Darryl Dash's Blog, page 33
July 11, 2023
Servants
Who are we? Servants: servants of God, and servants of others. It’s important that we remember that, because we easily forget.
We’re Servants of GodJesus told us a story that helps us understand our positions (Luke 17:7-10). We owe God everything. He owes us nothing. We’re his servants. Even when we give him everything, we only give him his due.
One of the keys to the Christian life is remembering who God is and who we are. We’re not peers. We don’t have an equal relationship. We don’t have the ri...
July 9, 2023
Injustice and Hope (Micah)
Big Idea: God cares about issues of injustice. God judges those responsible. But God will pardon those who turn to him.
How would you like to be called a minor player?
Minor sounds so dismissive, like you’re unimportant. Athletes get sent down to the minors. Actors get minor parts in a show. We refer to underage people as minors, meaning that you don’t have all the same rights as an older person. We would all probably feel upset if someone called us a minor player on the team at work.
So it’s easy ...
July 8, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Why a Post-Christian World Needs Pastor-Theologians
Christ uses pastor-theologians both to interpret the world and to transform it.
Both strong and gentle, David knows when to wield his strength and when to walk in gentleness.
Why Do Good Reformed People Suddenly Become Arminian When It Comes to Financial Support?
Help faithful ministry, assess ministry success by faithfulness, and stop encouraging and applying a numbers-mentality.
July 4, 2023
Where Pastors Find Their Worth
A few years ago I heard a sermon by my friend Scott Thomas. Thomas once led a large church planting organization, and he’s pastored large churches. Scott began his sermon by saying, “I experienced a great deal of success throughout my ministry—but it wasn’t worth it!” That got my attention.
Thomas continued:
I learned to work hard from both of my parents. God ordained mankind to work. It is God’s plan, and it is good. But I worked hard to prove my worth. Growing up, I do not remember ever receivin...
July 2, 2023
When God's People Are the Problem (Amos)
Big Idea: God’s people can be the problem just as much as the world, and Jesus is our only hope.
I have a direct question for you: who do you blame for what’s wrong with the world? If you could snap your fingers, and a certain group of people disappeared from the world, and it would be a massive improvement, which group of people would you choose?
That’s a hard question to answer, so I’ll go first. I have a book on my book list called A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over ...
July 1, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
When Do You Shake the Dust Off Your Feet?
How do we know if the place we are in now has reached a pearls before swine, dust-off-your-feet scenario?
How Christians Can Respond to Gender Dysphoria
We are Christ’s ambassadors, messengers entrusted with good news for those with gender dysphoria.
Is There a Danger of Worshipping the Bible Instead of God?
Seen properly, the Bible is not a competitor with God; on the contrary, it is our God-given means of knowing Him t...
June 27, 2023
Develop a Plan to Read the Old Stuff
I’m a sucker for new books. I get emails from some publishers highlighting their new releases, and no matter how much I know I don’t need more books, I’m tempted to buy them. Sometimes I do.
But what I need more are old books.
Nothing against new books. I’m working on writing another one myself. But I know the joy of finding a classic that’s stood the test of time and that speaks with greater depth and profundity than almost any new book written today.
The Joy of Old ReleasesRob Eagar is an expert ...
June 25, 2023
Hope in a Time of Crisis (2 Kings 6:8-23)
Big Idea: God’s people are often in trouble, but God is kind and has all the resources they need.
I don’t think I have to tell you that we live in interesting times.
There was a time a few years ago that I thought things were getting better. The economy was humming. Interest rates were low. There weren’t any major wars. You could buy almost anything and get it shipped for free next day. I know things weren’t perfect, but it was easy to feel optimistic about the direction of the world.
No more. We l...
June 24, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
I’d wager most of the book owners you know are like those I know, and probably like you or me: They own books for practical reasons any serious reader would recognize. I count at least five off the top of my head.
Thou Shalt Not Flatter (At Conferences)
In my experience, flattery is the acceptable sin on the popular conference circuit and in social media circles where people are angling for approval from their superiors.
June 20, 2023
Don't Fall Into Ditches When It Comes to Preaching
I hear it often, although not as much as before: preaching is overrated. I sometimes see people quote Dallas Willard: “We have counted on preaching and teaching to form the life of the Christian. But this strategy has not turned out well. The result is that we have multitudes of Christians who can hardly get along with themselves, much less others.”
Preachers love preaching, because they’re the ones that get to do it, they say, but it’s not producing the kind of spiritual maturity that it should,...
