Freedom through Faith (10-8-17 Formations)
Sometimes I think I've heard it all as people confronted me with my future: tarot cards, astrology's life-shaping power, a demon-possessed man threatening my soul and
Freedom Resisted (10-1-17 Formations)
The word “freedom” occurs more frequently in the letters of Paul than any other New Testament book. As Americans, we think of freedom as privacy in
Giving and Serving (9-24-17 Formations)
The needs of the world are overwhelming. When faced with a widespread disaster, such as the latest hurricane on the Gulf of Mexico coastal areas, we
Cheerful Giving (9-17-17 Formations)
The problem with success and prosperity is you can never get enough. We not only want to protect what we have gained, but we cultivate a
A Plan for Giving (9-10-17 Formations)
We were hosting a group of Chinese educators at Second Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo, as part of their tour across the U.S. Some of our guests
Giving of Oneself (9-3-17 Formations)
Years ago I knew the pastor of what was then reported to be the second largest Baptist church in Texas. Every September was “stewardship month” and
Honor God (8-27-17 Formations)
Waiting for a connecting flight in Dallas, I met an old friend headed to the opposite coast. As we sat and visited he showed me a
Return Blessing for Evil (8-20-17 Formations)
Over the years, whether I was doing research for a sermon, preparing to teach a class or trying to understand a person's expectations for our church,
Suffering and Submission (8-13-17 Formations)
Suffering and submission are not popular ideas. Control, winning, success, power: these are the ideas driving our culture. Unlike the Roman Empire in Peter's day, we
An Eternal Perspective (8-6-17)
A common dictionary description of “power” is the capacity to act or ability to accomplish a purpose. This morning I listened to news commentators discussing