The problem with running the rat race is that even if you’re winning, you’re still just the “lead rat.”

Many of us live at an unsustainable pace. If we keep it up, we’re eventually going to crash—physically, mentally, spiritually, or all of the above.

Running on Empty

Take a moment and think about your “average” day. How much sleep do you get? Do you have difficulty shutting down your mind? When was the last time you felt genuinely rested?

How healthy is your diet? Do you take time to savor and enjoy a meal with family, or do you eat while working on or thinking about other things?

Is time your friend or a foe to be conquered? Do you rush from one task to the next without fully processing what you’ve just done? Are you constantly juggling personal demands, family responsibilities, and job requirements?

And what about your spiritual disciplines? Does your devotional life consist merely of a quick read from a devotional email? Are your only prayers offered before a meal or right before you need something from God?

Those are tough questions. Hopefully, you’ve stayed with me this far. Believe me, I’ve had as much trouble typing them as you may have had reading them.

Spiritual Balance Requires Intentionality

Living with a healthy spiritual and physical balance doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionality and effort. It’s no wonder Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:7 to train himself for godliness.

The word translated “train” is the same Greek word from which we get our English word “gym” and related terms. It describes the ongoing discipline of an athlete preparing for competition.

Just like an athlete, we need an intentional, specific, and rigorous plan to maintain spiritual balance. I can’t help you much with diet and exercise, nor am I qualified to speak to psychological health.

But I can offer some thoughts about spiritual balance. And I believe that when we get our spiritual priorities in order, we’re better equipped to address the other areas of life in a healthier way.

Psalm 46:10 provides a foundation for building an intentional plan for spiritual balance.

“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”

From Psalm 46:10, we can identify three useful practices to help us find spiritual balance amid the stress of daily life.

1. “Be Still…”

The verb translated “be still” carries the idea of letting go, relaxing one’s grip, or ceasing to struggle. In order to bring balance to our lives, we have to let go of the things we’re striving to control and make time to be alone with God.

The hectic pace of our lives doesn’t naturally allow for downtime. We have to intentionally make room for it and faithfully protect that time.

Right now, decide when you will schedule time with God in your day. Make it an appointment, and resolve not to “no-show” on God.

2. “Be Still and KNOW…”

Spiritual balance involves trusting what we know more than what we feel.

We may feel the need to be in control. Or we may feel that situations in our lives are hopeless. Our feelings, while very real to us, don’t always accurately reflect reality.

Commit to a Bible reading and meditation plan that involves more than just a quick verse on the run. Spend time in God’s Word and reflect on what it teaches you about Him, His work of grace, and the ways He is at work around you.

Lean into what you know more than what you feel.

3. “Be Still and Know That I AM GOD…”

One of the most important things to know about God is that He is not US. He is God!

When life seems out of control, it’s comforting to remember that HE is always in control.

He will be exalted. His sovereign purposes will prevail, even in the everyday affairs of life. And we can rest assured that when all is said and done, He will come out on top. Victory is assured.

We gain spiritual balance when we remember that victory doesn’t depend on us. We are active participants, but God is the ultimate victor.

Finding Your Balance

Sometimes, the rat race of life causes us to lose our focus and, as a result, our balance.

The key to living with healthy spiritual balance is to slow down, focus on God, live dependently on Him, and leave the results to Him.

I hope this has been encouraging and helpful. Feel free to use the Comments section to share how it has encouraged you or some ways you’ve found to slow down and focus on Him.

Some additional resources: (click on the links below)

Daily Bible Reading Plan through Philippians

Daily Bible Reading Plan through Colossians

Daily Bible Reading Plan through James

Praying the Names of God

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2 Corinthians 4:26-18

Sunday sermon November 1, 2026

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Sunday Sermon October 25, 2026

Hebrews 5:7-10

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1 Peter 1:6-9

Sunday Sermon - October 19, 2026

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Sunday Sermon, October 11, 2026

The key to growing in seasons in of suffering is to focus not on how we feel, but on what we know about God, His character, and His purpose for our life.

Today we look at 3 ways God uses our suffering to teach us about Himself and accomplish His purpose in our life.

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How many sermons have you heard in your lifetime?

Maybe you haven’t been a Christian long, and your catalog of sermon experiences is rather brief.

