Put yourself back on the elementary playground. Two team captains are choosing sides, and you are standing in the group waiting. Depending on the game or your reputation, you may be trying to get noticed or hiding behind everyone else. Maybe you are simply waiting, thinking, “Please don’t let me be picked last.” Another way to word that might be, “Please let someone want me.” In reality, you are, and always have been, very much wanted. God has always wanted you. Ephesians 1:4 tells us that God chose us before the world began. Verse 5 goes on to tell us that He predestined us for adoption into His family. The…

There seems to be a great deal of fear and even pessimism concerning the church of Christ. Certainly, there are areas of the country and in the world where the church is not growing, and others where it is declining in number and influence. More than that, though, there are some who are ashamed of the church—or, at least, they act and write like it. On social media, there are constant “pot shots” taken at the church for backward, out-of-touch, or even just silly beliefs. In some pulpits, preachers castigate the way we “used to do things” as if they are nothing more than tradition. I am here today, though,…

On one occasion during his ministry, when the multitudes pressed him, Jesus departed to the other side of Galilee. But one certain scribe didn’t give up the chase. He said to Jesus, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever You go. And Jesus said to Him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head’” (Matt. 8:19-20).             Truthfully, Jesus had given up heaven for a human life of poverty and unrest. He was more than the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). His life was one of humility and his ministry of long dusty roads…

  Several years ago I drove my good friend William Woodson to a luncheon at Freed-Hardeman University. Brother Woodson had been called to speak on the topic of the Restoration Movement. He spoke without notes and I remember being fascinated by his knowledge of the subject. On the drive over we talked about many spiritual and Biblical ideas. But there is one part of that conversation in particular that I will never forget. He referred to an article written by David Lipscomb in the Gospel Advocate entitled, “Serving God, not Obeying Him.” This article was published on November 11, 1897. Originally the question in the article Lipscomb was addressing had…

I’ve heard a number of synonyms for the word and the concept of delegation. I’ve heard some people in leadership positions talk about empowering others. The idea behind this seems to be that, if some of the workload is delegated to others, it will facilitate the growth of the individual being given those responsibilities.  I’ve also heard the word equipping used in this way. Somebody in a leadership position will believe (rightly so) that delegation is one good way of giving others some necessary tools and freedom to accomplish a task.  Maybe another good word that can be used in this context is encouraging. If a leader delegates some responsibilities to others, there is,…