Category Archives: Personal Holiness

Your Mind Is Like a Hotel

Posted on September 16, 2019 by russellmckinney

One writer has compared our minds to a hotel. The hotel manager cannot keep a problem person from entering the lobby, but he can keep that person from getting a room and staying there. Similarly, you cannot cannot keep a … Continue reading →

Posted in Discernment, Discipleship, Entertainment, Music, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Separation, Temptation | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Dead In Sin or Dead To Sin?

Posted on July 29, 2019 by russellmckinney

One little word can make a big difference. A Biblical example of this is found in the salvation experience. The difference is between the words “in” and “to.” Ephesians 2:1-5 and Colossians 2:13 teach that each of us was born … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Baptism, Belief, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

When False Teeth Become a Problem

Posted on July 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16, N.K.J.V.) In his booklet How to Kill a Church Without Really … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Character, Church, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, God's Holiness, God's Work, Holiness, Homosexuality, Influence, Lying, Making Restitution, Money, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Sex, Sin, Temptation, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Mirror

Posted on July 6, 2019 by russellmckinney

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Change, Character, Discernment, God's Will, God's Word, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Scripture, The Bible | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Christians Bringing a Touch of Christ’s Kingdom to Earth

Posted on June 13, 2019 by russellmckinney

Series: “Christ’s Kingdom” (post #5) Jesus spent His three-and-a-half-year earthly ministry bringing a touch of His heavenly kingdom to the earth. Then, after being crucified, He resurrected and ascended back to heaven. This left a gaping hole in regards to … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Character, Discernment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Giving, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Good Works, Influence, Lust, Marriage, Ministry, Needs, Obedience, Persecution, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Priorities, Prosperity, Reconciliation, Revenge, Reward, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Series: "Christ's Kingdom", Service, Temptation, The Bible, The Heart, The Old Testament Law, The Sermon On The Mount, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are You Sure You’re a Soldier?

Posted on December 12, 2018 by russellmckinney

An elderly gentleman found himself seated next to a young man who was dressed rather sloppily. The elderly gentleman struck up a conversation to pass the time. After exchanging names and pleasant greetings, he asked the young man, “Son, what … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Bible Study, Disobedience, Dress and Appearance, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Separation, Service, Spiritual Warfare, The Bible | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s Not Enough Just to Start

Posted on December 3, 2018 by russellmckinney

A retired couple were advised by their doctor to get more exercise. So, they decided to start walking two miles a day. Since they lived at the end of a long road in a rural area, they planned to daily … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Bible Study, Church Attendance, Commitment, Doing Good, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Work, Marriage, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Lies & Dishonest Scales

Posted on November 30, 2018 by russellmckinney

Two college boys foolishly spent the week before their final Physics exam drinking and partying at their off-campus apartment. They didn’t sober up until the morning of the exam, and that’s when it dawned on them how much trouble they … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Character, Communication, Conscience, Deception, Depravity, Doing Good, Honesty, Lying, Money, Personal Holiness, Work | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The First Church Scandal

Posted on November 3, 2018 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

Put on the Whole Armor of God

Posted on September 3, 2018 by russellmckinney

Ephesians 6:10-17 is the famous “armor of God” passage. There Paul tells us that we must put on the whole armor of God if we are to be successful in the midst of spiritual, demonic warfare. That armor consists of: … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Commitment, Deception, Demons, Discernment, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Work, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Righteousness, Salvation, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, The Bible, The Devil, The Gospel, The Heart, Trials, Truth, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments