Author: Pastor Bailey

“Those who make idols end up like them. So does everyone who trusts them.” (Psalm 115:8, GW) Everyone trusts in something. We can even make good things — like our families, our abilities, or even our ministries in the church — into idols. But trusting in things other than God can have devastating effects on…

“He hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.” (Luke 23:8b) Read Luke 23:1–12 I remember seeing a movie, “The Man with Two Brains”, which starred Steve Martin. My (sometimes fallible) memory is that his wife had died, and he had fallen in love again. He was standing in front of a portrait…

“Let everyone be … slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20) If you resent God’s Word, you cannot grow in righteousness. Have you ever started reading your Bible, thinking everything was fine between you and the Lord, only to have the Word suddenly cut deep…

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” (Proverbs 28:13, TLB) God is always ready to give you another chance. That’s a foundational piece of Christianity. We’ve all been irresponsible. We’ve all screwed up. The Bible tells us, “Not a…

“When the foundations of life are undermined, what can a righteous person do?” (Psalm 11:3, GW) What we believe about the world around us shapes everything about our lives. Why? Because what you believe determines your behavior. Your behavior then determines what you become, and that has a direct effect on the direction of your…

“O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.” (Psalm 15:1-2) To love Christ and to be characterized by ever-increasing fidelity to biblical truth is the heart of true integrity. Christian integrity has been defined…

“If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:14–15) Believers should forgive others because they have received forgiveness from God themselves (cf. Ephesians 1:17). We can’t claim to know God’s parental forgiveness —…

“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, NLT) An unexamined experience is worthless. There are people who are 50 years old who haven’t lived 50 years. They’ve lived one…

“Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:31) Can you identify with this imaginary person? “One of the most helpful innovations in the past decade for me has been navigation in my car with speed sign recognition. I am one of those drivers who…