Category Archives: Holiness

What Bubba Smith Learned Too Late

Posted on July 15, 2026 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

The First Church Scandal

Posted on February 27, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #9) I don’t care how smoothly a church is humming along, it isn’t immune from scandal. The problem is that people can’t help but be people. They are sin-marred individuals who are members … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Church, Deacons, Depravity, Discernment, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, Holiness, Hypocrisy, Lying, Ministry, Money, Pastors, Personal Holiness, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Sin, Temptation, The Holy Spirit, The Sin Unto Death | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Disciple’s Road Bible Study Guide

Posted on November 10, 2025 by russellmckinney

There is a God. (Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1) a. Creation proves His existence: Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-6; Genesis chapters 1 and 2 b. Rain and fruitful harvests prove His existence: Acts 14:14-17; Matthew 5:43-45 c. The conscience within each individual … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Christ's Birth, Christ's Death, Christ's Miracles, Christ's Resurrection, Creation, Death, Eternity, Evangelism, God's Holiness, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Wrath, God's Foreknowledge, God's Judgment, God's Mercy, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Grace, Heaven, Hell, Holiness, Man's Freewill, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Resurrection, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Sin, Spiritual Gifts, The Gospel, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God Is Holy

Posted on May 24, 2025 by russellmckinney

“Salvation” series (post #3) If I traveled around America and asked each person to give me a one-word description of God, I’d surely get a variety of answers. I feel safe in saying, though, that the answer I’d hear the … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine, God's Holiness, God's Love, Holiness, Salvation, Series: "Salvation" | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Sin Costs the Christian

Posted on February 17, 2025 by russellmckinney

New Testament Christianity teaches that salvation comes by way of faith (belief) in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 can’t be much clearer: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Bible Study, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Faith, God's Chastening, God's Holiness, Guilt, Holiness, Inner Peace, Joy, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Every Christian a Saint?

Posted on November 11, 2024 by russellmckinney

Christianity offers a whole list of strange words that all end with the letters “t-i-o-n.” We have: “justification,” “regeneration,” “glorification,” “propitiation,” “imputation,” “predestination,” and “transfiguration.” One little boy, whose parents made him go to church every Sunday, got into trouble … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Discipleship, Holiness, Personal Holiness, Prophecy, Resurrection, Salvation, Sanctification | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sin’s Progression

Posted on March 13, 2024 by russellmckinney

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (Psalm 1:1, N.K.J.V.) In my previous post, I outlined Psalm 1:1-3 under … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Backsliding, Choices, Counsel, Doing Good, Holiness, Husbands, Influence, Marriage, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Seeking Advice, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Blessedness

Posted on March 11, 2024 by russellmckinney

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Bible Study, Character, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Word, Holiness, Money, Obedience, Persecution, Personal Holiness, Prosperity, Reward, Sanctification, Scripture, Separation, Service, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Family Resemblance

Posted on January 13, 2024 by russellmckinney

Let me shock you: God’s chief characteristic is not love. “Then what is it it?” you ask. Answer: holiness. Psalm 47:8 doesn’t say God sits upon his “loving” throne. It says He sits upon His “holy” throne. When Moses stood before the burning … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Character, Disobedience, Fatherhood, God's Holiness, God's Love, Heaven, Hell, Holiness, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Salvation, Sanctification, Sin, Temptation, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A Three-Point Checklist for the New Year

Posted on January 2, 2023 by russellmckinney

Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left. Remove your foot from evil. … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Choices, Contentment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Will, Holiness, New Year, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment