Darryl Dash's Blog, page 11
February 2, 2025
Who Can Stand? (Revelation 7:1-8:5)
Big Idea: God will preserve his own people, and they will enjoy his protection and presence forever.
Canadian preacher Darrell Johnson calls this chapter the most comforting of all the visions contained in the Bible. But you have to understand what he means when he says “comforting.”
I am using the phrase, “most comforting,” both in the modern sense of the word, “creating a state of well-being,” and in the original sense of the word, “fortifying for courageous action.” The English word comfort com...
February 1, 2025
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Weary Pastor, Look to the Shepherd
Even shepherds are like sheep and need the Shepherd’s care.
My Framework vs. Single Bible Text
When it is my entire framework versus a single text of Scripture, the text must always win.
Cremation, as far as this writer is concerned, is no sin. It is rather a risk, not for the person who has died, but for the rest of us.
Your Phone Habits Aren’t Just About You
You’re not an island. Your phone habits are never ju...
January 28, 2025
The Best Parts of Being a Pastor
I think I know the worst parts of being a pastor. One of them is the hurt that’s involved. Every pastor I know, at some point, experienced the relational pain that Paul describes in 2 Timothy. The other worst part is the sense of one’s own unworthiness. Godly pastors know how far they have to go in their own sanctification, and have a deep awareness of their need for grace and strength to carry out the tasks of ministry.
I know the worst parts, but the best parts are too many to mention.
It could ...
January 26, 2025
What to Expect (Revelation 6)
Big Idea: Expect to suffer in this world, and put your hope in Jesus.
When we had our children, one of the most helpful books we bought was called What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Yes, they had this book even back then. It was such a helpful book to understand what was happening at every stage of the pregnancy.
This passage could be titled “What to Expect as a Christian.” This chapter helps us understand what life in this world will be like. This chapter will help us have accurate expectation...
January 25, 2025
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
In the pursuit of meaningful service for Christ, oftentimes the little things are the big things.
The Greatest Beauty I’ve Ever Seen
Truly, I have seen wonders more beautiful than tongue or scribe could ever tell. And yet none of this represents the greatest beauty I have ever seen. There is something more wonderful, still, something that delights my eyes and thrills my heart.
A Prayer Meeting Like That Does Not Scare The Devil
So of...
January 21, 2025
Intellectual Depth Matters in Ministry
I still laugh when I think about an exchange I had with a border guard. “Why are you entering the United States?” he asked. I told him I was attending a study group to learn more about the Bible. He then asked how long I'd been a pastor. When I said over 30 years, he replied, “What could you possibly have to learn about the Bible?”
Knowing Scripture involves lots of study. It includes learning hermeneutics, languages, textual criticism, biblical theology, knowledge of the Ancient Near East, syste...
January 18, 2025
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
What Are Your Plans For This Year?
I have no plans.
And yet God…
When we encounter sanctity, we’re drawn not to the saint but to the Savior.
iPhones, Idolatry, and Evil Spirits
If Satan wanted to invent a way to steal our attention, render our awareness of God obsolete, and control the message we live by, could he do any better than the intensely addictive iPhone and the algorithms that control what we encounter?
January 14, 2025
Thankful in All Seasons
There are a lot of things that I struggle with in winter. I don't love the cold. I don't love the gray skies. Most of all, I find myself struggling with the shorter days. I really miss sunlight during winter.
For years, I've grumbled about winter. I've even joked that we all get one season to complain about, and I've chosen winter.
If I'm honest, my complaining begins in September, as the first signs of fall come, and ends in May, when I see the first glimpses of spring. But this year, I've change...
January 12, 2025
Our Greatest Need (Revelation 4)
Big Idea: Our greatest need is to know God, love God, delight in God, and make much of God.
We have something in common, you and I. We want to know what truly matters in life. We aim to build our lives around something meaningful, something that will endure. We don't want to reach the end of our lives and realize we wasted them chasing things that don't matter.
But that's not all. We want the same for our kids. We want to steer them away from distractions and dangers. We hope they invest their liv...
January 11, 2025
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
How I Am Getting My Mind Back This Year
Stop letting information, data, and technology lead you. Become human again.
What Does the Bible Say About Remarriage?
Less than we hope, it turns out, when it comes to remarriage after a divorce.
Three Errors to Avoid With Your Bible Reading Plan
Hearing from God is incredibly important, so I hate to see someone become discouraged in their attempt to start reading the Bible. To help out, I want to give three errors that I...
