Category Archives: Service

Missed Opportunities

Posted on February 27, 2023 by russellmckinney

When Alexander Graham Bell was trying to market the telephone, he went to wealthy financier Chauncey DePew and offered him a one-sixth interest in the new invention for the price of $10,000. DePew took a week to consider the offer … Continue reading →

Posted in Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Omnipotence, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Personal Holiness, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stretch Your Soul

Posted on February 20, 2023 by russellmckinney

Many years ago The Alabama Baptist ran the following story told by R. Lee Sharpe: I was just a kid. One spring day, father told me to go with him to old man Trussell’s blacksmith shop. He had left a rake and … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Doing Good, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Personal Holiness, Service | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Faithful Over a Few Things

Posted on February 8, 2023 by russellmckinney

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” (Matthew 25:23, N.K.J.V.) George Matheson was … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Character, Church, Church Attendance, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Omnipresence, God's Omniscience, God's Work, Humility, Influence, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Pastors, Preaching, Prosperity, Reward, Service, Stewardship, Trusting In God, Weather, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Power Shortage

Posted on January 30, 2023 by russellmckinney

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, N.K.J.V.) The organist was trying to play the call-to-worship song to begin the church service, but no sound … Continue reading →

Posted in Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Service | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Feeling Kind of Small?

Posted on January 27, 2023 by russellmckinney

You’ve probably heard of Solomon’s temple, that beautiful, majestic house of worship that served as the centerpiece of worship in Israel. That temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonians in 587 B.C. To make that destruction even worse, Nebuchadnezzar deported the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Church, Contentment, Criticism, Disappointment, Doing Good, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Impatience, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Service, Trials, Trusting In God, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

The Problem of Trying to Do Too Much

Posted on October 31, 2022 by russellmckinney

A man boasted that he could whip anybody on his street, but no one took him up on his boast. Then he boasted that he could whip anybody in the neighborhood, but no one challenged him on that, either. Finally, … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Choices, Doing Good, God's Will, Service, Work | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment