In 1 Timothy 3, ,Paul tells Timothy, “Those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” This statement is a reminder to me that the office of deacon doesn’t originate in the mind of a mere man. Deacons are Jesus’ idea. He was the one who established this office through the ministry ...

A couple Sundays ago, we kicked off “Operation Andrew,” a church-wide effort to pray for those who don’t know Christ and invite them to believe in Jesus. So far, I’ve challenged you to (1) List the names of ten people who don’t know Christ and pray for them every day, and (2) let them know you’re praying for them. How’s it going? ...

At the turn of the year, we have a chance to make a positive, intentional change. The problem is that we grow impatient: we set ambitious goals and get frustrated because we don’t see any immediate progress. But it’s the tiny improvements we make that are likely to have the greatest impact in the long run. This week, I challenge you to consider three small life changes...