Marc Dickie emphasizes that true effectiveness in ministry comes from the heart, not just intellect or theological knowledge. Quoting Grace from the Heart, he stressed that great preachers are made in the “closet” of prayer, not the classroom. An hour of prayer, he said, can do more than hours of study. Sharing his own journey, Marc reflected on how prayer …
King David: A Journey to God’s Heart
In this months Connected in Christ, we take a deeper look into the life of King David. What qualified him to be king, and why didn’t he immediately assume the throne after being anointed by Samuel? What temptations led him away from God’s heart and toward his own selfish desires? At what point in his life did he earn the …
Your Heart: Friend or Foe? (audio)
As Christian’s, should we be following our hearts? There are many calls to “follow your heart” in movies, novels, slogans, blogs, and memes. Related pieces of advice are “trust yourself” and “follow your instincts.” A corollary dictum is “your heart will never lead you astray.” The problem is that none of these quips are biblically supportable. Rather than trust our …
Your Heart: Friend or Foe?
As Christian’s, should we be following our hearts? There are many calls to “follow your heart” in movies, novels, slogans, blogs, and memes. Related pieces of advice are “trust yourself” and “follow your instincts.” A corollary dictum is “your heart will never lead you astray.” The problem is that none of these quips are biblically supportable. Rather than trust our …
The Biblical Perspective of Fellowship (audio)
Fellowship in our current Western culture has become a broadly used word to describe everything from government programs to civic organizations. Is fellowship just another way of describing a collective group or community or does it imply more? The Bible offers a much more nuanced picture of fellowship; one which will thrill the heart to perceive and practice. In this …
Wholehearted Love
God doesn’t want much – He just wants all of you. It’s true. God wants your heart. Your whole heart. This isn’t selfishness on God’s part, since He is love. God wants our devotion, our commitment, our faithful loyalty, because God knows that when we enthrone him in our hearts, we are raised out of our mere human existence into …
Matters of the Heart
Why is the heart important? Well, from a biological point of view, it sustains life. Without the heart pumping the life-giving blood, the body would quickly die. The same is true spiritually. The heart is the well-spring of life. When it is allowed to become infirm with sin, a person’s spiritual life quickly deteriorates. This is why God, our concerned …
The Heart of Man
Scripture teaches that the heart of unredeemed man is in a state of corruption. Even with regards to the best of men, the Word of God testifies that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. It is only through the spirit of God that the human heart is regenerated.
Following Our Savior Into Harm’s Way
Dear Companion of Christ, Some destinations are not worth what the journey entails. No doubt you have experienced such disappointment. Perhaps that prompted you to more carefully count the cost of your next sojourn compared to the expected benefits, which are not always guaranteed when you get there. When it comes to following (walking in the steps of) our Lord …
Intimacy: A Relationship With God
TLTF Trustee Franco Bottley shares the Word about having intimacy with God. Being intimate involves mixing our life with another’s, a uniting of souls, a sharing of hearts. This is something we all long for because it’s how God made us. We were created to connect. God made us and He intimately knows us better than anyone can. And for …