Ring of Truth

I wonder how often Paul questioned his choices as he endured house arrest under Roman oppression. Maybe he didn’t, but it’s not hard to imagine the thoughts that may have crossed his mind: Is this God’s punishment? Did I miss God’s will for me? What good can I do here? As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, Paul was right where God wanted him. There aren’t any mistakes in God’s sovereign...

You can sense the disgust in Paul’s tone as we read this account of his encounter with the religious elites in today’s passage. His response isn’t a blueprint for how we should treat others – it offers us a glimpse into Paul’s human nature. He was angry over the injustice and hypocrisy he was witnessing amongst these men who claimed to be in the service of God. As Pastor Dan examines this story, w...

If you ever find yourself in a place of pride, believing that you’ve attained a sinless life of good works – it’s time for some serious self-examination and time in prayer. None of us will ever reach that point in this life – even the apostles, men who Jesus handpicked to establish His Church, never reached that point in their earthly life. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, Paul ope...

Today’s passage recounts a great opportunity that Paul had to share the Gospel. Paul knew his audience well. He’d grown up in a community of people who held tightly to similar beliefs and practices as these Jews in the temple court. Paul could relate to them, and he had an amazing story to share. As Pastor Dan will encourage us in today’s message, many of us have a similar group of people – people...

Have you ever heard a dramatic testimony and all you could remember was all the awful things the person did before they were saved? These are good reminders of just how far-reaching the grace of God is, but as Pastor Dan will warn in today’s message, we need to be careful not to glorify the deeds of the flesh. As we share our stories of salvation, we need to paint an accurate picture of our sin –...

Your testimony is one of the most powerful tools God’s given you. You could invest heavily in learning Scripture and doctrine, mastering apologetics and how to defend the Bible but find yourself struggling to win anyone over. Those can be good tools as well – there are times when they can be very effective – but as Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, nobody can argue with your testimony....

Paul’s example in today’s passage is both inspiring and challenging. Few Christians can claim to have this level of compassion. We may desire to see the lost saved – especially good friends or family members – but what about complete strangers? As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, Paul had a deep desire to see his fellow Jews come to Jesus. He was so passionate about it, that he was wi...

There’s been a deceptive idea going around Christian circles for some time, teaching that the Law of the Old Testament is irrelevant to the modern Church because of Christ’s work on the cross. Many might label themselves as “New Testament believers”, implying that they don’t need the Old Testament at all. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, the Law God gave in the Old Testament was fu...

We have nothing to boast about in and of ourselves. God didn’t call us into His family because we had so much to offer – He loved us despite the selfishness in our hearts. We’re all made in His image, and He wants to redeem and restore us – that’s why He sent Jesus. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, whatever path God calls you down, be intentional about giving the glory back to Him....

This may come as a surprise, but sometimes Christians get it wrong… forgive me for my sarcasm, but it’s worth being reminded of this truth. God designed and built the Church, and we need the accountability and advice of our brothers and sisters in Christ. But there are times when they get it wrong. As Pastor Dan will remind us in today’s message, ultimately the Holy Spirit and the Word of God need...

As parents, we sometimes try to protect our kids in the wrong way. We may try to protect them from hardship or even boredom when those things can be great opportunities for growth. As Pastor Dan will point out in today’s message, it’s extremely important that our children witness us living out our Christian journeys. They may get a little bored sitting through a church service, but they’re seeing...

There are times when some in the Church will feel led in one direction while others feel led in another. Even in your own heart, God may give you a sense of awareness that harm may come to you, as He did for Paul in today’s message, but that doesn’t mean God is telling you to stop moving forward. As Pastor Dan examines Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and the stops he makes along the way, we’ll be remi...

One look at the news or the social media feed makes it obvious that the enemy is working to steal, kill, and destroy. The overt attacks are easy to spot – but what about the more subtle ways the enemy works to deceive? Today, Pastor Dan tells you that the enemy sneaks in with false teachings – not to get you to renounce your faith, but to deceive you and keep you in darkness so that you’re ineffec...

