Posts with the category “lifestyle”

Tithing As A Spiritual Discipline

by John Kelley on November 22nd, 2024

Tithing isn’t about “God NEEDS your money.” It’s more about “God WANTS you to NEED and TRUST Him.”   Read More

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The Biblical Foundation of Giving

by John Kelley on November 1st, 2024

When it comes to giving, let's remember that it's not just about money. It's about our hearts, our trust in God, our commitment to being true disciples of Christ and being thankful for all that He has given us.  Read More

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U-N-I-T-Y

by John Kelley on October 28th, 2024

Let's get real for a second. Unity isn't always easy. We all have our quirks and differences, and sometimes those can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts. We can have the best intentions, yet our follow-through can be lacking.  Read More

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Our Supernatural Helper

by John Kelley on October 24th, 2024

Why do so many get caught up in the idea of the supernatural but don't take it seriously when it comes to our faith?  Read More

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Choose a Side

by John Kelley on August 28th, 2024

God isn’t Santa Clause, a genie in a bottle, or a wishing stone. God doesn’t exist for our benefit. God is God. We need to stop acting like He has to obey our every whim and understand that His ways are better than our ways.  Read More

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Power is a Drug

by John Kelley on August 26th, 2024

Here’s the funny thing about power. In order to satisfy that hunger, you have to have more than the others around you. Otherwise, you don’t really have power, because others don’t have to bow to you.  Read More

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The Automatic Garage Door Is Evil

by John Kelley on August 22nd, 2024

Love isn’t easy, and it isn’t cheap. Truly loving one another only comes through time and connection.  Read More

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Discipline

by John Kelley on August 21st, 2024

Discipline is one of those things that isn’t fun to talk about, but it is so important in the life of a disciple. Notice, the root of “discipline” is “disciple”.  Read More

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Death to Life

by John Kelley on August 20th, 2024

Jesus didn’t die for the perfect. He died for the selfish, spiteful, undeserving, and hateful. He died to give us hope. He died to make the imperfect perfect.  Read More

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Expectation

by John Kelley on August 19th, 2024

When we walk as disciples of Christ, we walk with confidence in knowing that we win in life and in death.  Read More

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Obedience

by John Kelley on August 15th, 2024

Obedience isn’t a thumb being pressed down on us. It’s a key unlocking shackles that hold us down in sin and death.  Read More

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Selflessness

by John Kelley on August 14th, 2024

When we live out our freedom, we realize that we are free to love and serve others. Our joy is no longer in feeding our stomachs or bank accounts. Instead, we find joy in following Christ’s commands and example. Putting others first isn’t a chore. It’s pure enjoyment.  Read More

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Gratitude

by John Kelley on August 13th, 2024

It is impossible to lift your eyes when you have your hand on the plow every day. Work takes focus. Rest helps us refocus. With that refocus comes gratitude.  Read More

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Tension

by John Kelley on August 12th, 2024

What is more hateful? Is it rebuking a brother or sister when they are incorrect, or is it letting them continue to spread false teaching? Is it better to keep the peace by letting a brother or sister keep living in sin, or is it better to correct them in love?  Read More

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You Become What You Worship

by John Kelley on July 3rd, 2024

You’ve probably heard, “You are what you eat.” I’d take it a step further and say, “You become what you worship.”  Read More

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It's Not Ours

by John Kelley on July 2nd, 2024

One of the flaws of greed is the feeling that we are defined by what we have; better houses, cars, jobs, and social standing. Jesus tells us that these do not define us.  Read More

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Let’s Get It Right

by John Kelley on June 25th, 2024

As disciples of Christ, the Word of God must be our ultimate authority. We can’t be lazy and simply accept any teaching that we hear. We MUST hold it up against God’s Word and see if it matches up.   Read More

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I Just Can’t Do It

by John Kelley on June 24th, 2024

To love God and love your neighbor as yourself, we need to follow God’s commands. Not doing so is disobedience and rebellion, which are the opposite of love.  Read More

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Chocolate Eclairs Won’t Save You

by John Kelley on June 19th, 2024

One of the most dangerous aspects of gluttony is idolatry. We turn food into something more than the fuel for our bodies that it was designed to be.   Read More

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Food Is A Terrible Counselor

by John Kelley on June 18th, 2024

Food is not your psychologist, your life coach, or your treatment program. It’s there to feed your body what it needs to live. When it goes beyond that and becomes our savior, it begins to take the place of our true Savior, Jesus.  Read More

