Center Your Life on Jesus

If I told you I love volleyball, but you learned that I never play it or watch it, you would question my love for volleyball. If I told you I love playing the guitar, but you found out I haven’t picked one up in over a decade, you would doubt my passion for the guitar.

If I told you I love to read and you learned I read every day and have books throughout my house and office, you would be convinced of my love for reading. If I told you I really enjoy ice cream and you heard me talk about my favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavors, you would be convinced of my “addiction” to ice cream.

What about my faith in Jesus Christ? Does my life show Jesus is central to my life? 

What about your faith in Jesus Christ? Does your life show Jesus is central to your life?

In the book King’s Cross Tim Keller states, “Please don’t try to keep Jesus on the periphery of your life. He cannot remain there. Give yourself to him--center your entire life on him--and let his power reproduce his character in you.” (p. 162)

“...don’t try to keep Jesus on the periphery of your life.”

Don’t let Jesus just be your focus at church on Sunday morning or youth group on Wednesday night. Don’t be quiet when your friends start to talk about their faith. Don’t bite your tongue when someone asks about life after death. Don’t live like a non-Christian the majority of your week and put on your Christian “look” a few hours of the week.

“…center your entire life on him…”

Surrender your life to Jesus. Let him be your primary focus in your work, your friendships, and your hobbies. Give him your time, your energy, and your future. Commit to honor him in all you think, say, and do. Live a Christ-centered life every hour of the week.

“…let his power reproduce his character in you.”

When you live fully surrendered to Jesus and fully centered on him, you will find yourself changing. You will become more and more like him. You will grow in joy and be an encouragement to others. You will grow in humility and serve others. You will grow in peace and comfort others. You will grow in faith and be bold before others.

Commit today to not keep Jesus on the periphery of your life. Commit to make him the center of your life. You will never be the same again!

Tweet

He’s Alive

One of my favorite paintings is called “The disciples Peter and John running to the tomb on the morning of the Resurrection” by Eugene Burnand, 1898. I have a print of it hanging on the wall in my bedroom.

The two Marys had seen the empty tomb, seen an angel, and seen Jesus, and they hurried to tell the disciples. Stunned by the news, Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves. What must have gone through their minds as they rushed to the tomb? Was Jesus really alive? How can this be? Did the woman really see him? Did someone steal his body? Where is he?

When they arrived at the tomb, they saw the stone rolled away, they held the strips of linen in their hands, and they believed for themselves. They knew Jesus was alive, but where was he? They returned to their homes with excitement and puzzlement. Where was he?

Finally that night Jesus appeared to the disciples who were all together, locked in a house in fear for their safety. What an amazing night that must have been! They saw the marks on his hands and feet. They saw the scare on his side. They saw the resurrected Jesus.

Jesus must have reminded them that he had told them he would die and rise again in three days. He must have reminded them of his purpose in coming to earth and dying on the cross. He must have begun to prepare them for the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. And he told them the Holy Spirit would be coming on them in power.

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He died on the cross and rose again. He ascended to heaven, and he sits at the right hand of the Father. He is alive!

Happy Easter!

Tweet

3 Antidotes to Busyness

Are you busy? Really busy? Do school, homework, practice, friends, work, social activities, youth group, and church completely fill your schedule? Do you squeeze in meals? Do you pause to send a text? Do you only stop when you are sleeping?

We are busy, and I am sorry to let you know that you will only be busier in the years ahead. Marriage, children, full-time work, business travel, family responsibilities, and bills to pay will only add more to your plate.

How do we handle the busyness? How do we have peace of mind and heart as we live our lives in a busy world?

How do we apply Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Here are three antidotes to busyness:

1.       Daily Bible Reading – Start your day by reading Scripture. Place a bookmark in the O.T. and a bookmark in the N.T. and read one chapter from each testament each day. Read slowly, asking God to speak to you, encourage you, direct you, align your mind with his ways, guide you for the day ahead.

