Samuel Deuth
When I first felt called to preach, it was a general call to ministry and to the office of the evangelist. In the initial seasons of my calling, I didn’t need more than that from God, and I wouldn’t have known what to do if the Holy Spirit had given me the 20 year plan. As I obediently and faithfull
I have a few quick, but powerful reminders for pastors. My experience in vocational ministry has taught me a few things.
Soldiers, war, battle, fighting, standing firm, armor, victory, and defeat. The imagery of war and conflict is strewn throughout the pages of scripture. There, the Christ-follower is repeatedly characterized as a soldier. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please…
Samuel Deuth
One of the most descriptive examples in the Bible of what God expects from us is a parable Jesus shares called the Parable of Talents or the Parable of the Bags of Gold. It shows the expectation of God on what we’ve been given. Have you considered the concept that your generous heavenly Father has s
Wanda Alger
Just like Jonah, the modern Church has fallen asleep to her assignment. Just like Jonah, we have dismissed our call and determined to play possum. Where Nineveh needed to hear Jonah’s call for repentance to avoid destruction, so does this nation need to hear the truth from God’s people.
After bring called by God (Acts 7:2; Gen. 12:1, 7), Abraham proceeded in steps “to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and the…
When people ask me how I got started in ministry, I tell them I started by writing for free publications for free for 10 years. This is not what most people want to hear.When I tell them I started by folding newsletters in the den of my home for several years, they seem crestfallen.When I tell them I started out by cleaning the bathrooms in our first little ministry office, they seem confused.
Eliezer Gonzalez
Jesus expanded his ministry. Jesus sends out the 12 disciples after they've watched and learned from what he did, and he sends them out to do the same.
The deaths of the apostles. The early church in Acts was filled with people who were fully devoted and faithful to Jesus. Despite living in dangerous times.
When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry And children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the Lord.” – Hosea 1:2, NKJV What strikes me as in the last post is how biblically educated men can miss how this was a very special call upon … Continue reading "Hosea’s special life calling"
Our culture truly is broken, you know. However … there is a way … a joyful way … to live abundantly in the middle of it!
Image by ha11ok from Pixabay One of the things that kept me from writing for many years was “the fear of men.” I didn’t want to be judged, made fun of, or laughed at behind my back. (Or to my face,…
Do I want to be an instrument of God or a man of God? What is the difference? What makes a man or woman a godly person?
Eliezer Gonzalez
Large crowds have been following Jesus wherever he goes. Some of these people have been called personally by Jesus to follow him. But most are following him because of his remarkable teaching and his amazing power. Now, from among them, Jesus chooses a special group of people. There are many people following Jesus, but he picks out twelve people to be his closest followers, called “disciples.” In the Jewish culture, “disciples” were learners who were to learn from the teacher by living and travelling with him, and listening and watching everything that he said and did.
Explore Dr. Briana Greene's From Hearts 2 Hands: a tale of turning passion into ministry, where heartfelt compassion sparks real-world change.
Eliezer Gonzalez
Traditionally, a Jewish teacher would usually call religious people to follow him: people who were set apart by their piety and devotion to the Scriptures. It was shocking that Jesus called rough fishermen instead! What did he do next? Matthew, also known as Levi, worked in a detested job profession as a tax collector. In fact, to be a tax collector for the hated Roman oppressors basically meant that you were a despised thief and a traitor to your own nation. Everyone who was considered decent hated Matthew. He had made himself rich off the suffering of his people. He seemed to be the worst possible person that Jesus could have called to follow him.
O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18:6 God asked t
Eliezer Gonzalez
Jesus calls his first four disciples who were all fishermen. Simon and Andrew were in the middle of fishing. But when Jesus asks them to follow him, Mark emphasises that they left their nets and followed him “at once.” James and John were preparing their nets to go out fishing. Mark highlights that Jesus called them “without delay,” which means with urgency. They also responded immediately, leaving their father and fellow workers in the boat.
What work has God given you to complete? What does He want you to do? Discover the answer to this question - How do I know what God is calling me to do?
What are we to do with our lives? What has God created and called you and me to do? Let's consider answers as we discuss 'what is your life purpose?'