“Sometimes it takes a wave to reveal where you are standing. “ If you’ve ever walked along the beach, there is a place between the water’s edge and the dry sun-baked sand where the ground can feel deceptively firm. Standing in this area can provide unique feeling. Your feet can be firmly planted on the hard surface, but as soon as the tide begins to roll in and a wave washes past your feet, you immediately start to sink down into the sand. One of the most frustrating experiences I’ve ever had was something similar – but…
How To Write Thought Provoking Questions
Some questions are part of the journey, other questions are part of the excavation of life-changing truth. Powerful Tools Questions are one of a Small Group Leader’s most powerful tools. By thoughtfully guiding your group with a series of questions, you can help them discover the truth in God’s Word – and give them the excitement and satisfaction of finding it on their own. You will likely develop several types of questions for each study; but not every question requires the same amount of attention. Some questions help to casually open up discussion, other questions help to establish a…
The Pit Doesn’t Last Forever
“He was patient during my bitter doubts knowing that eventually His power and purpose would unfold.” I didn’t always have such a fond opinion of Psalm 40. In December of 2005 I wrote out the first verses of this Psalm in a journal. I included some skeptical, critical, and angry thoughts about how I doubted it’s reality. My wife and I were at the beginning of a difficult valley. We had two choices: Give up and walk away from God and each other, or push forward even though the road seemed entirely uncertain. In the months that followed, we saw…
How to Spot a Lie
“It didn’t sound like a lie!” If you knew it was a lie, would you continue to believe it? We are quick to assume we would never believe a lie. But sadly, we all fall prey to a few or more lies every day. The problem is that we don’t see them for what they really are. It Didn’t Sound Like a Lie! Our enemy, also known as the “Father of Lies,” has spent thousands of years perfecting his craft. And to make matters worse, he has already dealt with countless versions of people just like you. He knows…
“The Shack” or Not?
Fiction or Blasphemy? “Best book ever!” or “Straight from hell!”? The book “The Shack” has stirred up much controversy since being published. With the impending release of the movie, the firestorm of opinions seems to have been freshly stirred up. So should you read the book, watch the movie, or avoid both as a person of strong conviction? Strong Pillars Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God clearly reveals Himself. Using a variety of literary styles, He gives us many vibrant and definitive statements about Himself. As we examine these statements as a whole, we are able to form a…