Darryl Dash's Blog, page 35
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,...
June 18, 2023
Lessons From the Worst King (1 Kings 18)
Big Idea: Pay attention to your pain and the impotence of your false gods, and worship God instead.
Have you ever seen a friend after a short period of time has passed? One of the questions that you will probably ask is, “What’s new?” I find that one of two things usually happens:
You say, “Nothing.” There are huge periods of time in our lives in which nothing really happens. You wake up. You go through another day. Rinse and repeat.Or, you say, “Everything!” Sometimes you don’t see someone for a ...June 17, 2023
Saturday Links
Curated links for your weekend reading:
Apologetics in an Age of Despair
Exploring the nature of modern despair can open up fresh and exciting ways to make the hope of the gospel visible to those around us who so desperately need it.
Francis Schaeffer’s 4 Prescriptions for the Renewal of the Church
What will it take for the church to be renewed and the world to experience a profound move of God?
How Missionaries Persevere in Hard Places
We can’t manufacture conversions, and we shouldn’t try — because ...
June 13, 2023
When Things Look Like They Can’t Possibly Get Worse
I had a bad dream last week. When I told my son about it, he said, “Let me guess. Did you dream about a dam blowing up in Ukraine? Or about smoke from forest fires filling the sky?”
Who needs bad dreams with all the bad things that are actually happening?
My grandmother — one of the saintliest people I’ve ever known — used to say, “I can’t imagine things getting much worse. Jesus must be coming back soon.” I chuckle when I think of her words because things indeed seem to have gotten much worse. Id...