Or perhaps, like me, you have been a believer for most of your life and have heard more sermons than you can count.

But regardless of which category you fall into, how many of those sermons do you actually remember?

Let’s make it easier.

When was the last sermon you heard? What was it about? What specific truth did God speak to you through that sermon?

Are We Accountable for What We Hear?

If we’re not careful, listening to sermons can become a perfunctory task that we dutifully endure on Sunday.

We’re supposed to go to church, and sermons are part of “church,” so we sit through one.

But does God hold us accountable for how we listen to and learn from the preaching of His Word?

In Luke 8, Jesus told one of His best-known parables—the Parable of the Sower and the Soils.

After explaining the importance of the parables, Jesus warned His disciples:

“Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
—Luke 8:18

Notice what Jesus says: Take care how you hear.

Not just what you hear, but how you hear.

Are we paying attention? Are we listening to learn? Are we prepared to respond to what God teaches us?

We should be careful that we don’t find ourselves educated far beyond our obedience.

So how can we become better hearers of God’s Word?

1. Pray Before You Listen

Ask God to open your ears, your eyes, and your heart.

Pray before the sermon.

Pray before you go to church.

Pray on Saturday night.

Pray throughout the week.

A good pastor bathes the sermon he prepares in prayer. A good listener prays both for the pastor’s preparation to preach and for his own preparation to hear.

John Piper suggests what he calls the IOUS prayer:

I — Incline: “Incline my heart to your testimonies.” (Psalm 119:36)

O — Open: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

U — Unite: “Unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11)

S — Satisfy: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love.” (Psalm 90:14)

Before asking God to speak through the sermon, prepare yourself to listen.

2. Read the Passage in Advance

If you know the sermon text ahead of time, read it before Sunday.

Maybe even read it in several different translations.

Write down questions you have about the passage. Make note of things that stand out to you.

Then come to church already familiar with the text and ready to hear it explained.

3. Take a Bible to Church

Don’t rely solely on the Bible text displayed on the screen. Have a Bible in your hand—either a physical Bible or an electronic copy.

If you use an electronic Bible, turn off notifications, put your device in airplane mode, or activate Do Not Disturb.

Don’t let your Bible carrier become a distraction from your Bible.

If you use a physical Bible, I’d suggest leaving the study Bible at home. The temptation can be to compare the study notes with what the pastor is saying rather than simply listening to the sermon.

Study Bibles are great. Use them for study at home. On Sunday, focus on listening.

4. Take Effective Notes

I wouldn’t suggest trying to copy the pastor’s outline meticulously. Follow it generally, but leave yourself room to record more than his points.

As you listen, write down the thoughts, questions, convictions, and applications that come to mind.

I call this note-journaling rather than simply note-taking.

Don’t just write down what the pastor is saying. Write down what God is teaching you through His Word.

Then revisit those notes Sunday evening and several times during the week. Remind yourself of what you heard and what you intended to do about it.

5. Do What God Says

Finally—and most importantly—do something with what you hear.

One of the main points of Jesus’ warning to His disciples is that we are expected to respond faithfully to the truth we receive.

A sermon isn’t finished when the preacher says, “Amen.”

In one sense, that’s when our part begins.

Don’t listen for information. Listen for transformation.

Give It a Try

I can’t guarantee that any of these things will make your pastor a better preacher.

But I have a pretty good idea they’ll make you a better listener.

So here’s the question:

Which one of these will you do this week to prepare yourself for Sunday’s sermon?

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Even for the Christian, suffering is both inevitable and purposeful. But God uses our suffering to accomplish His purpose of remaking us in the image of Jesus.

Sunday sermon, October 4, 2026

1 Peter 4:12-19

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I was raised by loving parents in a good Christian home. I attended a solid, Bible-teaching church and received a good education at a Christian school. I married a wonderful and beautiful—and incredibly patient—wife, and we have an awesome daughter.

I’ve been blessed to spend my life serving God by leading and teaching His people.

Even if my life ended today, I would have no complaints. God has given me far more than I deserve.

But while I am deeply thankful for all God has done, I have a growing passion for whatever years He gives me:

I want to finish strong.

The Goal of Finishing Strong

One passage God has used to refocus my life is 2 Timothy 4:6–8:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

As Paul neared the end of his life, he looked forward to the reward that awaited him for faithfully serving Jesus.

Interestingly, heavenly rewards are not participation trophies. Paul could look back over his life and identify three things that characterized his faithfulness.

Those three things have increasingly shaped how I think about the rest of my own life.

Fight the Right Fight

Not every fight is worth fighting.

When Paul says he fought “the good fight,” he wasn’t simply saying that he did a good job fighting. Nor was he talking about some cause he personally decided was good.

He fought the good fight.

Paul didn’t get to pick his battle. His letters and the account of his ministry in Acts make it obvious what his fight was:

The gospel.

I have wasted a lot of life fighting a lot of good battles—politics, issues, church stuff, and things that seemed terribly important at the time.

Some of those things may have been worth caring about. But they were not the good fight.

I want to devote my remaining years to the fight that matters most: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After all, only the gospel is the power of God for salvation.

Run Your Course

The word Paul uses for “race” pictures a course or path.

The point is not simply that Paul ran. He ran the course God had laid out for him.

That’s what I want to do.

I want to finish my course.

I want to run the race God has set before me—not the race someone else thinks I should run.

I want His voice to direct every turn and twist in the path. I want Him to tell me when to brake and when to accelerate. He calls the pit stops. He tells me when to stay on the track.

The course belongs to Him.

My responsibility is to run it faithfully.

As Hebrews 12:1 puts it, I want to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Keep the Faith

I hear people say all the time, “You just gotta have faith!”

Okay. But faith in what? Or, more importantly, faith in whom?

Paul said he had kept the faith.

That meant he had guarded it against attack and decay. But it also meant that he had lived in obedience to it.

Paul didn’t try to change the truth to accommodate his culture or his circumstances.

There was no “your truth” and “my truth.”

There was the faith.

Jude described it as “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

We live in an age of relativism, and truth has become one of its casualties. But God’s Word has not changed.

So I want to learn it more deeply.

I want to teach it more clearly.

And I want to live it more carefully.

I want God’s Word to transform me—and, through my teaching, to be used by God to transform others.

I pray that God will keep me from becoming like so many we hear about who, somewhere along the way, changed their message.

By His grace, I want to remain true to Him and to His Word.

May He enable me to keep the faith.

It’s Never Too Late—or Too Early

I don’t know where you are in life.

You may be farther down the road than I am. Or perhaps you haven’t made nearly as many trips around the sun as I have.

Either way, finishing strong isn’t something you begin when you get old.

Finishing strong begins today.

Start where you are.

Ask God for the grace to fight the right fight, run the course He has given you, and keep the faith.

Then, however many miles remain, keep going.

May His grace not be in vain in our lives.

Let’s finish strong.

Sunday Sermon, September 27, 2026

Romans 8:31-39

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Ah, September! It’s the time of year when rabid fans come crawling out of the woodwork.

College football manages to elicit incredible passion from a lot of people. Fans wear their favorite team gear and display their team banners on their property.

You can usually identify a household’s allegiance by the flag flying somewhere on the house or in the yard.

Banners were important in the Bible, too. One example is found in Exodus 17:8–16.

The Story

While wandering through the wilderness, the Israelites came to a place near Mount Sinai called Rephidim. There they complained about having no water, and God miraculously supplied it from a rock.

While they were camped at Rephidim, another nomadic group, the Amalekites, attacked them.

The father of the Amalekites, Amalek, was the grandson of Esau. The wandering Israelites were the descendants of Jacob. Centuries before, Jacob had deceived his brother Esau and cheated him out of both the family birthright and their father’s blessing. Years of family turmoil and hostility were about to boil over.

A fierce battle ensued.

Moses stood atop a nearby hill and raised his staff over the battle. As long as he held the staff high, the Israelites prevailed. But when his arms grew weak and he could no longer hold up the staff, the Amalekites prevailed.

So Moses’ two assistants, Aaron and Hur, sat him on a rock and held up his arms. After an all-day battle, the Israelites prevailed.

To commemorate God’s miraculous help, Moses built an altar and named it in Hebrew Yahweh-Nissi—“The LORD Is My Banner.”

What Is a Banner?

When we think of a banner, we probably picture a flag or a piece of cloth flapping in the breeze. But in Old Testament times, a banner was more like a tall standard, elevated so that people could see it from a distance.

