat Edwin Harrell called […]
By Ray Stites “I didn’t see that coming.” “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” Even today I can clearly hear Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle delivering his signature line. TV viewers of yesteryear knew the unexpected had happened—again—to help Private Pyle, or thwart his sergeant, or turn someone’s day upside down. Surprises can be humorous. They can […]
By Shawn McMullen The New Year is a good time to think about the future—about where we’ve been and where we’re going, about our potential and the possibilities that lie ahead of us. It’s a time to think about stretching ourselves, moving out of our comfort zones, even stepping outside the boundaries of […]
By David Faust The first time I saw Mike, he stayed a safe distance away—not just from me, but from everyone who attended our church that Sunday. I was part of a team of leaders planting a new church in an urban neighborhood near the University of Cincinnati. We rented a community center for $50 […]
