Category Spiritual Markers

A living masterpiece

A "spoken word" video by Jefferson Bethke amplifies the truth that we are God's canvas, and supplements a sermon I preached at Northstar Church called "Selfless Self Love" in our r12 series.

You can’t keep Jesus down

John Piper says, "For twenty centuries the world has given it their best shot—in vain. They can’t bury him. They can’t hold him in. They can’t silence him or limit him. Jesus is alive and utterly free to go and come wherever he pleases." Read more...

Can one be neutral toward Islam?

Is there such a thing as "radical" Islam, or is what we're seeing "normal" Islam? It's a matter of interpretation of Islam's holy writings. In the end, one can't be faithful to Islam and be neutral toward those who aren't Muslim. How should we respond in a world of militant new expressions of this religion?

Where your needs are met

Where you look to meet your needs can lead you to a place of burnout, frustration and apathy. If you're feeling unappreciated or discouraged, perhaps you have been leaning on paper walls. There's a releasing solution for you...

Preaching to diversity

How can a preacher preach to such a diverse collection of people on any given Sunday? Think about it. People in need of encouragement are there with people in need of rebuke. Mature Christians who "know it all" are gathered with beginners or even skeptics. How can one sermon accomplish so much... every single Sunday? Consider the words of AW Tozer...

Your divine design: a spiritual gift

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about divine design, specifically in the area of the abilities that the Bible says God gives to each Christian. Paul, under direction of God’s guidance, said these abilities are spiritual gifts. These unique abilities…

The exploitation of your mind

Reflections from a devotional by John Piper. Our minds are being exploited... by our hearts. John Piper says, "..our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right."