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that we’re stewards of what God has given us. Our jobs, our finances, even our family – these don’t belong to us. They belong to God, and we are tasked with stewarding His possessions. Today, Pastor Dan reminds you that if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you belong to Him. And when you lead believers - at work or at church or your family - it’s important...

There are a LOT of opinions and ideas flying around in the world today about our faith. We see them on social media, hear them in conversation, even get them from the pulpit. They all have Bible verses attached and come from people claiming to be reputable. So how are we to know what’s true and what’s not? Today, Pastor Dan tells you about the danger of false teachings. He warns that the enemy is...

Imagine you are at work and your boss gives you a set of instructions then asks you to pass them on to the rest of the workers. You know the workers may not like some of the instructions, but what happens if you don’t pass them on? Who will be held responsible if the work doesn’t get done? You or the workers? In today’s message, Pastor Dan explains to you that God has given you a responsibility to...

Have you ever been in a situation where you give someone instructions on how to complete a task only to find they’re doing it a different way and producing poor results? Maybe it was an employee at work or a kid at home. You set the expectations and timeline, but the task never got done. What do you do about that? Pastor Dan tells you today about stewardship and how Jesus has assigned you tasks to...

The Bible says to consider it all joy when you come up against trials, but can it really mean all? Surely, when that car backed into yours, that wasn’t all joy. It certainly didn’t feel like joy when you lost your job. What about when your family member got sick? Where was “joy” then? When you look around, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of joy anywhere. Today, Pastor Dan tells you that, no m...

We’ve all had those times when we stop, look out the window, and think, “Is this all there is?” There’s this gnawing feeling that we were meant to live for more than what we’re experiencing. It’s hard not to feel guilty or defeated when those thoughts come up. Shouldn’t we be content with where we are and what we’re doing? Pastor Dan reminds you today that you are meant for more. God created you,...

Have you noticed how people change in different social settings? For example, most people don’t talk the same way in front of their grandparents as they do their friends. It’s normal to adapt to who we’re talking to. But we need to be careful that these minor adaptations don’t become things that undermine our character. In today’s message, Pastor Dan tells you about how Paul was consistent in ever...

We’re constantly bombarded with ideas, opinions, beliefs, social rules, and norms. They come at us on our phones, computers, inboxes, billboards, and even our churches. It seems everything and everyone is trying to influence us in one direction or another. The problem is that many of the directions are conflicting. So how do you choose which one to follow? Today, Pastor Dan tells you that it’s dan...

Remember when you were a kid, and you asked for a snack before dinner? What was the answer you always got? “Not right now, you’ll spoil your appetite.” It seems it’s a hard lesson to learn because, even as an adult, it’s hard not to fill up on those breadsticks before the meal comes out. Today, Pastor Dan tells you that your spiritual life is just like your appetite. If you find that spending time...

When you miss a meal, do you ever think, “Oh no, I missed lunch! I’ll eat two lunches tomorrow to make up for it.” Of course not! When you miss a meal, you feel hungry. What happens when you miss your time with God? Do you feel guilty and try to make up for it? Or do you feel hungry? Today, Pastor Dan tells you that if you’ve lost your appetite for God, then you’ve likely filled your life with oth...

Have you ever known about a party that you really wanted to go to but weren’t invited? You struggle with being left out but then one day, someone gives you an invitation, and everything changes. Do you have that same feeling when you’re invited to a Bible study or church event? It's probably not a comparison you’ve made before, but in today’s message, Pastor Dan reminds you that walking with Jesus...

Imagine the beginning of autumn. You’re walking through the neighborhood, and all the flowerbeds seem to have a nice, fresh batch of pine straw. However, the more you look, the more you realize that the pine straw isn’t just in the ground… it’s woven within the plants themselves. That must mean that the shedding trees are pine trees! Today, Pastor Dan teaches that people know who you are by what y...