Category Archives: Discipleship

The Desires of Your Heart

Posted on May 7, 2019 by russellmckinney

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4, N.K.J.V.) One interpretation of this verse contends that we shouldn’t take David’s words so simply and so literally. According to this interpretation … Continue reading →

Posted in Commitment, Desires, Discipleship, Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Will, Grace, Needs, Obedience, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Reward, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Plowing of the Wicked Is Sin

Posted on May 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. (Proverbs 21:4, N.K.J.V.) It’s easy to understand why God classifies a haughty (conceited) look as sin. It’s equally easy to understand why He classifies a proud … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Brokenness, Commitment, Decisions, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Influence, Obedience, Rebellion, Reward, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Sanctification, Service, Sin, Submission, Trusting In God, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Your Prayers Don’t Have to Be Perfect

Posted on April 30, 2019 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

What Bubba Smith Learned Too Late

Posted on April 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

Bubba Smith was an All-American football player at Michigan State. He is one of only three players from that program to have his jersey number retired. Following his collegiate career, he was the #1 overall pick of the 1967 NFL … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Character, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, Entertainment, Family, Gambling, God's Will, Holiness, Honesty, Influence, Justice, Personal Holiness, Righteousness, Sanctification, Separation, Sin, Sports, Temptation, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strange Looking Bread & Fish

Posted on April 15, 2019 by russellmckinney

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Attitude, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Disappointment, Discernment, Discipleship, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Work, Impatience, Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thy Rod & Thy Staff They Comfort Me

Posted on April 10, 2019 by russellmckinney

The 23rd Psalm is all about how the Lord leads His people. One of my favorite parts of the Psalm is verse 2: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (K.J.V.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Comfort, Depression, Disappointment, Discipleship, Discipline, Disobedience, Encouragement, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Rebellion, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Submission, Suffering, Temptation, The Devil, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Word About Greatness

Posted on April 8, 2019 by russellmckinney

“…whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, God's Work, Humility, Influence, Leadership, Ministry, Missions, Service | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Lot of Moving Parts But Not Much Production

Posted on April 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

There was once an inventor who built an amazing machine. It was six feet high and five feet long and had a total of 5,626 parts (wheels, gears, shafts, chains, belts, etc.), to say nothing of all the nuts, bolts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Church, Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Ministry, Priorities, Service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Difference Between Doors & Discipleship

Posted on March 25, 2019 by russellmckinney

Minister and author John Seamands tells the story of a German soldier who was wounded in battle. The wound was minor and the soldier wasn’t particularly concerned about it, but he was nevertheless ordered to go to the military hospital … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Elderly, Evangelism, Faithfulness, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Pastors, Sunday School, Teaching, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Behind the Times

Posted on March 22, 2019 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment