category
Search by topic, scripture, category etc..
104 Results in 858ms
Display
Sorted By
-
blog
Finding the Right Pastoral Work–Life Balance: A Few Unbalanced Thoughts
I might not be the best person to be writing this. After an eleven-year career in business in my twenties and early thirties, I’ve been an ordained pastor now for nearly twenty-seven years. There are... -
Quote
...work is not, primarily, a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do. It is, or it should be, the full expression of the worker’s faculties, the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental... -
Quote
I always say, ‘work eight hours, sleep eight hours — be sure they’re not the same eight hours’ -
illustration
Finding Meaning in Daily Work
We talk about our work all the time. It is rare that a conversation with a person we have recently met does not at some point lead to the inevitable question, What do you do? by which we mean, how do ... -
illustration
Cultivating Blessing Through Our Work
Looking through the lens of Holy Scripture, human work must be seen first and foremost as value contribution, not economic compensation. We can have a flourishing, fruitful life even if we don’t get a... -
Quote
The antidote to exhaustion is not rest but wholeheartedness. -
illustration
Wasting Time with Thoreau
The other afternoon, in an effort to avoid doing my work, I picked up Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. It turned out to be a fitting choice, as Thoreau has quite a bit to say about wasting time. “The cos... -
illustration
A Saxophonist's Spiritual Revelation
John Coltrane stands out as one of the giants of 20th-century jazz. His legacy is a generation of hearts touched and the light of God shining through his songs. Yet, for years, his work was haunted by... -
illustration
The Gift of College Students
I have been moved to a different course of action, however, inspired largely by my daily exposure to college students in a great university during the course of a preaching and teaching ministry that ... -
illustration
The Aroma of that Room
Sometimes, of course, the sense of God with us becomes much more distinct. My oldest brother, J. I. Willard, served for over thirty years as a minister under the blessing of God. But his entry into th... -
illustration
The Heroes of the Bible (mostly) had Regular Jobs
Most of the heroes in the Bible had what we would think of as secular vocations. Isaac developed real estate, Jacob was a rancher, and Joseph was a government official (in charge of agriculture, the e... -
illustration
Homemaker vs. Breadwinner
Contemporary society assumes that we make a choice: one member of a household will be the “homemaker” and the other the “breadwinner” (i.e., in the marketplace generating income to sustain the home). ... -
Quote
Work is so foundational to our makeup that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six or that work an... -
illustration
Struggling to Rest
Rest has never been one of America’s greatest strengths. According to one study, only one in seven adults (14%) have set aside an entire day for the purpose of rest. For those who do set aside an enti... -
Quote
The end of labor is to gain leisure. -
Quote
Work is a blessing. God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it. The enjoyment of leisure would be nothing if we had only leisure. It is the joy o... -
illustration
Never Leaving Their Work
Because of the modern rhythms of work that are mediated through personal computers and phones, people, in the words of one cultural commentator, “leave the office, but they do not leave their work. Th... -
illustration
How Much Stress Would You Like?
Would you like a no-stress life? A wise person would not accept that option, no matter how tempting it might sound. A stress-free life would be fatal. If we do not have change, challenge, and novelty ... -
Quote
Work is not always required. There is such a thing as sacred idleness. -
illustration
Be More Productive by Taking Breaks
A New York Times story reports on the positive impact school recess has on academic performance. Here’s how it begins: “The best way to improve children’s performance in the classroom may be to take t... -
illustration
Parenting is Part of My Work
There have been times in my life when I’ve wondered if I have failed to accomplish what God intended for me in my professional life. I have worried that I have not lived up to my potential. I judge my... -
blog
When Working Harder is Counterproductive — Sermon Illustration Tuesday
Sometimes Working More Decreases Productivity Maybe we know this on some level, but how many of us actually live this way? How often do we just keep grinding away at a job even though we know that i... -
Quote
When we insist on doing too much, we are not only inflicting the damage of this choice on ourselves, we are sharing this damage with those we love the most. -
illustration
Going Against the Grain of the Universe
When we fight this work-six-days, Sabbath-one-day rhythm, we go against the grain of the universe. And to quote the philosopher H. H. Farmer, “If you go against the grain of the universe, you get spli... -
illustration
The Three Orientations Towards Work
In his landmark work, Habits of the Heart, the sociologist Robert Bellah describes thee distinct orientations people take with respect to their work. The first orientation is to see your work as a job... -
illustration
Stuck in Deadline Mode
Of course, speed has a role in the workplace. A deadline can focus the mind and spur us on to perform remarkable feats. The trouble is that many of us are permanently stuck in deadline mode, leaving l... -
Quote
We are constituted so that simple acts of kindness, such as giving to charity or expressing gratitude, have a positive effect on our long-term moods. The key to the happy life, it seems, is the good l... -
illustration
Parkinson’s Law
It is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. Thus, an elderly lady of leisure can spend the entire day in writing and dispatching a postcard t... -
Quote
Looking through the lens of Holy Scripture, human work must be seen first and foremost as value contribution, not economic compensation. We can have a flourishing, fruitful life even if we don’t get a... -
blog
What We Want to Hear from Our Preacher about Work
Note: This was originally posted on 2/6/20 at Workship.com.au. A couple of weeks ago on Facebook, Nathan Campbell from Living Church in Brisbane explained that he was going to be preaching on...
