While some are stronger on the “back then” nature of the text, others are too quick to rush to a “for today” impact. Good Bible handling requires both mindset.

In a world of people trying to find themselves, make themselves, and often, fake themselves, we have a God who is not holding back on speaking his blessing over us. 

We would do well to let go a little of a metaphysical conversation, and ponder more the biblical revelation of a God in eternal communion.

Last minute preparation is not ideal, but it is possible and it is still better to prepare as much as you can, rather than not prepare at all.

The Bible is true and it is effective, for the God who inspired it is a God of truth, and a God of great communication.

Whatever evil is evident in your context or working away behind the scenes, seek refuge next to our good God’s throne.

Preaching is more than sharing the fruit of exegetical work out loud, but it cannot be less. 

Boring people through preaching is too dangerous to let it happen even once more.

When we preach the Bible, let’s not settle for a tips-for-life kind of relevance.

We must be careful not to offer guarantees that the text does not yield. 

The nature of the body of Christ indicates that you need to receive from the gifting of others, for they are gifted to build you up.

Your words can urge, convict, enthuse, or offer clarification of application. But let’s make sure our words build up, giving grace to those who hear.

Preach to present Christ. Offer Christ rather than a program for self-improvement. Invite people to know and to love Him.

Let’s take to heart the strength of Jesus’ conclusion to his famous Sermon on the Mount for ourselves and for others.

A good expository preacher knows that a story has its own way of carrying and conveying its point. 

It does take effort, and prayer, and time, to make sense of the Bible, but no matter how tough some parts may be, it can be understood.

Psalm 46 is an anchor to the truth that God can and must be trusted in the darkest of times.

Once people trust Christ, what do we pray for? Often it seems to shift to the more mundane matters of health and career.

Union with Christ has become a fashionable term in church world.

Whatever gifting one has, it is important to be a good steward of that gifting.  We should “fan into flame” what God has put in us. 

May our hearts be so captivated by His love that our churches increasingly look like the body of Christ.

Lives are not transformed by to-do lists. They can help, but they remain mostly on the surface.

Wonderful enrichment for life and haunting warnings await us if we just travel into the Bible with our hearts open and ready to learn.

We have probably all made some, or all, of these mistakes.

God’s pattern is for suffering now to be followed by glory later. It was true for Jesus, for Peter’s readers then, and it is true for Peter’s readers now.