Darryl Dash's Blog, page 13

The Tolerant Church (Revelation 2:18-29)

Big Idea: Don’t accept pressure to compromise; the consequences can be serious, but following Jesus brings great rewards.

According to Stephen McAlpine, a pastor in Australia, we’re the bad guys now.

Culture has not only rejected the gospel, but the gospel we share is often seen as bad or even dangerous. We live in a time that overlooks spiritual realities and is increasingly hostile to once-accepted beliefs.

British author Douglas Murray, who is gay and atheist, notes that our major narratives hav...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

First Up: Get Your Soul Happy in God

Mueller's great discovery was that 'the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord.

The Long Defeat of History

The Christian view of history is a long defeat – though with an ultimate victory where everything sad comes untrue, where our Father below will be reunited with our Father above, where all the dragons will be slain and every tear will be wiped away.

Why...

Diagnosing Your Preaching Problems: Examining Exegesis, Heart, and Delivery

After a dozen years of preaching, I hit a wall. I knew something was wrong with my preaching, but I didn’t know how to fix things. Part of the problem is that I didn’t have clarity about what was wrong.

Looking back, I wish that I had instituted a regular sermon review process, or even used some good diagnostic questions to put my finger on the problem.

I thought the problem was my delivery. I asked a mentor for feedback, which was a little unfair since he didn’t regularly listen to my preaching. ...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

It’s Better to Die Than Hinder the Gospel

Our goal, Paul says, is to remove every obstacle to the good news. He would rather suffer anything than hinder the gospel of Christ.

The World Doesn’t Need You to Be Angry

Remember, if Jesus said we’d be known as his disciples by our love for one another, what does it tell the people around us when we are as hostile and divisive as everyone else?

Where Does Happiness Originate?

I believe it’s vital that we not leave our ...

The Glory of Good Work

I first experienced it when watching It Might Get Loud, a documentary featuring the career and music of rock guitarists Jimmy Page, the Edge, and Jack White. The three guitarists met on a Los Angeles soundstage, talked about music, and played each other’s songs. I’m not a musician, but I shouldn’t have loved it, but I did. Watching three great musicians talk about their craft is enthralling.

I’ve noticed the same reading Bruce Springsteen’s memoir Born to Run and Steve Van Zandt’s memoir Unrequit...

The Persecuted Church (Revelation 2:8-11)

Big Idea: When persecuted, take courage because Jesus knows, Satan is limited, and your suffering will be worth it.

The numbers are staggering. Over 365 million Christians face significant persecution and discrimination for their faith, according to Open Doors. 1 in 7 Christians around the world are persecuted worldwide. Last year, almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith. Almost 15,000 churches and Christian properties were attacked. Over 4,000 Christians were detained.

Because it’s ha...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Does the Bible Say Anything about Going to Church?

Does the Bible say anything about going to church? Let’s explore seven different answers to that question.

Elisabeth Elliot, the Valiant

I, for one, am deeply encouraged by holy men and women whose stories are full of “ironies, contradictions, inconsistencies, imponderables.”

10 Diagnostic Questions for You and Your Spouse

What are some other questions that can help diagnose the health of our marital life? Here ...

That You May Be Glorified in Him

Sometimes a phrase in Scripture jumps out at me even though I’ve read it many times before.

One of them is 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12:

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Most of this prayer, which is part of the opening to the letter, is typic...

The Church That Lost Its Love (Revelation 2:1-7)

Big Idea: The sign of a faithful church is enduring love for Jesus.

I don’t know if I have a favorite church in the Bible, but if I did, it would probably be the church in Ephesus.

Let me tell you what I like about it.

Here’s what we know about the church in Ephesus. Ephesus was the fourth-largest city in the Roman Empire. When John wrote Revelation, the population would have been about 225,000. It was an urban center, a world-class city.

It was a major financial center, and home to the Pan-Ionian g...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Clearing Up Confusion About Humility

Don’t get high. Don’t put yourself in the center. Instead, put others there. Get low and off-center.

How (and Why) to Greet like Paul

Here’s how (and why) to greet like Paul.

Why Gen Z Men like Me Are Staying in Church

At church, Gen Z men are still being called to sacrifice in a culture that taught them to live for themselves.

Grief and Gratitude When a Church Ends

Not every ending is a failure because longevity may not be God...