During troop movements and especially during battle, the banner served several important purposes.

First, it identified the army.

A soldier identified with the army whose banner he followed. To line up under a banner was to declare one’s allegiance to what—or whom—the banner represented.

Second, it oriented the army.

Things could get hectic on the battlefield. It would be easy for someone to lose his bearings and no longer know where he was. The banner was elevated high enough to be seen from a distance, allowing soldiers to regain their bearings in relation to it.

Third, it directed the army.

Wherever the banner went, the people followed. If you got ahead of it or fell too far behind, you became vulnerable.

How Is Yahweh Our Banner?

Those ancient purposes of a banner provide a helpful picture of what it means for the Lord to be our Banner.

First, our identity and allegiance belong ultimately to Jesus Christ.

Regardless of our other identities, who we are in Christ matters most.

On the cross, Jesus made it possible for us to belong to Him. Our identity in Him matters more than our ethnic or historical heritage. It matters more than our social or economic station in life. It gives us greater significance than our jobs, education, or accomplishments.

He is far more glorious than any other identity we could claim.

Second, Jesus and His Kingdom orient our lives.

Jesus provides the true perspective from which we can view and live life. He taught us to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and to trust our Father to provide what we need (Matthew 6:25–34).

When life gets confusing and we lose our bearings, we look again to our Banner.

Finally, Jesus directs our lives.

We follow Him as His Word directs us. Jesus said that those who hear His words and put them into practice are like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The storms came, but the house stood (Matthew 7:24–27).

Our Banner doesn’t merely identify us. He leads us.

How to Live Under His Banner

So what does living under the Lord’s banner look like in everyday life?

1. Trust God’s purposeful work in your life.

Trust that God’s intentional and purposeful power is at work in and around you. Look for His activity in your daily circumstances (Romans 8:28–29).

2. Read, study, and follow God’s Word daily.

God uses His Word to feed, shape, and direct your life. There are no shortcuts or secret hacks. Make a plan to read and study the Bible systematically (Psalm 119:105).

3. Depend on the Holy Spirit.

Ask the Holy Spirit each day to do the work in you that only He can do. Ask Him to bear His fruit through you.

You cannot produce His fruit simply by trying harder. Surrender to Him and depend on His help (Galatians 5:22–23).

One last word.

Living with Yahweh as your Banner is a daily adventure. Some days you will find yourself more closely aligned with Him than others.

But Jesus has purchased everything you need to live the life He intends you to live. He has made it possible.

Keep your eyes on the Banner.

March on!

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Sunday sermon September 20, 2026

Romans 8:28-30

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In one of the less famous Old Testament narratives, three kings learn some important lessons about God in the desert.

We need to learn the same truths.

The account is found in 2 Kings 3.

The Desert Experience

The king of Moab decided to stop paying his taxes to the king of Israel. Jehoram, king of Israel, enlisted the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom, another close ally. The three kings embarked on a “collections” mission against King Mesha of Moab.

The Bible says they took a “circuitous march” for seven days—a polite way of saying they got lost in the desert.

Eventually, they found themselves in a place where there was no water for them or their animals.

Jehoram immediately saw this as God’s plan to give them over to King Mesha. He was quite worried.

Jehoshaphat, who was faithful to Yahweh, had a different response. He sought out a prophet of Yahweh, who happened to be Elisha.

Elisha assured them that Yahweh had a plan. God would act in a miraculous way to fill the dry valley with water. They would not see it coming. It would happen suddenly.

Elisha added that this would be “a light thing” for Yahweh.

Easy. A piece of cake. No problem.

The kings and their entourage went to sleep in a dry valley.

They woke up in a dry valley.

No clouds. No rain. No overflowing river.

But at the time of the morning sacrifice, water began to flow. The whole valley filled with water. Yahweh acted suddenly and decisively to supply what they needed.

And, as He had promised, He gave the kings victory over Mesha as well.

When You Find Yourself in a Desert

So what does this have to do with me? And you?

We all find ourselves in some kind of desert from time to time.

It may be a spiritual desert where we miss close communion with God. Perhaps it is an emotional desert where we lack motivation and feel helpless. Sometimes it is a life-situation desert. Our finances, health, or relationships may wear us down to the point of exhaustion.