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Our God Is Not Our Stomach

by John Kelley on June 17th, 2024

Gluttony is the sin no one likes talking about, and that is for good reason. It is the sin that has become acceptable in the Church.  Read More

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We Can Be Like God

by John Kelley on June 12th, 2024

...pride then leads us to a need for power to have control over those who are of less worth. We are not God, but that very desire to be equal to Him has been around since before the earth.  Read More

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Rich Beyond Measure

by John Kelley on June 11th, 2024

This is what the lust of money does to us. It closes our hands. Instead of holding them open and allowing God to use our funds, we keep them tightly closed to prevent any of them from going away.  Read More

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Walk By The Spirit

by John Kelley on June 10th, 2024

What would make someone throw away years of a Godly marriage and ruin the lives of three beautiful children? Lust. It’s been one of Satan’s favorite weapons against humanity for thousands of years.  Read More

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Don't Hurt Yourself

by John Kelley on June 5th, 2024

Pride is really the opposite of humility. While humility says, “I will treat others as better than myself,” pride says, “I am better.” This is the inherent evil of pride.  Read More

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When I Think I’m God

by John Kelley on June 3rd, 2024

We need to decide where we stand on pride. We can’t let it direct our path. It only leads to one place.  Read More

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Victory In Death

by John Kelley on May 22nd, 2024

Hope is one of the greatest tools of the Christian. It is with hope that we continue on in hard times. It is with hope that we realize this world is not our home.  Read More

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Sacrifice is Freedom

by John Kelley on May 21st, 2024

When we put everything we are, everything we own, and everything we love under God’s authority, allowing Him unfettered access to all of it, that’s when we find ourselves living in a way that far exceeds any other lifestyle you could ever find.  Read More

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The Winning Team

by John Kelley on May 17th, 2024

There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Our sin casts a shadow far too dark for our works to shed light on it. Only the blood of Jesus can do that. However, what we do matters for eternity.  Read More

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Absence Is True Punishment

by John Kelley on May 15th, 2024

The single greatest part of Heaven will be the physical presence of God. Hell is the polar opposite. There is no presence of God.  Read More

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Heaven Isn’t Too Far Away

by John Kelley on May 14th, 2024

God designed the Garden of Eden for man to walk with Him physically. We read in Genesis that Adam walked with God in the garden, and they talked. They hung out. This was God’s intention all along.  Read More

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We'll Live Forever

by John Kelley on May 13th, 2024

Eternity. Want to make your head spin and get a weird feeling in the pit of your stomach? Try to think about eternity. Even better, try to comprehend eternity.  Read More

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As For Me And My House…

by John Kelley on May 10th, 2024

The most important discipleship you will do will be inside the walls of your house, on family vacations, and going out to eat. How you react to tough situations, the way you spend your time, and how often you pray will all be viewed through the most impressionable eyes in your world.  Read More

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We Can't Do It Alone

by John Kelley on May 9th, 2024

Discipleship isn’t a program we do. It’s pouring ourselves into people.  Read More

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You Play To Win The Game

by John Kelley on May 7th, 2024

Many would see following Christ as the easiest part of being a disciple, but it may be the hardest, and it is definitely the most pivotal.  Read More

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Catch Some Fish

by John Kelley on May 6th, 2024

Discipleship is not a program. It’s not a “6 months and move on” kind of thing. It took Jesus three years to train the disciples, and He was the Son of God.  Read More

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The Mob

by John Kelley on April 25th, 2024

How can we play prosecutor if we are guilty as well? We all want grace when it comes to our sin, but are we willing to extend that to others?  Read More

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The Mob

by John Kelley on April 25th, 2024

How can we play prosecutor if we are guilty as well? We all want grace when it comes to our sin, but are we willing to extend that to others?  Read More

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I Was Wrong, You Were Right

by John Kelley on April 24th, 2024

Most sin starts with selfishness. I want what I want, and I don’t want to wait for what I want. When self becomes our biggest motivator, we can convince ourselves that everything we do is fine as long as it makes us happy.   Read More

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Grace Is Free, But It Isn't Cheap

by John Kelley on April 23rd, 2024

We hold our leaders to a different standard, and we absolutely should. However, there is no one who is without sin. There is no one who can say they’ve lived the perfect life.  Read More

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