Darryl Dash's Blog, page 7

It Only Gets Better

I was 23 years old and newly engaged. A man in his 50s spotted me after church and congratulated me. He also said something I've always remembered. You think you're in love now, he said, but you really don't know what love is. Wait until you've been married 30 years, then you will begin to understand what love is.

I felt unexpectedly encouraged. Being young and in love is amazing, but I didn't mind being told that it only gets better. He was right, by the way. I've now been married 34 years, and ...

The Story You Tell Yourself (Revelation 14)

Big Idea: The stories of Christ’s victory, the spread of the gospel, and final judgment should shape how you live today.

One of the most important ideas that we need to grasp is that we tell stories to ourselves about our lives and the world. Humans not only observe events but also give them meaning through the stories we tell about ourselves, others, and the world. These stories are subjective interpretations that help us understand our experiences, not objective reflections of reality. We creat...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Don't Apply the Bible to Your Life. Do This Instead.

The Bible calls us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This is a better framework for thinking about the Bible than "applying" its principles to our lives.

Rebuilding for Renewal: The Importance of Sacred Spaces in Our Cities

The world needs sacred spaces—places where the kingdom is embodied, our worship shapes our imaginations, the weary find rest.

4 Causes of Division in the Church

The New Testame...

Random Thoughts on Preaching

In no particular order, here are some random thoughts on preaching.

First, one of the most important areas of focus for a preacher must be his own soul. I agree with George Müller, who said that our first and greatest priority must be to make our souls happy in God. There's a world of difference between a preacher who is walking with God and one who isn't. A sermon can be impressive, and God can work through any pastor, even an ungodly one. However, nothing compares to the preaching of someone wh...

Satan’s Strategy (Revelation 13)

Big Idea: Satan seeks to destroy Christian faith through both forceful government persecution and subtle cultural pressure to compromise, so stay faithful to the end.

You’ve probably heard of The Art of War, an ancient Chinese military treatise written by Sun Tzu, a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher. It's believed to have been written around 500 BCE. The book consists of 13 chapters, each focusing on different aspects of warfare and military strategy. It talks about strategy a...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

Why Christian Men Need Friendship, Not Just "Accountability"

The age of the accountability group has been weighed and found wanting. It’s past time for something better.

When Christians Crash and Burn

Even though you could make the argument that the pilots were 99% successful, I say they failed completely.

The Midlife Crisis Is Dead. All Hail the Daily Midlife Crisis.

There are two identity anchors in that verse that can bring you through a crisis.

Biblical Theol...

Lessons from Old Sermons

I registered the domain DashHouse.com on July 25, 1999, the day before my 32nd birthday. I wasn't sure what I would do with the site, except that I wanted to write and post my sermons. For almost 26 years now, I've been doing just that, although some of my sermons go all the way back to 1996.

I've been tidying up some of my old posts. It's not easy because there are so many. I've decided to start with my sermons since I've been posting them for so long. The tagging system needs improvement, and I...

The Long Defeat (Revelation 12)

Big Idea: Satan is waging a war against God's people, but his defeat is certain, so stay faithful to the end.

In many ways, Polina lives like any other 12-year-old. She attends school, plays with friends, and tackles homework — the familiar rhythm of an 8th grader's day. Polina, who lives 100 kilometers west of Kyiv, experiences something most children don't: the sound of air-raid sirens interrupting everyday life.

"Now I'm more calm about this signal because I've gotten used to it," she says, ref...

Saturday Links

Curated links for your weekend reading:

The Paradox of Ease: Why Friction Is Good for You

Without resistance, without friction, we will not be happy. Neither will we be good.

Things Change and Things Stay the Same

As I have read, I have become fascinated by how many of today’s concerns were also the concerns of our forebears.

6 Things Discipleship Isn’t

True discipleship involves wielding the Word and prayer to help those you’re investing in follow Christ.

Don’t Be Sorry for the Sermon

If God still call...

Death Is Not the Worst Thing That Can Happen to You

I really dislike the way Christians sometimes minimize death. We talk about it like it's no big deal. It is. Paul calls it the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26). It's a result of sin (Genesis 3:19). It's not natural at all. Death is ugly, and we should hate it. The whole reason Jesus came is to put an end to death.

Contrary to what many Christians think, death is a big deal, and we shouldn't take it lightly at all. But death isn't the worst thing that can happen to us.

This is evide...