Steve’s Books
Category Archives: Encouragement
Hope and the Christian
Hope is not merely a religious word for a theological concept, but an internalized, deep conviction developed over time, just like many other convictions that have grown on us. For example, we may develop a deep appreciation for someone when … Continue reading
Dealing with a Deceitful Heart
God spoke to us through Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all else, and desperately wicked. How is this seen in our lives? Here is one example. When I am overwhelmed by worries and fears, then my heart … Continue reading
Grace and Works Go Together
I fear we are limiting God’s grace in our lives. I’ve seen two different aspects of God’s grace testified to. We often emphasize salvation is by grace, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). In this passage, grace is God being merciful and … Continue reading
Reflections on salvation from John R. Stott’s book, The Cross of Christ
I am currently enjoying John R. Stott’s book, The Cross of Christ, as an eBook on my Nexus 7. I’m going slowly, savoring Christ on every page, even going back a few chapters to re-read them before moving on. In … Continue reading
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Tagged justification, propitiation, reconciliation, redemption
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What did Jesus mean when He said that unless we renounce all things, we can’t be His disciples?
The Gospels record the instances when Jesus approached someone and invited him to come. One by one the people left their livelihood to travel with Him. To fishermen Simon, Peter, and Andrew He said, “Follow Me, and I will make … Continue reading
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Tagged cross, disciples, discipleship, forsake all, growth, Jesus Christ, obedience
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We’re Kidding Ourselves
There’s something about us that just refuses to take correction from others. Whether they tell us our fault timidly or strongly, we just don’t get it. The Bible tells us why, though: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and … Continue reading
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A Sure Thing
Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 remind us that God rescued the Israelites from their slavery among the Egyptians, bringing them through the Red Sea miraculously, then through the desert for training in trust. God promised them a land filled with … Continue reading
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Let us give thanks to the Lord!
Thanksgiving message I gave in 2015 1 One phrase repeated in Psalm after Psalm after Psalm is, “Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good” (Psalms 136:1). Maybe it’s repeated so often because we forget. When we give thanks, … Continue reading
Is there a difference between children of God and sons of God in the New Testament?
Is there a difference between children of God and sons of God in the New Testament? Yes. Galatians lays a good foundation for the meaning of these two terms, and from those verses we can see echoes throughout the NT. … Continue reading
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Morning Affirmation
Reviewing God’s truths for me. I am a new creation in Christ. God is my heavenly Father and has abundantly proven His love for me by the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ for my sins. (So there is no need … Continue reading
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Promises and Warnings
What is the purpose of the promises and warnings in the Bible? They serve the same purpose as promises and warnings in regular life. If we examine the promise to see if it had merit and follow through, we’ll get … Continue reading
The Deceitful Heart
I consider myself a good person, not from any genuinely good works that I am doing, but because I’m not doing bad things, or I’m not as bad as “those people.” That’s deceitful thinking, because Jesus said that no one … Continue reading
Is a “personal relationship” with Christ necessary for salvation?
A “personal relationship with Christ” is a phrase used among born-again believers to contrast an impersonal relationship with God. (Another popular phrase among born-again Christians is, “Relationship, not religion,” which says the same thing.) But is this idea actually taught in … Continue reading
What part of life is religious?
How much of life is religious, and how much is not? How much has to do with God, and how much does not? Is “church time” the religious part, and outside church, life is not? A response of Jesus addressed … Continue reading
The Pharisee in Church
The frequent run-ins between Jesus and the Pharisees were a clash between the Pharisee’s preoccupation with external things and Jesus’ emphasis on the spiritual kingdom. The Pharisees were interested in keeping their status quo, the rigid forms of religious law, … Continue reading
The Bible and Atheist agree: Blind Faith is Wrong
The popular meaning for faith is to believe something without proof. This is the “popular” meaning, and as with the meanings of several other words, it doesn’t match up with its meaning used in the Bible. For instance, the popular … Continue reading
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Tagged Bible, Christians, faith, God, Gospel, Jesus Christ, prophecy, Word of God
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Armor of God Series: the Belt of Truth
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14). With the truth, we are seeing things as they really are. The truth is not just facts, but facts acted on. … Continue reading
The Faith to Endure Hardship
In Hebrews 11, we are introduced to a series of individuals who were known for their faith. Noah prepared an ark, expecting a flood. Abraham moved out of his country at the word of God, not knowing where he was … Continue reading
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Tagged cross, faith, growth, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12, heroes of faith, Mosaic Law, suffering
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A Clean Conscience At Last
At the coming of Jesus, God introduced something new. With the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ, God creates a new covenant with believers that results in a clean conscience. The tenth chapter of Hebrews explains this feature of … Continue reading
“Love your neighbor as yourself”
Jesus told us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves in Mark 12:31. Some people have said that they cannot love their neighbor as they ought because they do not love themselves. On the contrary, the Bible is clear … Continue reading
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The Salvation of the Soul
What is the salvation of the soul, and what does it look like? The first few verses of 1 Peter chapter one give us a strong sense of this salvation and then concludes with, “receiving the end of your faith … Continue reading
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Tagged faith, growth, promises, saved, soul, suffering, Word of God
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The Neglected Deliverance
We tend to seek the Lord’s deliverance when we get into personal trouble. But there is a deliverance that keeps us out of the trouble in the first place. Which would you like – to fall into trouble and try … Continue reading
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Tagged accountability, faith, free will, promises, warnings, Word of God
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Faith and the Spirit’s Leading
What is faith? A definition is in order. What is faith? If faith means to believe something without proof, as many claim, then how is it different from blind faith? What I find funny is that those who dislike faith … Continue reading
Does the Holy Spirit still lead believers today?
The book of Acts relates several accounts of men who were directed by the Holy Spirit to say certain things, do something, or go somewhere. Is this direction of the Holy Spirit supposed to continue in today’s church? Or did … Continue reading
What is intimacy with Jesus?
What does it mean when Christians talk about having intimacy, or a deep relationship, with Jesus? There are many ways to describe it and experience it. I will talk about one way of entering into that intimacy or fellowship with … Continue reading
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Tagged devotions, faith, intimacy, Jesus Christ, relationship with God, reward, Word of God
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Do we need the power of the Holy Spirit?
Recently one of my prayer group regulars talked about our need of the Holy Spirit’s power upon us just as it was on the disciples in Acts. He seemed to think it was a matter of just asking for it … Continue reading
Why do people not change or grow in their faith?
Jesus made clear what is the greatest commandment: to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:34-40). Here is God’s highest aspiration for His creation. Yet so many of us, religious and non-religious, fail … Continue reading
Paralyzed When Making New Year’s Resolutions?
A centurion came to Jesus and told Him, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” Have you felt paralyzed at home lately? You have decisions to make, but feel too frozen to move? You have things to … Continue reading
How do I deal with out-of-control sexual urges?
You deal with sexual desires the same way as with any other feelings, whether of envy, hatred, avarice, pride, and so on. The foundational teaching is Romans 6. There, we learn that when Jesus was buried, He took our “old … Continue reading
