Category Archives: Spiritual Gifts

Worship Is Both an Act and a Lifestyle

Posted on July 17, 2021 by russellmckinney

Famed radio announcer Ted Malone hosted an early-morning radio show. One day he received a note that had been written by a sheepherder in Idaho. The note said, “Will you, on your broadcast, strike the note ‘A’? I’m a sheepherder … Continue reading →

Posted in Commitment, Discipleship, Faithfulness, Obedience, Priorities, Sanctification, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Submission, Talents, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does God Call the Qualified or Qualify the Called?

Posted on October 28, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #5) In a very real sense, Moses was uniquely qualified to be the man through whom God would deliver the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage. For one thing, he was an Egyptian by upbringing … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Discipleship, God's Provision, God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Obedience, Preaching, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Are You Doing What You Are Supposed to Be Doing Here?

Posted on August 12, 2020 by russellmckinney

Yogi Berra was the catcher for the New York Yankees. Hank Aaron was the right-fielder for the Milwaukee (now Atlanta) Braves. Both men would get elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame following their illustrious playing careers. As a famous story goes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Obedience, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What Can You Do to Help?

Posted on June 15, 2020 by russellmckinney

I am 53 years old and have never seen days such as these. Pick your headline: Covid-19, social distancing, police brutality, race riots, the Confederate Flag, Civil War monuments, polarizing politicians, etc., etc., etc. I recently talked with one man … Continue reading →

Posted in Commitment, Current Events, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Work, Influence, Prayer, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fanning Your Inner Flame

Posted on June 12, 2020 by russellmckinney

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you… (2 Timothy 1:6, N.K.J.V.) J. Glenn Campbell tells the story of a family who many years ago ran a sheep farm in Australia. Each year … Continue reading →

Posted in God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Service, Spiritual Gifts, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting Things Done For Christ

Posted on May 25, 2020 by russellmckinney

One morning a man sat on his porch and watched as a landscaping company’s truck pulled into his neighbor’s driveway and parked. Two workers got out of the truck and both grabbed shovels from the truck bed. The man on … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Stewardship, Talents, Witnessing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How I Know That God Exists

Posted on May 23, 2020 by russellmckinney

People who aren’t Christians have real trouble understanding how Christians can exhibit such an unshakable belief in the existence of God. Christians, in turn, usually point to the incredible vastness, order, and intricacy of creation as the best evidence for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Creation, Personal, Spiritual Gifts, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Is God Doing Anything With You?

Posted on April 25, 2020 by russellmckinney

Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27, N.K.J.V.) Most of us want God to … Continue reading →

Posted in Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Work, Individuality, Influence, Missions, Prayer Requests, Sacrifice, Sanctification, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“Daddy, They Won’t Block”

Posted on March 11, 2020 by russellmckinney

One of the funniest things I ever saw on a football field involved a friend of mine named Richie Jarrett and his son, Dylan. If you’ll bear with me while I set up the story, I think you’ll be glad … Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Doing Good, Encouragement, God's Love, God's Will, God's Work, Human Life, Ministry, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Stewardship, Talents, Work, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Enabling

Posted on February 25, 2020 by russellmckinney

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; … Continue reading →

Posted in Angels, Doing Good, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Work, Individuality, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents, Teaching, Work | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments