I posted on social media recently a question to others who've professed their faith in Christ. If someone said to you, "Tell me about your Jesus," how would you respond? There were some good online dialogue. Then one friend commented, "Nick, how would you respond?" Hopefully, the "nuts & bolts" below will help bring confidence … Continue reading Tell Me About Your Jesus
Grace Notes
Chosen But Free – The Biblical Doctrine of Election
NOTE: The issue of “election vs. free will” will forever be debated. What is critical, though, is that a believer leans fully on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, without adding to, or taking away. Conjecture, speculation and theory are good for earthly debate. But, when all the dust settles, there is only one authority: … Continue reading Chosen But Free – The Biblical Doctrine of Election
Why Pray? (Does it really make any difference?)
I want to thank everyone for your kind and encouraging words regarding the message I preached on June 16th about the mystery of prayer and why God, through human eyes, seems so capricious i.e. why does he answer some prayers and not others? My daughter, Macy Watts, listened to it yesterday and told me should … Continue reading Why Pray? (Does it really make any difference?)
Satan’s Relentless Pursuit to Take Us Out
I had been in full-time, vocational ministry for just over 30 years when, for the first time in my life, I gained new insight into the depth of the evil Satan possesses. After my son, Jordan, took his life I was crippled in every way, en route to being hospitalized for suicidal thoughts myself. As … Continue reading Satan’s Relentless Pursuit to Take Us Out
Stop Trying to be Good Enough
Good works are not required for salvation. Rather, they are evidence of our salvation. Whether it’s being faithful to our spouse, honest in our business/academic dealings, keeping our thought-life pure, being patient behind a slow-as-Christmas driver, or even attending church... These “good works,” albeit moral, don’t “get us into heaven.” Further, by God’s standards, there’s … Continue reading Stop Trying to be Good Enough
Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Malachi (My response to the Prosperity Gospel)
No one likes to hear a sermon on giving. But this sermon will be different than what you might be expecting. When Malachi steps onto the scene a lot has happened over the last few centures: Israel has, due to widespread spiritual rebellion, exhausted God's patience, suffered punishment in way of being conquered by neighboring … Continue reading Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Malachi (My response to the Prosperity Gospel)
Good Friday – 20 Centuries Ago…
On Good Friday, while we go through our daily routines, use your imagination and travel back with me twenty centuries to the dusty roads of southern Palestine. The son is appearing over the horizon. By this time, the rooster has crowed, alerting Simon Peter to the fact that, just as Jesus predicted, he would deny … Continue reading Good Friday – 20 Centuries Ago…
Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Habakkuk
The sound of silence... can be deafening. Ever felt like God's "stepped out of the office" and forgotten about you completely? You're not alone. The "heroes of the faith" felt the same way. Habakkuk begins his story with, O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? In Psalm 13, … Continue reading Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Habakkuk
Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Nahum
In the mid 7th century B.C., Jonah reluctantly went to Nineveh (the capital city of Assyria) and warned them of God's coming judgment if they did not repent of their heinous cruelty and off-the-chart depravity. They repented. Fast-forward one hundred years. By this time, Nineveh had systematically declined as a city right back into the … Continue reading Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Nahum
The Decline of the Bible in North America
As a guy who spent 25 years in full-time Youth Ministry, I have a burning question that, with each passing year, weighs heavily on my heart and mind. But first, a disclaimer: There’s always debate between which is better: a digital copy of the Bible? Or one with real pages? One may be better for … Continue reading The Decline of the Bible in North America