When the Lord established His church (not man’s church), Christ alone was set as “head of the church” (Eph. 5:23).  Or, as Peter states, Christ is “the Chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4).  As the Chief Shepherd of His sheep (His church), the Lord “set in order” (cf. Titus 1:5) that there should be elders/shepherds of “the flock of God” (1 Pet. 5:2)…

How can I really learn the Bible, write it on my heart and allow it to increase my faith?  Suppose I buy one of those pocket-sized New Testaments and keep it in my back pocket at all times—will that do it?  Suppose I keep my Bible on my nightstand, right next to my clock—will that work?  Suppose I tuck my Bible under…

Sometimes we hear things about a brother or sister in Christ, but we don’t actually hear it from that brother or sister in Christ.  We hear it from another party, who may or may not have all of the facts.  Regardless of what we hear, how we hear it and from whom we hear it, Christian love (that’s agape love) responds (at…

At least eight times in the Psalms, the writers call out to God for help.  “O Lord, do not be far from Me…hasten to help me!” (22:19; 71:12).  “Make haste, O God, to deliver me!  Make haste to help me, O Lord!” (70:1; 40:13; cf. 38:22).  “Help me, O Lord my God!  Oh, save me according to Your mercy” (109:26).  “Help me!”…

The book of Proverbs contains the divinely-given wisdom of Solomon written in wise sayings of spiritual truths.  Contained in the wisdom of this book is heaven’s connection between wisdom and knowledge.  Note carefully what God says a wise person will do with knowledge: “The ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Prov. 18:15).“When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge” (21:11).“Wise people store…

Imagine having been with Jesus in the upper room, when He washed the disciples’ feet and spoke His departing words to them, including the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Imagine being in that room when Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper, saying, “This is My body” and “This is my blood.”  Now, imagine having followed Jesus to the Garden of…

The psalmist asks a very poignant question in Psalm 116:12 – “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” There are two thoughts in that question: (1) think about all of God’s benefits toward me, (2) what shall I give to the Lord in return? Read through Psalm 116, for starters, and you’ll find numerous (but not…

A recent compliment was paid to Palm Beach Lakes that was especially encouraging.  This is not written to build us up or to point any fingers at our accomplishment(s), but it is to draw attention to what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.  A visitor, who visits here a couple times a year, said:  “PBL truly feels like the first-century church…