Category Archives: Discernment

Women & Spiritual Discernment

Posted on July 25, 2021 by russellmckinney

If you come to me and say in a nice way, “Russell, sometimes you have a problem with your temper,” you will be telling me the truth. (My wife and sons will vouch for that.) You will also, in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Deacons, Discernment, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Headship, Husbands, Leadership, Marriage, Motherhood, Pastors, Politics, Preaching, Service, Submission, Uncategorized, Wives, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Can’t Fool Jesus

Posted on July 12, 2021 by russellmckinney

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Christ's Miracles, Discernment, Faith, God's Omniscience, Salvation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver

Posted on July 9, 2021 by russellmckinney

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. (Proverbs 25:11, N.K.J.V.) Ed Young Sr., using this verse as the text for a daily devotion, writes the following: In ancient times, when an oriental king gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Criticism, Discernment, Encouragement, God's Work, Influence, Leadership, Service, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why the World Is Like It Is

Posted on June 25, 2021 by russellmckinney

Satan (Lucifer, the Devil) wasn’t the only angel who once rebelled against God. Revelation 12:3-4 uses symbolic imagery to tell us that one-third of all the angels aligned themselves with Satan during that rebellion. Those verses depict Satan as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Angels, Backsliding, Current Events, Demons, Depravity, Discernment, Disobedience, God's Work, Government, Problems, Rebellion, Salvation, Satan, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Submission, Suffering, The Devil | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Translation Issues from the Life of David

Posted on June 16, 2021 by russellmckinney

On Wednesday nights for the past several months, I’ve been preaching a series of sermons on the life of David. As part of my studying to prepare those sermons, I’ve had to deal with a couple of textual difficulties. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Discernment, Discipleship, God's Word, King James Only, Preaching, Scripture, The Bible | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Having Spiritual Discernment

Posted on June 11, 2021 by russellmckinney

1 John series: (post #12) This post marks the conclusion to our series from 1 John. As we have learned from the series, John uses his book to name at least ten identifying characteristics of authentic Christianity. In other words, … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Discernment, Preaching, Salvation, Series: "1 John", The Holy Spirit, Truth | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Curious Case of the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, & Manasseh

Posted on May 3, 2021 by russellmckinney

God had given the land of Canaan to Israel (Abraham’s descendants, the Jews). Some forty years after unbelief and cowardice cost them their first opportunity to make the land their own (Numbers 14:1-38), God again guided them to its brink … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, God's Will, Impatience, Patience, Temptation, Waiting | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

7 Don’ts For Social Media

Posted on April 9, 2021 by russellmckinney

Facebook. YouTube. Instagram. Twitter. TikTok. Snapchat. Pinterest. Twenty years ago, who could have dreamed that these names would become as much a part of the younger generation’s world as Woolworth’s, Sears, Texaco, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Pan Am, Kodak, and Polaroid were … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Discernment, Entertainment, Individuality, Personal Holiness, Priorities | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Beware of the Dead Snake

Posted on April 5, 2021 by russellmckinney

Forty-year-old Jeremy Sutcliffe of Corpus Christi, Texas, made national news a couple of years ago when he almost died from a rattlesnake bite. Even more than being featured on the news, the story also received mention on the channels Animal … Continue reading →

Posted in Demons, Discernment, Personal Holiness, Prophecy, Repentance, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, The Devil | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Wrong Kind of Service to God

Posted on March 25, 2021 by russellmckinney

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. (John 16:2, N.K.J.V.) Could a society ever become so warped as to think that serving God … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Discernment, God's Name, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Pastors, Preaching, Service, Truth, War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment