Pastoral MinistryLeave a comment

From start to finish, the entire Old Testament is getting us ready to understand what the Messiah is going to do.*

joshnmarda

Genesis tells us to think BIG.  So, you are upset with the way the world is? Genesis is like, you are right! You were made for something more. What is it? It’s God big plan, the kingdom. And Genesis tells us the problem as well, it’s human rebellion and then it gives us the promise that God’s going to send someone to overcome Satan and reverse the curse and even explains later, that he’s going to be ruler of the universe.  This obviously is huge.  But can God do it?  Exodus makes clear no one can stop Him. It gives … Continue reading From start to finish, the entire Old Testament is getting us ready to understand what the Messiah is going to do.*

evangelism, QuotesLeave a comment

The Powerful Testimony of a Holy Life

joshnmarda

Charles Spurgeon speaks very strongly about the importance of holy living. “Believe me, there is no preaching in this world like the preaching of a holy life. It shames me sometimes, and weakens me in my testimony for my Master, when I stand here and recollect that some professors of religion are a disgrace not only to their religion, but even to common morality. It makes me feel as though I must speak with bated breath and trembling knees, when I remember the damnable hypocrisy of those who thrust themselves into the church of God, and by their abominable sins … Continue reading The Powerful Testimony of a Holy Life

John OwenLeave a comment

Have you been truly humbled before God?

joshnmarda

Are we humble? We are religious. We do certain things we are supposed to do. But are we humble? It is possible to say all the right things about God without ever truly being humbled before God. John Owen gives several questions we can ask ourselves to help us evaluate: Is the bottom of our obedience a deep apprehension and a full conviction of our own vileness and nothingness-of our being the chief of sinners, lost and undone; so that we always lie at the foot of sovereign grace and mercy? Is it so? Then, when, how, by what means, … Continue reading Have you been truly humbled before God?

Pastoral MinistryLeave a comment

How to Pursue Making the Most of Your Life for the Glory of God, part 3

joshnmarda

It is good to follow Jesus.  But that doesn’t mean it is going to be easy. There’s a reason Jesus calls it picking up your cross and describes the process as dying to self. Death can be very painful.  It’s painful when your circumstances don’t work out the way you want, definitely. But what may be even more painful is the criticism you will face for attempting to do the right thing.     What do you do? Stay humble, don’t make it about you, and look for opportunities. When we moved to Africa there were lots of things that … Continue reading How to Pursue Making the Most of Your Life for the Glory of God, part 3

Devotions, QuotesLeave a comment

Every glow worm must show its spark…

joshnmarda

“The fact is, the day is very dark. The heavens are lowering with heavy thunder-clouds. Men little dream of what tempests may soon shake this city, and the whole social fabric of this land, even to a general breaking up of society. So dark may the night become that the stars may seem to fall like blighted fruit from the tree. The times are evil. Now, if never before, every glow-worm must show its spark. You with the tiniest farthing candle must take it from under the bushel, and set it on a candlestick. There is need of you all. … Continue reading Every glow worm must show its spark…

DevotionsLeave a comment

Significance…

joshnmarda

I want us to think about significance and what makes a person significant. And by significance, I just mean a person who you would say is blessed basically, someone who is important, someone who is an example to model your life after, someone who is worthy of respect. Obviously, the world definitely has ideas about who is worthy of all that and we grow up with those ideas being sort of forced upon us. It is strange when you grow up and you find yourself nervous about meeting someone or excited about someone or respecting someone and you step back … Continue reading Significance…

Devotions, evangelism, QuotesLeave a comment

There will be a shaking…

joshnmarda

“Wherever I go it is the almost universal complaint that the former times were better than now. Everywhere it is the solemn conviction of Christians that the Church is in a very wrong position. Go where you please you will hear one confession, one doleful, lamentable groan, that the Church is cold and lifeless; not dead, but Laodicean – and I believe that Laodicea is the most correct picture of the Church at the present moment. We are neither hot nor cold, and Christ is angry with us. Where is the zeal – the zeal of Whitfield? Ah, where are … Continue reading There will be a shaking…