I am sure you can think of a few deserts you have visited in your lifetime.

And it seems that no matter how hard you try, you cannot find water in your desert. You try to “do your best,” but the harder you try, the drier your desert gets.

But I have some hopeful news for you.

God sees. He knows. He is in control. You can trust Him.

God is not obligated to fulfill YOUR plan, but He absolutely will bring His plan to pass.

And His plan is good.

Take courage from God’s Word:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
—Romans 8:28

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
—Romans 8:31–32

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
—Philippians 1:6

“…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
—Philippians 2:13

What to Do While You Wait

So what do we do in the desert while we wait for God to act?

Here are three things.

1. Stay in God’s Word.

Jehoshaphat had the good sense to inquire of a prophet of Yahweh. We exercise spiritual wisdom when we turn to God’s Word daily.

The desert is not the time to drift away from Scripture. It is the time to listen carefully to what God has already said.

Our circumstances may confuse us. God’s Word anchors us.

2. Be faithful in your current situation.

Waiting seasons are full of distractions. Daydreaming, diversion, and disconnecting may seem like pleasurable coping mechanisms. But God has us where He wants us in this particular season.

Be faithful in the daily tasks. Like the faithful servants in Matthew 25, be faithful with what is in front of you.

You may not be able to change your situation today, but you can honor God in it today.

3. Commit your desert to the Lord.

Pray about your desert. Ask God to intervene and to act in ways that bring HIM glory.

Psalm 37:4 tells us:

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

As we delight in Him, He shapes our desires around His. We learn to want what He wants and to trust Him with the outcome.

The Valley May Still Look Dry

That may be the hardest part of the story in 2 Kings 3.

The kings went to bed in a dry valley, and when they woke up, it was still dry.

Nothing they could see had changed.

Then God acted.

Maybe your valley still looks dry today. You do not see the clouds. You do not hear the rain. You cannot see where the water will come from.

Stay in His Word. Be faithful where you are. Commit your desert to Him.

The God who sees what you cannot see is still at work.

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God is at work in all of our life events to accomplish His purpose of making us more like Jesus. You can trust Him with your circumstances.

Romans 8:28-29

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“Am I my brother’s keeper?”

So responded Cain when God asked him about the whereabouts of his brother Abel.

Of course, the omniscient God knew what had happened and where Abel was. In fact, God responded to Cain by saying, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10).

Cain did not answer God’s question, although he knew the answer. He avoided owning reality by answering God’s question with an empty question of his own.

Through the years, people have used Cain’s response to God as their own excuse for not caring for others. When asked about someone, some will say, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

You may have heard that…or even said it. I hate to admit it, but I have.

What Is My Responsibility?

So, am I my brother’s—or sister’s—keeper?

My observation has been that most people fall into one of three categories in that regard.

Some get a little overly involved in others’ lives. They are what the Bible refers to as “busybodies.” We’ll address that in next week’s article.

Others are not involved at all. They live in their own little bubble and would rather not be involved with other people’s problems or needs.

Hopefully, this is a very small minority.

Still others have a circle of friends with whom they share life, some more closely than others. We may go weeks or months without being in touch, but eventually we catch up.

We genuinely care about each other, but sometimes life prevents us from being as proactive as we would like.

I think the answer to the brother’s keeper question can be found in the New Testament phrase “one another.”

One Alone Is Never One Another

The Greek word translated “one another,” or in some translations “each other,” occurs exactly 100 times in 94 verses.

Nearly half of those verses contain instructions about how Christians are to live in relationship with one another.

I hear people say sometimes, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.”

But you can’t “one another” by yourself.

You can’t “bear one another’s burdens” alone. You can’t “encourage one another” solo.

(For more on this, click here to read “Do I Have to Go to Church to Be a Christian?”)

But even apart from a church fellowship, we are surrounded every day by people who need our “one another” attention.

You never know what someone is facing, thinking, or feeling at any given moment.

All it takes is a little situational awareness of the people around us.

We can ask ourselves, “Who around me is struggling while I am busy criticizing or complaining about them?”

Or, “Whose burden am I making heavier instead of lighter?”

How Can I Be My Brother’s Keeper?

