How the Holy Spirit Develops My Character Galatians 5:16-26 Many airports have moving sidewalks. They allow travelers to get around the airports a little faster than they would walking around on their own power. The travelers can still walk but now are able to do so with ease because of the force underneath them propelling them forward. Walking in the Spirit implies that the Christian is still on the move. They are not sitting down or being passive. They… Read more
May 27, 2019
Praying For My Community
May 27, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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Praying For My Community Psalm 122:1-9 “I’ll pray for you.” We say it often, but how many times do we actually remember to do it? Our biggest downfall might not be a lack of compassion—it’s probably just not taking time to write down the request and not having a model of praying for others.1 George Whitfield once stated about praying for others: If we inquire, why there is so little love to be found amongst Christians, why the very characteristic,… Read more
April 29, 2019
The Final Gospel Presentation of Jesus Christ
April 29, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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The Final Gospel Presentation of Jesus Christ Mark 15:33-47 In the other Gospel accounts, Jesus speaks at various points while on the cross. There are actually seven statements that Jesus made on the cross. I find it curious that Mark focused on only one of those statements. Jesus quotes the first verse of Psalm 22. Was it a cry because God was absent in Jesus’ most desperate hour? Or perhaps it was the first point of a Gospel presentation. “That’s… Read more
April 8, 2019
Successful Money Management
April 8, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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Successful Money Management Proverbs 22:1-16 In a survey, ING Direct learned that many parents are uncomfortable talking to their children about money. In fact, 39 percent of parents are more prepared to talk about alcohol and drugs with their children than about money and finance; 29 percent would rather talk about dating and sex. Perhaps most surprising is that 95 percent believe financial education should be taught in school. If parents want a Christian worldview for their children where money… Read more
March 18, 2019
How to GIVE
March 18, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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How to GIVE Matthew 6:19-24 Richard Foster, stated in his book Money, Sex and Power: When we give money, we are releasing a little more of our egocentric selves and a little more of our false security. Giving frees us to care. It produces an air of expectancy as we anticipate what God will lead us to give. It makes life with God an adventure of discovery. We are being used to help make a difference in the world, and… Read more
March 4, 2019
How to BUDGET
March 4, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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How to BUDGET Luke 14:28-33 I learned long ago about planning with the following phrase: Prior proper planning prevents pitiful poor performance. That rule is illustrated with this story about money. This is the story of a man who did not budget properly. In this mini-parable, Jesus teaches us about budgeting. In the immediate context, this is about how a man spends his money. In the larger context, this idea of budgeting affects how I live as a follower of… Read more
February 25, 2019
I Love My Community
February 25, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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I Love My Community Luke 4:16-19 In his book Concentric Circles of Concern, Dr. Oscar Thompson wrote that “the gospel moves on contiguous lines – on lines of relationship.”1 The key to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ he said is relationships. What were the relationships that Jesus developed, in order to spread His message? Jesus’ personal people group: the marginalized in His community “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach… Read more
February 11, 2019
I Love My Church
February 11, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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I Love My Church John 13:34-35 Dennis, from Katy, Texas, needed some same-day dry cleaning before he left on a trip. He remembered a store with a huge sign, “One-Hour Dry Cleaners,” on the other side of town, so he drove there to drop off a suit. After filling out the tag, he told the clerk, “I need this in an hour.” She said, “I can’t get this back to you until Thursday.” “I thought you did dry cleaning in… Read more
January 27, 2019
How My Church Can Help Me
January 27, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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How My Church Can Help Me Hebrews 10:19-25 Jesus has opened up a new and living way for me that helps me for eternity. Yet, Jesus didn’t save me in isolation. Jesus built a support system to help me to follow Him. There are two times that the “since is used. The word “since describes that Jesus did a certain work in the past that allows me to live as a Christian today. First, the writer of Hebrews says that… Read more
January 23, 2019
How to Encourage Positive Church Community
January 23, 2019 By Jim Erwin
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How to Encourage Positive Church Community Hebrews 3:7-19 In his autobiography Alias Jungle Doctor, Dr. Paul White concludes his chapter “Doctor at Work” on his medical career: “I found that friendship, fellowship and encouragement lifted a person’s morale. Encouragement, be it physical or spiritual, is the most powerful and useful tonic in any pharmacopoeia.”1 I think that one of the themes in the book of Hebrews is the power of positive church community. Some people believe that Hebrews 10 speaks… Read more
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