by Craig McAndrews | Jun 19, 2023 | Articles, Mentors Corner
In Ephesians 6:10-18, the apostle Paul points out to the Christians at Ephesus, they are fighting a spiritual war. Therefore, it’s essential to equip themselves with a spiritual arsenal to “stand firm.” Paul highlights six components of the spiritual armor of God, each designed to prepare, protect, or play offense against the “schemes of the devil.” Shodding our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace is one part of the full armor that includes two dimensions for Christians to understand. The most understood dimension of this verse is about taking the gospel to others. In Romans 10:15, Paul writes, “But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news of good things.” The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel brings others a message of peace, grace, and salvation. Satan doesn’t want any of those life-giving words to get to people. As followers of Jesus, we must devote ourselves to learning and studying the Scriptures to walk in the peace that only the gospel can bring. Shodding our feet with the preparation of the gospel makes us ready to live out the great commission. However, if we aren’t firm enough in the gospel in our own lives, I would suggest taking the gospel to others will be a challenge. A second dimension of shodding our feet relates to being personally anchored in the gospel message. Just like a soldier puts on his armor and equips his feet with sturdy boots, we, too, must have our feet firmly...
by Trevor McDowell | Jun 6, 2023 | Articles, Mentors Corner
I believe one of the most important characteristics that a Christian must live out in their life is gratitude. It is a key component to a healthy Christian life and must be present in our lives if we are going to live out the fruits of the Spirit. Gratitude in Websters’ Dictionary is defined as “the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Jesus seems to up the ante when He tells His followers to “love your enemies”. I suggest to you that we are also to return kindness even when someone may inflict us with evil. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When we pray with thanksgiving our hearts and minds are guarded. Having gratitude protects our minds and hearts from faulty, false thinking. We will have a biblical perspective when difficult circumstances enter our lives. Romans Chapter 1 shows us what happens when we are not grateful. Romans 1:21 says, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Note that this verse is the opposite of Philippians 4:6-7. Paul tells us that those who are not thankful become futile in their speculations (mind) and their heart becomes darkened. Ingratitude exposes our hearts and minds to darkness and deceit. Ingratitude is a relationship killer. ...
by Jim Gustafson | May 9, 2023 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Listening seems to be a simple enough concept. We have ears to facilitate one of our senses — we use them regularly. We know all about it. Hear and respond with our mouth. It is important in our everyday activity. We converse with others and realize that without hearing our ability to communicate is severely diminished. So it is with God. But the scripture takes us to a different understanding. James writes, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). God said, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” (Luke 9:35). The relationship with God is rooted in listening to Him through His Word. Listening is a significant concept in the scriptures. As a verb, “hearing” or “listening” appears over 1600 times in the Bible! It means to receive or hear and understand a reported noise. It implies a silence and stillness in order to hear. It has a responsibility component, implying obedience to what is understood. So, how to listen? The Psalmist writes: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). Listening is the quiet, still activity of intent fully slowing ourselves down, closing off the outside distractions and pressures and being still before God and His word and then applying. The culture values business, action and running. But listening requires silence and stillness. How? It must be intentful. Jesus went to a quiet place to pray and listen in the morning to get perspective. He provides the example worth emulating. Men in the marketplace, caught up in the pace of life, in order to survive the chaos and gain the perspective only the...
by Lee Yih | Apr 24, 2023 | Articles
I just had an unusual Bible Study in Romans Chapter 16. Normally, when I think of Romans 16, in my mind, it is a “Flyover” Chapter. By that I mean, it is something that is skipped, or at least on a relative basis, something that I do not put the same emphasis on as I have on the other, more theological portions of Romans. I have taught the Book of Romans many times in my 50 years of being a Christian, and truth be told, I have never given much shrift to Chapter 16, until recently. I ask myself, what is there in Romans 16 worth spending time on? In a recent study in Romans, I tried something different with this chapter by having the guys put together and present a 10-minute talk from any portion in Chapter 16 that they found worth discussing. The topics they uncovered were eye-opening. These included things like “How to handle people who cause dissension in our churches” (vs. 17-19), what it means that they will soon crush Satan under their feet (vs. 20), what it means to be “established” by God and the reference to “My Gospel” (vs. 25) and the meaning of “obedience of faith” in vs. 26. But the most profound lesson was gained by thinking about all the names mentioned in the first part of the chapter. Thirty-five persons are named in this conclusion. There were nine persons with Paul in Corinth when he wrote – eight men and one woman, Phoebe, and twenty-four persons at Rome who were greeted – seventeen men and seven women. Besides these, there were...
by Bill McCurine | Apr 11, 2023 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“I and the Father are One.” John 10:30 (ESV) God is three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are One. God exists in the perfect unity of One. There is never conflict between the three Persons of the Godhead. God is always in perfect harmony with Himself. He is always in perfect unity with Himself. So, after the crucifixion, God raised Jesus from the dead. This was the action of one God in three persons. Concerning the Father’s role in the resurrection, the Bible teaches: “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:19–21) Concerning Jesus’s role in His own resurrection, Jesus declared: “For this reason, the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18) Concerning the Holy Spirit’s role in the resurrection, Paul wrote: “The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your...
by Craig McAndrews | Mar 28, 2023 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Psalm 73:28 I never put much thought into the impact of nearness until recently. Over the past six months, my wife and I have transitioned into the empty-nester phase of life as our youngest son went off to college. The early part of the transition was fun and exciting as we started to have a bit more time for the two of us. There were fewer activities to navigate, less managing curfews, and a dramatically lower grocery bill. However, as time has passed, we have wrestled with our sons being away. We miss them and often look for ways to get together. There is something about having them near that brings a sense of peace and comfort. These words describe a similar sense we may experience when God is near, however, in Psalm 73:28 the topic of nearness goes deeper and should more profoundly impact how we respond. In Psalm 73:28, Asaph writes, “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all his works.” I can’t think of many Christians who would disagree with the idea that having God near is a good thing. However, in this verse, we read about a deeper level of dependence and a compelling call to action as the output of the nearness of God. The nearness of God brings about a deeper dependence on Him as we make Him our refuge. The word refuge is more than just a place of escape. The King James translation uses the word, “trust” which means a literal shelter or a...
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