Category Archives: Belief

A Night in the Barn

Posted on September 28, 2026 by russellmckinney

One day a young boy committed a very serious offense. When the boy’s strict father heard about it, he said to the boy, “Son, no one can commit such an act and still sleep under my roof. You must spend … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Children, Christ's Birth, Christ's Death, Discipline, Fatherhood, God's Holiness, God's Love, Grace, Guilt, Parenting, Salvation, Sin, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Jesus Believe the Opening Chapters of Genesis?

Posted on September 9, 2026 by russellmckinney

I can’t think of any section of the Bible that is as doubted, maligned, and ridiculed as the opening chapters of Genesis. Even some professing Christians do interpretative backflips around the straightforward storyline presented by these chapters. How the critics … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Bible Study, Christ's Second Coming, Christ's Return, Creation, Dinosaurs, Doubt, God's Omnipotence, God's Word, Life On Other Planets, Satan, Scripture, The Bible, The Devil, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Becoming a Citizen of Christ’s Kingdom

Posted on August 29, 2026 by russellmckinney

Series: “Christ’s Kingdom” (post #3) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ… (Philippians 3:20, N.K.J.V.) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Eternity, Heaven, Reward, Salvation, Satan, Series: "Christ's Kingdom", The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Kill Worry

Posted on August 21, 2026 by russellmckinney

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1, N.K.J.V.) Clovis Chappell, the great Methodist preacher, once told the following story: In the early days of aviation, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Belief, Bible Study, Comfort, Depression, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Word, Inner Peace, Needs, Prayer, Problems, Scripture, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry, Worship | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Has God Told You Something Lately?

Posted on July 31, 2026 by russellmckinney

Jesus remained completely silent when He stood before Herod Antipas for questioning (Luke 23:6-12). Nothing Antipas said or asked evoked a verbal response from Jesus. What made Christ’s behavior in this instance so strange was the fact that He didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Choices, Commitment, Conviction, Decisions, Disobedience, God's Wrath, God's Guidance, God's Judgment, God's Will, God's Word, Idolatry, Obedience, Prophecy, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sin, The Bible, The Gospel, Truth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Prayers Don’t Have to Be Perfect

Posted on July 17, 2026 by russellmckinney

Acts 12:1-19 records the story of Peter’s prison break. The story begins with Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, having Peter arrested and incarcerated in a Roman prison in Jerusalem. Herod is riding high because he has … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Belief, Comfort, Confession, Discipleship, Doubt, Dying To Self, Encouragement, Faith, Fatherhood, Fear, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Work, Grace, Honesty, Influence, Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Repentance, Submission, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Behind the Times

Posted on June 17, 2026 by russellmckinney

A devout old Christian was visited by his grandson who was on Spring Break from college. “How are you doing, Gramps?” asked the grandson. “Fine, just fine,” said the old man. “How is school going?” the old man asked. Are … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Aging, Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Capital Punishment, Children, Coming Judgment, Commitment, Creation, Current Events, Discernment, Discipleship, Discipline, Doctrine, Elderly, Eternity, Faithfulness, Family, Fatherhood, God's Holiness, God's Omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's Word, Government, Heaven, Hell, Homosexuality, Husbands, Marriage, Motherhood, Salvation, Scripture, The Bible, The Death Penalty, The Gospel, Trusting In God, Truth, Wisdom, Wives, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Lord Our Provider

Posted on May 27, 2026 by russellmckinney

Series: “The Names of God” (post #2) Most Bible readers know the story of God testing Abraham by asking him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:1-19). What isn’t so well known is that the story … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Belief, Christ's Birth, Christ's Death, Christ's Miracles, Christ's Resurrection, Crucifixion, Eternal Security, Eternity, Forgiveness, God's Love, God's Wrath, God's Mercy, God's Name, God's Provision, Grace, Heaven, Hell, Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Sacrifice, Salvation, Series: "The Names of God", Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If in This Life Only…

Posted on April 28, 2026 by russellmckinney

Sometimes you’ll hear a preacher make the statement, “Even if there is no heaven, the benefits you receive in this life make it worth it to follow Jesus.” I remember saying this myself a time or two in my younger … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Bible Study, Christ's Resurrection, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Eternity, Forgiveness, Heaven, Missions, Money, Pastors, Prayer, Preaching, Revenge, Reward, Sacrifice, Salvation, Service, Stewardship, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can Prayer Change God’s Mind?

Posted on April 8, 2026 by russellmckinney

A reader, Paula Jarvis Garland, wrote to me: “Here’s my question: If everything is predestined, then how does prayer change things? Can our prayers cause God to change his mind?” The question is actually two questions, one concerning predestination and … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Desires, Election, Eternal Security, Eternity, Faith, God's Omnipotence, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Work, Heaven, Influence, Man's Freewill, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reward, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments