James

Not Today Devil

November 27, 2017 by Tim Sherfy

You do know you can talk back to Satan, right? Jesus modeled this for us when the devil was tempting Him in the wilderness. Satan would tempt Jesus, and Jesus would talk back to the devil, reminding him who he was and putting him in his place. Perhaps you think it’s one thing for Jesus to talk back to the devil and another thing for us to do so. On the contrary, Jesus said we would do greater things than He had done (John 14:12).

not today devil,satan,devil,commitment,discipleship,disciple.temptation,1 Peter 5:8,devil prowls about,be ever vigilant,John 14:12,you will do greater things than these,James 3:5,small spark starts great fire,2 Corinthians 10:3-5,take every thought captive,resist temptation

image © kikkerdirk via Fotolia

As disciples of Jesus, we are to pattern our lives after His. What we see Jesus do, we should do. When Satan comes along flaunting temptation before us, we should not hesitate in saying, “Not today devil!”

[Read more…] about Not Today Devil

Measure Your Words

September 18, 2017 by Tim Sherfy

Proverbs 10:19 says, “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.” As someone who writes thousands of words each week, this is especially relevant and convicting to me. However, you don’t have to be a writer to need to learn this lesson. If we don’t measure our words, odds are we’re going to say things dishonoring to God, hurtful to others, and regretful to ourselves. Usually, it will be all the above.

measure your words,kingdom of God,God's Kingdom,glorify God,words,tame the tongue,encourage others,James 3:5-9,no one can tame the tongue,Ephesians 4:29-32,only what is good for building up others,Proverbs 10:19,let your words be few,James 3:2,words cause you to stumble,James 1:19,be slow to speak

image © tugolukof via Fotolia

Jesus’s brother James warned our tongues could not be tamed and could start great, destructive fires (James 3:5-9). Paul instructed us to only speak words of encouragement, never saying derogatory or inflammatory things (Ephesians 4:29-32). In a world enamored with social media, it has never been more important to measure your words.

[Read more…] about Measure Your Words

Being Church or Doing Church?

May 15, 2017 by Tim Sherfy

Recently I’ve had the frustrating experience of trying to get three of the largest churches in my city to come around a family in need. The situation at hand is a low-income single mother with six children, whose minivan was recently involved in an accident and totaled. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. One church never responded, one said they get too many requests to be able to help but did ask what my own church was doing about the situation, and the final church – the one I attend and have been financially supporting – responded they only helped with rent and utility bills and would not be able to contribute towards purchasing a vehicle for the family.

being church or doing church,benevolence,Ephesians 4:1-6,unity in church,James 1:27,orphans and widows,true religion,purpose,local church,charity,giving,generosity,commitment,discipleship,lip service Christian

image © Andrey Kuzmin via Fotolia

Being a preacher’s kid, I understand the inner workings and dynamics of a church better than most, but I was still left flabbergasted by the lack of assistance these local churches were willing to extend.

True Religion

February 23, 2017 by Tim Sherfy

One of my favorite Bible verses is James 1:27, which says, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” As religions go, this list of requirements seems extraordinarily short. Yet there’s so much to discover in this little verse.

true religion,James:1:27,look after orphans and widows,priorities,selfishness,unstained,God's will,commitment,discipleship,love,Matthew 6:33,seek ye first

Jesus didn’t come to instill a new religious order on earth. Rather, He came to establish a way of life. All Jesus wanted, and still wants, is for people to seek God with all their hearts (Matthew 6:33). Everything else falls into place once we get that part down. Why then does James call out requirements for religion God will accept, a true religion?

[Read more…] about True Religion

What Does Discipleship Look Like?

January 30, 2017 by Tim Sherfy

This entire blog is predicated around becoming a disciple of Jesus. But what does discipleship look like? How do we know if we are getting closer to the mark? I would say first, discipleship is a standard to be pursued, not a target to be hit. There will never be a day when you can sit back and exclaim, “Ah! At last I’ve reached discipleship!”

what does discipleship look like,mission,humility,discipleship,disciples of Christ,disciple of Christ,Jesus disciples,Jesus followers,commitment,Matthew 22:36-40,great commandment,Matthew 7:13-14,wide and narrow gate,Matthew 22:1-14,many are called but few are chosen,Matthew 25:31-46,sheep and the goats,James 1:27,orphans and widows,Isaiaih 58:5-6,true fast,chains of oppression

Being a disciple of Jesus is a process that will consume your entire lifetime. To be a disciple signifies nothing ever will mean more to you than desiring to live a life mirroring the life of Jesus. Discipleship is the total dedication of your life to His calling and purpose. To be a disciple is to be daily engaged in the mission of Christ.