Let me end with four action steps you can take to become better at “one anothering.”

1. Pay attention.
Notice people. Watch for changes in behavior, such as withdrawal. Listen for unusual comments or words of discouragement. (Philippians 2:4)

2. Reach out.
Don’t wait for someone to come to you. Be proactive. Call. Text. Invite them to lunch or coffee. Take the initiative.

3. Build up.
Before criticizing, gossiping, or being negative about someone, find a way to speak encouraging words instead.

When my daughter was in elementary school, they were taught to pour into rather than dip out of someone’s “bucket of joy.”

I like that visual. (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Galatians 5:15)

4. Get involved.
Encouragement can only do so much. Sometimes we need to bear someone’s burden. Take a meal.

Make a visit.

Help solve a problem.

At other times, getting involved may mean helping that person find the appropriate help. (Galatians 6:2)

Am I my brother’s keeper?

According to the New Testament, the answer is yes.

I’m called to notice him, encourage him, build him up, and help carry his burden.

And so are you.

Today, ask God to show you at least one person who needs you to be a “one another” to them.

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The Holy Spirit is present with us when we suffer to use that suffering for God’s purpose in our lives.

Here are 3 ways the Holy Spirit works through our suffering.

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3 directions the Lord’s Supper should cause us to look.

1 Corinthians 11:19-30

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Some look at quiet quitting as a healthy decision to set boundaries that bring balance to life. Others fear quiet quitting may lead to a larger withdrawal of an individual from life’s responsibilities. I can see the merits of both perspectives, but have no interest in debating it as a workplace practice.

Quiet Quitting and Church

My concern is that I have seen evidence of a quiet quitting among church people over the last several years.

One of the most telling signs is how our definition of “regular attendance” has changed. There was a time when being a regular church attender meant being there most Sundays. Today, many who consider themselves regular attenders are present only once or twice a month.

The people haven’t necessarily disappeared. They just show up less often.

And attendance is no the only activity church members are quietly quitting. Giving is down significantly. Fewer people participate in small groups and ministry and mission activities.

As you think about your church, you can probably identify other areas of decline.

Why Are People Quitting?

A number of factors could contribute to this quiet quitting trend among church people.

Spiritual apathy is one contributing factor. People have grown cold in their devotion to Jesus. It’s not that they don’t love Jesus, at least somewhat. It’s that they love other things more.

Certainly the COVID pandemic is a contributing factor. Many churches temporarily suspended operations during the early days of the pandemic in the Spring of 2020.

Online streaming replaced in person worship. Zoom meetings replaced Bible study classes. And social distancing concerns got us out of the habit of ministering to people.

The Greatest Cause

But I think the greatest underlying contributing factor to quiet quitting in the church is an unbiblical understanding of the nature and purpose of the Church.

I’ve seen a growing wave of what I would call Christian Narcissism pervading churches. We have become church consumers rather than servants of Christ.

Let’s start with worship music. On one hand, we want it to be OUR music. We demand music that suits our taste.

On the other hand, many of the songs we sing focus on us and our needs. We love to sing about what God can do for us and how He makes us feel.

Oh, and if you think I am an old fogey griping about contemporary music, then you are mistaken. Old hymns and new music BOTH are replete with examples of “me-focused” singing. Take a gander through your hymnal. Check out your Spotify playlist. You’ll see it.

But the consumer mentality also shows itself in the complaints we hear about church.

“I am not being fed.”

“We are going somewhere that has ministry for us and our family.”

“I don’t like the way the church (fill in the blank).

I could go on, but you get the point. I am convinced that many church people do not see themselves as the Bride of Christ. They prefer Jesus to be a “friend with benefits.”

Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to lay down His life as a ransom for many.”

If Jesus came to serve rather than be served, who gives us a right to demand that we be served in the church. He calls us to serve in His power and for His Kingdom.

Where Do We Go from Here?

Only the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit will bring an end to this alarming trend of quiet quitting in church. I am praying that He will do what only HE can do: change hearts.

Maybe as you read this the Holy Spirit has touched your heart about some ways you have quietly quit church. That touch by the Holy Spirit is God’s grace extended to you. He is asking you to repent - own up to it. He promises to forgive you. And He’s calling you back to a deep love relationship with Jesus.

See yourself as not working for the church but serving Jesus. You may have quietly quit, but Jesus didn’t accept your resignation. He saved your place.

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Sunday Sermon - August 22, 2026

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In Christian circles, we often use the word stewardship in reference to money. Most churchgoers expect that a sermon with the word stewardship in the title will eventually be about giving more money.

But what if we thought about stewardship more broadly?

What if we considered the stewardship of our words?

The Gift—and Power—of Words

The English alphabet has only twenty-six letters, yet those letters can be arranged into thousands upon thousands of words.

God created us with the remarkable ability to form ideas in our minds and communicate them to others. He even designed an intricate system in our bodies that turns thoughts into spoken words.

Words are an incredible gift.

And like every gift from God, they are meant to be used wisely.

What the Bible Says About Our Words

James 3:1–12 reminds us that our words can both help and harm. It depends on how we use them.

In Matthew 12:33–37, Jesus teaches that our words reveal the condition of our hearts. We speak from what fills us.

Jesus essentially taught this principle long before Miranda warnings: What you say can—and will—be used as evidence about you.

In Ephesians 4:25–32, Paul urges us to use words that build up rather than tear down. We are to put away words that are false, corrupt, bitter, and angry, and replace them with words that are truthful, gracious, forgiving, and kind.

Our words matter to God.

Becoming Stewards of Our Words

My challenge is simple: See yourself as a steward of your words.

That begins by surrendering what we often assume is our “right” to say whatever we want.

We live in a culture that celebrates the right to “speak your mind” or “speak from the heart.” That would be fine if our minds and hearts were not affected by sin.

Instead of asking, Do I have the right to say this? we should ask, Does God want me to say this?

How different would our conversations be?

My grandmother used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

If everyone followed that advice, the world would be much quieter.

THINK Before You Speak

Years ago, I learned a simple acrostic that helps evaluate our speech. It encourages us to THINK before we speak.

Each letter represents a question to ask before our words leave our mouths.

T — Is It TRUE?

This question alone would stop much gossip.

Do I know this is true? Can I verify it from firsthand knowledge, or am I repeating something I heard?

Hearing something is not the same as needing to repeat it.

H — Is It HELPFUL?

Why am I saying this?

Will my words build someone up or tear them down? Will they improve the situation or make it worse?

And most importantly: Is my motive pure?

I — Is It INSPIRING?

What will my words produce?

Will they encourage someone or spur others “to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24)?

Not every sentence must be inspirational, but our words should generally strengthen others rather than weaken them.

N — Is It NECESSARY?

Does this need to be said?

What happens if I stay silent instead of speaking? Am I the right person to say it, or should someone else?

And even if it should be said, is this the right time?

Wisdom is not only knowing what to say, but when to say it.

K — Is It KIND?

How can I say this with grace and “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6)?

Kindness does not mean avoiding hard truths. Love sometimes requires difficult conversations.

But even hard truth can be spoken with grace.

Changing Our Words Begins Deeper

There is one challenge: our words do not begin in our mouths.

They begin in our minds and hearts.

To change our speech, we must first change our thinking. Philippians 4:8 gives a clear pattern:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

When our minds dwell on what is good, our words will begin to reflect it.

Because words flow from the heart, we must also guard what shapes it.

Galatians 5:16–23 describes the ongoing battle between the flesh and the Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Imagine how different our words would be if they consistently came from that kind of heart.

When God’s Word shapes our minds and God’s Spirit governs our hearts, we will begin to use our words wisely as faithful stewards.

And Yes, This Includes Social Media

There is one more place where we must practice stewardship of words: social media.

Everything Scripture says about speech applies to what we post, text, email, comment, and share.

Social media has given nearly everyone a public voice. Unfortunately, it has also encouraged the idea that we can say whatever we want simply because we have a platform.

But typed words are still words.

Before hitting Post, Send, or Reply, we should ask:

Is it true?
Is it helpful?
Is it inspiring?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?

Social media is simply another form of speech—and Christians are called to steward it well.

A Prayer for Our Words

One of the best prayers we can pray each day is found in Scripture:

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” —Psalm 141:3

Because in the end, our words are not truly ours.

They belong to the One who entrusted them to us.

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” —1 Corinthians 4:2

May we be faithful stewards—even of our words.

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