Darryl Dash's Blog, page 2

Hard Times Are Fruitful Times

I've given my testimony a few times. By testimony, I don't mean the safe, short version of how God has been at work in my life. I mean a detailed accounting of all of my life, including the parts that have been hardest. Every time I give this more detailed testimony, I'm humbled by the different seasons of suffering that I've been through.

I don't think I'm alone. I think if all of us gave the full account of our lives, it would include many seasons of suffering.

And yet, here's what I observe as ...

Everyday Faithfulness (Colossians 4:2–6)

Big Idea: We have a responsibility to pray persistently, live wisely, and speak graciously so that our lives and words reflect Christ, and others come to experience his transforming grace.

We’re in this small series on what it means to be the church. Specifically, we’re looking at some of the commitments we’ve made in our covenant. And there's a lot there.

At first glance, you may think that becoming a Christian is a private matter. You may think that it’s primarily about making a commitment to Go...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Physical Bibles Are Homemade Apple Pie

Enjoy your personal Bible each Sunday just as you enjoy homemade apple pie.

Letter to a Brother Stuck in Pornography

The gospel exists to defeat sin!

You Want to Be a Pastor? Letter to Aspiring Men

Pastoral ministry is a dangerous calling.

Preachers, Perfect Your Voice

We are bound to use every possible means to perfect the voice by which we are to tell forth the glorious gospel of the blessed God.

Don’t Lose Sight of a Liturg...

God Sometimes Gives Us Hard Assignments

Isaiah 6 stands as a pivotal chapter in Scripture. At a critical moment in Judah’s history, when the nation faced immense threats, God called them to trust him. Isaiah, who had witnessed the grandeur of King Uzziah’s earthly court, was given a vision of God’s heavenly court, a vision that changed everything. It’s one of the most breathtaking revelations of God in the Old Testament. Through this encounter, Isaiah gained a greater view of God’s majesty, a sharper awareness of sin, and a profound u...

Committing Together (Romans 12:3-8)

Big Idea: The gospel creates the church and calls believers to humble interdependence and sacrificial service as the unified body in Christ.

Let me make what I think is a very non-controversial statement, at least in our church: the gospel is a really big deal.

It’s the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ: that Jesus took our place, bore our sins, and reconciled us to God through his death and resurrection. We’re saved not by our efforts, but by grace through faith in Christ alon...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Respectable Sins in Christian Ministry

We too often gloss over the evil within us.

Right-Sizing Your Ministry Expectations

Paradoxically, we should preach with both high and low expectations for the impact of our messages.

5 Things That Shouldn’t Be at the Center of Missions

Any humanly-invented organization that assists in missions must remember that they are a bridesmaid, not the bride.

Writing Is Beyond Me

Writing well is beyond me. I can’t do it alone.

Don't Re...

Defensive Indifference

Baseball has this fascinating concept called defensive indifference. It happens when a baserunner advances to the next base without the defense making any effort to stop them. This usually occurs late in a game when the outcome is already decided. It’s not counted as a stolen base but is seen as a strategic decision by the defense to avoid unnecessary risks, like an overthrow, that could complicate the situation.

Last week, during the Blue Jays game against Cincinnati, I was surprised to see them...

The Humble Church (James 4:1-10)

Big Idea: Conflict in the church arises from selfish desires and pride, but God offers grace to those who humble themselves, submit to him, and allow his transforming power to create a unified, Christ-centered community.

What advice would you give a church that was experiencing some conflict?

I don’t ask this question because we’re facing conflict in our church right now, at least not more than usual. There aren’t any hidden messages here about things you don’t know about. I’m asking this question...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

These Seven Biblical Truths Can Bring You Great Happiness

Ironically, it’s easier to be restored to a positive relationship with God than with any other being.

One Habit That Helped Me Stay Sane in My Darkest Days

Writing a prayer letter encouraged me in this principle and made me more grateful.

What Is ChatGPT (AI) For? And What Humans Alone Can Do

Since we have an immortal and rational soul, humans alone can do what only humans can do, namely, contemplate inte...

Are You Correctable?

“I have something I want to ask you,” my friend said. “How is your relationship with Paul?”

I felt uncomfortable. I’d recently lost my cool with Paul. I was wrong, and everyone knew it. I’d taken some superficial steps to put things right, but I still hadn’t owned my mistake — actually, my sin.

“I think we’re okay,” I mumbled, but I knew that my friend was right to ask the question. I needed a prompt to put things right.

When someone corrects me, I automatically feel a little defensive. I think of ...