Category Archives: Christian Walk with God

We cannot neglect fundamental principles in ministry and expect to make a difference for eternity. We might put up some good appearances but in time what we do will suffer. We need to keep going back to the basics.

Why Remembering the Basics of the Christian Life Are So Important

How well we remember the basics can determine how well we stand and persevere. The basics form the foundation of all we do. A faulty foundation and eventually we crumble. A firm foundation and we can stand no matter how difficult life becomes. (Read Luke 6:46-49.)

How well we remember the basics can determine how well we flourish. Roots need good soil. Toxins, chemical imbalance, or excessive weeds can weaken or destroy what started as a good plant. Hard or rocky soil can keep things from growing. (Read Luke 8:12-15.)

Church Leaders May Need to Get Back to the Basics of God’s Purposes, Design, and Mission

Everything church leaders do needs to be firmly rooted in the basics of life in Christ like God’s purposes, design, mission, heart, and power for the Church. When leaders have a good grip on God’s intent for the Church, their own roles become more obvious, as well as the heart and means needed to fulfil that role.

Check out the church leadership training division of Ministry Tools Resource Center, TrainChurchLeaders.com, which devotes a section to getting leaders back to the basics.

Also check out the downloadable resources to help leaders steer the church in these directions.

All Believers Need to Remember and Live in Accordance with Who We are and What We Have in Christ

We all, regardless of ministry roles, need to get back to the basics in order to walk worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:1). We need to remember some key spiritual truths:

• We are sinners saved by grace, cleansed from sin because of Jesus’ death on the cross. — Are you remembering that it is all about what He has done for you?
• We were taken out of darkness to live in the light of His truth. — Are you living like a child of the light?
• We are new creatures in Christ Jesus. — Are you growing more and more into the likeness of who you are in Christ Jesus?
• We were placed into a Body of believers to be members of one another. — Are you taking time to fellowship with and serve other believers?
• We are to be salt and light in this world. — Are you a testimony for Jesus in a bland and dark world?

Let’s guard against complicating the Christian life and what the Church is about. If we remember these basics we will be used by God to make a difference for eternity.

In light of the hardships, dangers, sorrows, and trials of this world, we might question if the abundant life Jesus promised is possible. If it was up to us or dependent on our circumstances, we’d have reason to doubt. The possibility of us living the abundant life, however, rests on Jesus.

Living an Abundant Life Possible Because of Who Jesus Is

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10). If Jesus merely came to earth as a man, albeit a good teacher and great example, then His claim of abundant life would probably just be an ideal to work toward. That, however, isn’t the case. Consider the One who made the claim and how that makes a full life possible right now.

1. Jesus is our Creator. Having always existed, He knows the beginning from the end (Jn. 1:1-3; Rev. 21:6). He knows how we were made and what we truly need to have an abundant life and He has the power to give it to us.

2. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23). As God in the flesh, all the fullness and radiance of God resides in Him (Col. 2:9-10; Heb. 1:3). He possesses the kind of life He promised to give.

3. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep like none other can, ultimately laying down His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11, 14-15). He has the love and compassion that drives Him to provide a full life for us.

4. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, the firstborn from among the dead (Jn. 11:25-26; Col. 1:18). In being brought back to life, Jesus demonstrated that in Him there is power over death and sin so we can be overcomers.

5. Jesus is the Living Water (Jn. 4:9-10; 7:37-38). He quenches our thirst like none other can. In Him we can be satisfied with little or much.

6. Jesus is the Bread of Life (Jn. 6:35). He Himself is our daily sustenance. In Him we have what we truly need.

7. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14; 19:16), sovereign over all. He not only has the power to grant us the life He offers but also the authority to do so.

No matter what we experience in this life, we can still have a full life because of this One who came to give us that life. Remember, “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).

Take time to further reflect on the abundant life Jesus came to give us.

Jesus’ Claim
The Difference It Makes
How to Have It

Gossip betrays people’s trust as information that should have been held confidential leaks out. It possibly ruins their reputation and harms relationships. In previous posts we considered how gossip can destroy the effectiveness of prayer chains. Due to the destructive nature of gossip, perhaps we should pray similar to the psalmist when he asked God, “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps. 141:3).

General Principles About Our Communication To Apply to Our Temptation to Gossip

Since “the tongue has the power of life and death” (Prov. 18:21), we need a biblical handle on the seriousness of gossip. Begin with broad guidance about our communication.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph. 4:29)

Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (Eph. 4:24-25)

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. (2 Tim. 2:16)

When tempted to gossip, let’s go back to these verses and ask if what we’re about to share is pleasing in God’s sight, helpful for building others up, righteous and holy. Or, does it fit under the category of unwholesome talk, falsehood, or godless chatter?

A Biblical View of the Destructiveness of Gossiping

Now look at how God gets specific about gossip:

• Gossip is a cancerous condition, eating away at us from the inside out. “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” (Prov. 18:8)

• Gossip is a break in integrity. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” (Prov. 11:13)

• Gossip is a symptom of a depraved mind out of fellowship with God (Rom. 1:28-32). When we gossip, we are giving in to the old sin nature.

• Gossip is a divisive activity. “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” (Prov. 16:28) — However, “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down” (Prov. 26:20). Let’s not fuel the fire but rather “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

• Gossip is a violation of love. When we gossip it’s like we’re secretly slandering a person. This is not the loving thing to do for “love does no harm to its neighbor” (Rom. 13:10).

• Gossip is a tool in the devil’s hand. Gossip follows after the ways of Satan who is called an “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10). The word “devil” means prone to slander, slanderous. Remember the warning in Ephesians 4:27, “Do not give the devil a foothold.”

May these truths challenge us all to pray, “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps. 141:3)