In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the commandments prohibiting murder and adultery to illustrate the truth that obedience begins in the heart. The religious leaders of his day didn’t understand this truth; they believed a person was obeying God if he simply refrained from committing the physical acts of murder, adultery, and stealing. […]
In my recent articles, we’ve been exploring how the Golden Rule can be lived out by following the spirit of each of the 10 Commandments. The first three commandments speak to our posture before God, the fourth commandment focuses on the Sabbath rest that God wants to give us, while commandments five through ten detail […]
When God gave the Children of Israel the 10 Commandments, it was out of His great love for them. In His great knowledge He was steering His people away from destructive lifestyles and into a life of blessing and peace. As we look at the 8th commandment, “You shall not steal,” it is important to […]
Growing up you may have heard The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” What you may not know is that The Golden Rule came from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for […]
A few years ago, I met and ministered with Stephan Tchividjian, the eldest grandson of Billy Graham at a banquet for a ministry in Hill Country, Texas. Stephan often says, “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.” His words really resonated with me. When God gave His law to the people of Israel, He clearly explained […]
We live in a land of paradoxes. In one part of a city, a small group meets in a neighborhood church to study the spiritual import of the pomegranates on Aaron’s robe, while in an elementary school across town the Ten Commandments are being removed from the wall where they have resided since 1965. On […]
For quite some time, I’ve sensed God is about to do something in a very corporate, significant way. I sense a stirring in the winds, a stirring in the mulberries—a time of change and renewing; a new era, a new beginning; a season of transitions. I was looking back at an article I wrote in […]
Every morning, I have two prayer times. The first is my horizontal prayer time when I wake up and just thank the Lord and appreciate Him just because, because, because of who He is and what He has already done. On a particular morning a few weeks ago, I woke up but my eyes were […]
by Dr. Doug Stringer & Dr. Jodie Chiricosta When we forget our computer password for some indispensable app, or we think our information has been compromised, we can ask for a reset. After a series of questions, sometimes an image verification, and maybe updating various contact information – we enter a new password and we […]
All you have to do is take a glance at social media or the news these days to see the prevalence of hate-filled speech and unbridled anger almost everywhere. It is human sin nature to put up guards, defend our positions, and rip into those who disagree. But if we are in Christ, we can […]