2.       Daily Prayer – As you close your Bible, begin to pray. Commune with God. Be still and let him speak to you, praise him for his almighty ways, thank him for adopting you as his child, declare your need for him, ask for his help.

3.       Daily Worship – As you wrap up your time of prayer, play a song from your phone. Let a worship song fill your mind, let praise lift your eyes up to your great God, and worship your God from your heart.

Develop the habit of spending daily time with the Lord. Start your day by being still and knowing and acknowledging God. You will find peace in the midst of hurry. You will find direction in the midst of chaos. You will find calm in the midst of anxiety. You will find courage to walk through trials. You will find boldness to make a difference for Christ.

Tweet

The Secret of Success -- Psalm 1

Prosperity, success, victory … the longings of every person on the planet. What does prosperity look like for a Christian, and how do we achieve it? What is the secret of success?

Psalm 1:1-3 guides us, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

The Psalmist first issues a warning: avoid the wicked. Don’t walk with them, don’t stand with them, and don’t sit down with them. Be careful who you listen to, be careful who you spend time with, and be careful who you make your closest friends.

Then the Psalmist exhorts us to delight in God’s Word and think deeply about his commands. We need to read the Bible, take the truths of the Scripture to heart, and let the Word shape every part of our lives.

This truth resounds again in II Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

If we apply God’s Word to our lives and our hearts, we will prosper. We will experience joy, peace, and hope. We will know God, understand his ways, and trust him in all circumstances. We will see God’s heart of love for his people, we will understand the amazing sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ, and we will know the power of the Holy Spirit to daily guide and empower us. We will be equipped for trials and temptation, and we will be prepared for however God calls us to serve him and make a difference in the world around us.

Do you want a fruitful life? Delight yourself in God’s law. Do you want a fulfilled life? Fill your mind and heart with God’s Word. Do you want deep satisfaction? Be shaped by the living and active words of the Bible.

Tweet

Teaching Series Idea #3

Young people often have questions about the end times. This teaching series focuses on what Jesus taught about the last days. He gives principles and illustrations towards the end of the Gospel of Matthew. Here is a series we did in chapel at my school about a year ago.

Series Title: Be Ready

Series Subtitle: Jesus’ teachings on the end times

Series Goal: Help teens understand what Jesus taught about the end times, as found in Matthew chapters 24 & 25.

Part 1 – Be Ready (Matthew 24)

Part 2 – Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

Part 3 – Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

Part 4 – Sheep & the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

Tweet

Teaching Series Idea #2

Here is a three-part series that focuses on the words we use, which is a topic young people and adults need to be reminded about from time to time.

Series Title: Words Matter

Series Goal: Help teens understand that our words have the potential to build up or tear down, and that our words matter to God

Part 1 – Bad Words - Good Words (Ephesians 4:29)

Part 2 – Every Word Matters (Matthew 12:33-37)

Part 3 – The Power of Encouraging Words (I Thessalonians 5:11)

Tweet

Teaching Series Idea #1

Are you looking for a good teaching series for your youth group, Sunday school class, or chapel? Here is one we are currently going through at my school in our Middle School chapel.

Series Title: Powerful Promises of God

Series Goal: Help teens understand and treasure the amazing promises of God, which He has given to us in Holy Scripture

Part 1 - Amazing Love & Eternal Life (John 3:16)

Part 2 - Unbreakable Love (Romans 8:38-39)

Part 3 - Jesus Will Return (Acts 1:1-10)

Part 4 - Deep Roots & Abundant Fruit (Psalm 1:1-3)

Part 5 - We Reap What We Sow (Galatians 6:7-8)

Part 6 - God Exalts the Humble (I Pet. 5:5-6 & Matt. 23:12)

Part 7 - God Forgives (I John 1:9)

Part 8 - Mighty Armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Part 9 - Comfort (Psalm 23)

Part 10 - Peace (Philippians 4:5-7)

Part 11 - Living Word (II Tim. 3:16-17 & Heb. 4:12)

Part 12 - Refining Fire (James 1:2-4)

Part 13 - All for Good (Romans 8:28)

Tweet