Category Archives: God’s Work

Maybe It’s Time to Sharpen Your Blade

Posted on January 4, 2023 by russellmckinney

If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. (Ecclesiastes 10:10, N.K.J.V.) This verse teaches us the value of working smarter rather than harder. Obviously, sharpening the edge of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Bible Study, Change, Church Attendance, Commitment, Confession, Dying To Self, God's Will, God's Work, New Year, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Repentance, Sanctification, Scripture, Sin, Submission | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Importance of Speaking Up

Posted on December 13, 2022 by russellmckinney

In the summer of 2011, Tonya and I loaded the boys into the Dodge Caravan and headed down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for a vacation. Ryan was fourteen years old at the time and Royce was ten. One experience … Continue reading →

Posted in Church Discipline, Commitment, Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Will, God's Work, Honesty, Influence, Ministry, Obedience, Persecution, Personal, Problems, Reward, Sanctification, Service, Sin, The Tongue, Truth, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Harold & Ella Mae

Posted on December 5, 2022 by russellmckinney

Harold and Ella Mae were sitting on the front porch swing. Harold said, “Ella Mae, I wish I had the arms of the strongest man in the world. That way I could hold you like you ought to be held.” … Continue reading →

Posted in God's Work, Humor, Individuality, Ministry, Personal, Preaching, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Peter, Don’t Try to Be Paul

Posted on December 2, 2022 by russellmckinney

Have you ever read a passage that was written by the apostle Paul and thought, “That’s too hard for me to understand”? My guess is that most of us have been there. Even the apostle Peter sometimes had trouble with … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Good, God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Preaching, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Danger of Silence

Posted on November 18, 2022 by russellmckinney

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Adultery, Coming Judgment, Commitment, Communication, Criticism, Current Events, Doctrine, Doing Good, Drugs, Evangelism, Faithfulness, God's Work, Homosexuality, Influence, Ministry, Missions, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Politics, Preaching, Scripture, Service, Sin, The Bible, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can a Person Truly Change?

Posted on October 21, 2022 by russellmckinney

Can a person truly change? Mel Trotter did. Trotter was born to a Christian mother and an alcoholic father. By age 19, he was drinking heavily himself as well as gambling. He met and married a young woman and fathered … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Belief, Change, Choices, Depravity, Forgiveness, Gambling, God's Love, God's Work, Husbands, Influence, Marriage, Ministry, Problems, Repentance, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Job or A Ministry?

Posted on October 14, 2022 by russellmckinney

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry… (Ephesians 4:11-12, N.K.J.V.) I’ve highlighted the latter portion of this passage because … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, God's Work, Good Works, Individuality, Ministry, Pastors, Sanctification, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Conflict Within the Church

Posted on September 12, 2022 by russellmckinney

W.B. Riley, who served as the pastor of First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota, for some fifty years, told the following story: In my first pastorate, three of my church officials had refused for three full years to speak to … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Christian Unity, Church, Church Discipline, Confession, Deacons, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Forgiveness, God's Work, Influence, Pastors | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sunday School

Posted on August 29, 2022 by russellmckinney

Most people don’t know that the Sunday Schools of today’s churches bear little resemblance to the original Sunday Schools of England’s late 1700s. Those schools were quite literally places of basic education where poor children could learn to read and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Children, Church, Discipline, God's Work, Influence, Scripture, Sunday School, Teaching, The Bible, Youth | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Next Day

Posted on August 15, 2022 by russellmckinney

Let a man consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2, N.K.J.V.) One day some of Napoleon’s officers came to him … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Faithfulness, God's Work, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Righteousness | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment