Christian Living
More Important than Church.
22/02/22
This post originated, and has been adapted from a text I recently sent to someone and I thought that the content would benefit others as well.
(For verse links, please click and read online)
Did you know that there are things that are more important than going church?
There is salvation, telling others the gospel, but what I am referring to in this post is walking with God. Personally walking with God is more important than going to church.
In Genesis 6:9, the Bible tells us that Noah walked with God, but…
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15
I love my time with God every day and I learn so much. He teaches me so many things, beyond what I could ever teach or preach in a hundred years of sermons. The word of God has changed my life.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” -2 Timothy 3:16-17
For the last two years, I have taught on "How to Study the Bible" in our Sunday Bible Class, sharing tools and the importance of properly interpreting the Bible. These studies were posted online to download. In 2019, I single-handedly printed, laminated, cut, and handed out copies of the Professor Horner Bible reading schedule for all of our church people. I did these things because if there is one lesson a Christian must learn, it is to have a personal walk with God. If we miss that, we miss out on the blessings of the Christian life entirely. If someone is truly born again, the Holy Spirit will open the Bible to them, speak to them through God's Word, and give them understanding.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." -John 14:26
For those who are not saved, it will be hidden to them. Like gibberish. Do you have trouble understanding the Bible?
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." -2 Corinthians 4:4
Please don't misunderstand me, I am in no way diminishing the utmost importance of joining a sound, Bible centred church.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." -Hebrews 10:25
But even joining a doctrinally sound church cannot replace a personal walk with God. We each need to learn how to study the Bible and pray on our own, because no one can walk with God for us. We must learn to feed ourselves on the truth of the scriptures (Matthew 4:4) and learn the voice of the Shepherd, so we can discern truth. God cannot truly lead and guide us if we do not have a real walk with Him. If we are not studying and following the word of God than we are going to follow our flesh emotions and feelings.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" -Jeremiah 17:9
I will pray that God’s word will become the foundation of your life.
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" -Ephesians 2:20 Read the rest of the article…
(For verse links, please click and read online)
Did you know that there are things that are more important than going church?
There is salvation, telling others the gospel, but what I am referring to in this post is walking with God. Personally walking with God is more important than going to church.
In Genesis 6:9, the Bible tells us that Noah walked with God, but…
Have YOU learned to have a personal walk with God?
There is nothing in this world that can replace focused study in the word of God yourself, with an open Bible and a notebook, asking God to teach you from His word, then writing down what He teaches you. No amount of church attendance, spiritual books, youtube preachers, Bible college classes, praise and worship, or some kind of experience can replace a personal walk with God. This is a time when God speaks directly to you through His word.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15
I love my time with God every day and I learn so much. He teaches me so many things, beyond what I could ever teach or preach in a hundred years of sermons. The word of God has changed my life.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” -2 Timothy 3:16-17
For the last two years, I have taught on "How to Study the Bible" in our Sunday Bible Class, sharing tools and the importance of properly interpreting the Bible. These studies were posted online to download. In 2019, I single-handedly printed, laminated, cut, and handed out copies of the Professor Horner Bible reading schedule for all of our church people. I did these things because if there is one lesson a Christian must learn, it is to have a personal walk with God. If we miss that, we miss out on the blessings of the Christian life entirely. If someone is truly born again, the Holy Spirit will open the Bible to them, speak to them through God's Word, and give them understanding.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." -John 14:26
For those who are not saved, it will be hidden to them. Like gibberish. Do you have trouble understanding the Bible?
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." -2 Corinthians 4:4
Please don't misunderstand me, I am in no way diminishing the utmost importance of joining a sound, Bible centred church.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." -Hebrews 10:25
But even joining a doctrinally sound church cannot replace a personal walk with God. We each need to learn how to study the Bible and pray on our own, because no one can walk with God for us. We must learn to feed ourselves on the truth of the scriptures (Matthew 4:4) and learn the voice of the Shepherd, so we can discern truth. God cannot truly lead and guide us if we do not have a real walk with Him. If we are not studying and following the word of God than we are going to follow our flesh emotions and feelings.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" -Jeremiah 17:9
I will pray that God’s word will become the foundation of your life.
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" -Ephesians 2:20 Read the rest of the article…
Why, As a Pastor, I Can’t Counsel Christians
03/08/21
I have found over the years that there are many Christians who desperately need counselling. 
They are facing depression, drug abuse (including Alcohol), marriage problems, anger problems and all sorts of issues. These are all serious problems and if left to them selves, they can result in devastating consequences.
Unfortunately, I can’t counsel many of these people and there are four main reasons why this is the case. Read the rest of the article…
Unfortunately, I can’t counsel many of these people and there are four main reasons why this is the case. Read the rest of the article…
Why I Overreact All the Time and What to Do About It
27/07/21
Thank you for spending time reading this article. It is our prayer that it will be helpful in your Christian life and help you learn how to deal with overreacting. Our greatest desire is that you would be encouraged in the Lord today!
Dear Friend-Overreacting is the Mark of Spiritual Immaturity
Do you think you are an over-reactor? After a situation comes up, do you wish you had responded differently? In the church and home today many serious problems happen because of people overreacting. It is epidemic today! When we Biblically counsel people for marriage issues they are well down the road of the super over-reactor! Let’s face it, we are all prone to overreacting at times. However, that is not the way God wants us to live. Sadly, the church today is filled with people who overreact and the Holy Spirit is grieved by this behaviour.
Overreacting can lead to anger, bittiness, and clamouring (public quarrelling)
Ephesians 4:29-31, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
When “let” is used at the start of a verse it means someone has to make a decision. One of the signs you can tell if a person is overreacting is how much and the way they talk. They will talk about a situation, person, or event incessantly. The more they talk the more they are going to overreact! They blow it up and way out of proportion. When you find yourself talking too much or excessively negatively, remember who is controlling you-Satan, not the Holy Spirit.
Many couples work each other up because they… Read the rest of the article…
Dear Friend-Overreacting is the Mark of Spiritual Immaturity
Do you think you are an over-reactor? After a situation comes up, do you wish you had responded differently? In the church and home today many serious problems happen because of people overreacting. It is epidemic today! When we Biblically counsel people for marriage issues they are well down the road of the super over-reactor! Let’s face it, we are all prone to overreacting at times. However, that is not the way God wants us to live. Sadly, the church today is filled with people who overreact and the Holy Spirit is grieved by this behaviour.
Overreacting can lead to anger, bittiness, and clamouring (public quarrelling)
Ephesians 4:29-31, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
When “let” is used at the start of a verse it means someone has to make a decision. One of the signs you can tell if a person is overreacting is how much and the way they talk. They will talk about a situation, person, or event incessantly. The more they talk the more they are going to overreact! They blow it up and way out of proportion. When you find yourself talking too much or excessively negatively, remember who is controlling you-Satan, not the Holy Spirit.
Many couples work each other up because they… Read the rest of the article…
Is a “Little Anger” OK?
01/04/19
(Below is an excerpt of an email from Dr. S. M. Davis who has brilliant, helpful sermon counselling videos)
I had given my message on “ANGER THE DESTROYER” at a church and was standi
ng at my table in the church’s foyer. A man came walking up to me and with an Angry Spirit (that he didn’t know he had) said, “Well, I heard everything you just said and I still think a little anger is alright! The difference in you and me is that you raised all girls and I had a houseful of boys and if you don’t get angry with boys sometime they won’t do what you want them to do! You have to have anger if you’re going to raise boys!”
Wow! Where do I start in answering that?!
I assured him that I knew what it was like to use anger when… Read the rest of the article…
I had given my message on “ANGER THE DESTROYER” at a church and was standi
Wow! Where do I start in answering that?!
I assured him that I knew what it was like to use anger when… Read the rest of the article…
Jesus Did, or Didn't, Do Enough On The Cross?
08/02/19
Recently I received a question about a verse in Colossians 1. If the verse is read alone, one would perceive it to say that the Apostle Paul had to sacrifice to add to Jesus’ work on the cross. 
This fact would mean that His sacrifice for our sins was not enough. The verse to which I am referring to in Colossians 1:24 in which the Apostle Paul states "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:”
When approaching a verse like this, one must first realise that there are difficult verses in the Bible. The Apostle Peter stated in 2 Peter 3:16, "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” So there are going to be… Read the rest of the article…
When approaching a verse like this, one must first realise that there are difficult verses in the Bible. The Apostle Peter stated in 2 Peter 3:16, "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” So there are going to be… Read the rest of the article…
Brilliant Bible Reading System
22/01/19
Recently I came across a brilliant, life changing,
Bible reading system. I have been so impressed with it that I wanted to write about it and tell others on the church blog. It is probably one of the best systems to get to know your Bible from front to back, inside and out. It is called...
Read the rest of the article…
Read the rest of the article…
Only One Life...
05/01/19
In 1860 a child was born to a wealthy English family and his name was C.T. Studd (Charles Thomas Studd). 
C.T.Studd was saved during a revival meeting in England and known as a cricketer, but he was most noted for his missionary work in China. Following is an inspirational and convicting poem that he wrote during his lifetime.
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before…
Modern Day Pharisees
29/12/18
With even a casual read through the Gospels, you will find a group of individuals called the Pharisees. They continually pop up
here and there and most of the time challenging Jesus’ teachings. It is a common belief that the Pharisees were the ones who strictly followed the Bible and the Biblical laws. I would dare say that many of the Jews at the time of Christ also believed this to be the case. According to the Bible, what the Pharisees did was twist......
Read the rest of the article…
Read the rest of the article…
Depressed Christians
18/12/18
Depression is a genuine thing that many people face, even Christians. Several different things can cause a person to suffer depression in their life. Throughout the Bible, you will find great men and women, from King David to the Apostle Paul, who faced times of depression in their lives, as did Charles Hadden Spurgeon.
The following quote by Charles Haddon Spurgeon is from the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 1881, vol. 27, p. 1595:
"I know that wise brethren say, 'You should not give way to feelings of depression.'...
If those who blame quite so furiously could once know what depression is, they would think it cruel to scatter blame where comfort is needed. There are experiences of the children of God which are full of spiritual darkness; and I am almost persuaded that those of God's servants who have been most highly favoured have, nevertheless, suffered more times of darkness than others. Read the rest of the article…
The following quote by Charles Haddon Spurgeon is from the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 1881, vol. 27, p. 1595:
"I know that wise brethren say, 'You should not give way to feelings of depression.'...
Should we go to church on Sunday?
21/08/18
Should we go to church on Sunday? What is the answer?
The answer for most people is that everyone goes to church on Sundays, people throughout history have gone to church on Sundays (Catholic and Protestant), it is a Christian tradition to attend church on Sundays. Others might say, that we should worship the Lord every day and that we do not need to meet on Sundays. There are others who say that we should meet on Saturdays since that is when Jesus went to the synagog. There are yet others who believe that Sundays are the new Sabbath and that we ought to observe Sundays as the Jews observed Saturdays. What is the answer?
Read the rest of the article…
The answer for most people is that everyone goes to church on Sundays, people throughout history have gone to church on Sundays (Catholic and Protestant), it is a Christian tradition to attend church on Sundays. Others might say, that we should worship the Lord every day and that we do not need to meet on Sundays. There are others who say that we should meet on Saturdays since that is when Jesus went to the synagog. There are yet others who believe that Sundays are the new Sabbath and that we ought to observe Sundays as the Jews observed Saturdays. What is the answer?
Read the rest of the article…
Scientists say health benefits from alcohol may be greatly exaggerated
16/01/17
The Bible tells us;
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."
Isaiah 5:11 "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!"
Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"
These verses go contrary to popular opinion, as well as many "scientific studies" that tout the benefits of drink, until now. Read the rest of the article…
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."
Isaiah 5:11 "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!"
These verses go contrary to popular opinion, as well as many "scientific studies" that tout the benefits of drink, until now. Read the rest of the article…
Top Ten Quotes of Jesus Christ
16/11/16
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. —Luke 4:22
The Pharisees and chief priest sent officers to take Jesus (John 7:32). When the officers returned empty handed, they were asked, “Why have ye not brought him?” The officers could only say, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:45-46).
So true. No one ever spoke or said things that Jesus said. Many of His statements go completely contrary to the philosophies of this world. Consider these ten amazing statements made by the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Matthew 19:26 "With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible."
2. Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, Read the rest of the article…
The Pharisees and chief priest sent officers to take Jesus (John 7:32). When the officers returned empty handed, they were asked, “Why have ye not brought him?” The officers could only say, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:45-46).
So true. No one ever spoke or said things that Jesus said. Many of His statements go completely contrary to the philosophies of this world. Consider these ten amazing statements made by the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Matthew 19:26 "With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible."
2. Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, Read the rest of the article…