Page 1 of 4
Top Level Categories by Topic
A
- A Fresh Start
- A Meaningful Life
- Abiding in Christ
- Ability
- Abolition of Slavery
- Abraham
- Abundance
- Acceptance
- Accidents
- Achievement
- Actions
- Activities
- Adaptability
- Addiction
- Advent
- Adventure
- Adversity
- Advice
- Advocate
- Agnosticism
- Agriculture
- Aim
- Alcohol
- Ambassadors
- Ambition
- Angels
- Angry with God
- Anxiety
- Appreciation
- Apprehension
- Approval
- Arrogance
- Arts
- Assumptions about God
- Assurance
- Atheism
- Atonement
- Attacks
- Attention
- Authentic Faith
- Authority
- Avoidance
- Awareness of Sin
B
- Balance
- Baptism
- Baseball
- Bearing Fruit
- Beginnings
- Behavior
- Behavior Modification
- Being a Good Neighbor
- Being Enslaved To Sin
- Being Heard
- Being Humbled
- Being Known
- Being Lost
- Being vs. Doing
- Beliefs
- Believing in God
- Believing in Jesus
- Belonging
- Benefit of the Doubt
- Biblical Faithfulness
- Blameless
- Blessing
- Blessings
- Bold Prayers
- Bossing Others Around
- Bread
- Breakthrough
- Broken Families
- Brokenness
- Brothers and Sisters
- Brothers and Sisters in Christ
- Building
- Burdens
- Burning Bush
- Burnout
- Business
- Busyness
- The Bible
- The Body
- The Body of Christ
- The Bread of Life
C
- Cain and Abel
- Called by God
- Calling
- Calling On God
- Capitalism
- Captives
- Captivity
- Career
- Caregivers
- Cars
- Causes
- Celebrations
- Cemeteries
- Challenges
- Change
- Changing Ourselves
- Character
- Character Development
- Character Formation
- Character Transformation
- Cheating
- Child Development
- Childlike Faith
- Children
- Children of God
- Choices
- Christ and Culture
- Christ's Death
- Christ's Resurrection
- Christian Character
- Christian Community
- Christian Identity
- Christian Leadership
- Christian Liberty
- Christian Service
- Christian Values
- Christians
- Christmas
- Christmas Eve
- Chronic Illness
- Church and Power
- Church Attendance
- Church Conflict
- Church Health
- Church is the People
- Church Leaders
- Church Leadership
- Church Tradition
- Church Unity
- Churches
- Civility
- Clean Water
- Cleansing
- Climbing the Ladder of Success
- Coffee
- Coldness of Heart
- College
- College/Universities
- Comfort
- Comfort Zone
- Comforter
- Coming of the Kingdom
- Commandments
- Commerce
- Common Good
- Communication
- Communion
- Communion of Saints
- Community
- Community Development
- Compassion
- Compassion Fatigue
- Competence
- Competition
- Complaining
- Completion
- Complexity of Life
- Compromise
- Confession of Sin
- Confidence
- Conflict
- Congregation
- Connection
- Conscience
- Consequences
- Conservation
- Construction
- Consumerism
- Contemplation
- Contentment
- Contributions
- Controlling God
- Controversy
- Conversational Prayer
- Conversion
- Conviction of Sin
- Convictions
- Cookie-Cutter
- Core Beliefs
- Cost of Discipleship
- Courage
- Covenant
- Covenant Community
- Covid Pandemic
- Craftsmanship
- Created World
- Creation
- Creation (Human)
- Creation Care/The Environment
- Creativity
- Crises
- Criticism
- Crying Out To God
- Cultivation
- Culture
- The Christian Faith
- The Cross
D
- Danger
- Dangers of Religion
- Dangers of Success
- Dangers of Technology
- Dead In Christ
- Deadlines
- Death
- Death Has No Power
- Death of a Loved One
- Debt
- Debt of Sin
- Deception
- Dedication
- Deliverance
- Dependence
- Dependence on God
- Dependence on Others
- Depression
- Desire
- Desire for God
- Desires
- Despair
- Destructive Behavior
- Determination
- Development Work
- Devil
- Devotion
- Difficult People
- Digital Age
- Dignity
- Disability
- Discernment
- Discipleship
- Discipline
- Discovery
- Dishonesty
- Dissent
- Distortion
- Distraction
- Divine Intervention
- Divine Love
- Division
- Divisions
- Doubt
- Doubts
- Dreams
- Drive
- Dust
- Dysfunction
E
- Earthiness
- Economics
- Education
- Elderly People
- Emotions
- Encouragement
- Endurance
- Enemies
- Enemy
- Enjoyment
- Entrepreneurship
- Equality
- Eternal Life
- Ethics
- Evangelicalism
- Evangelism
- Example
- Excellence
- Exclusion
- Exhaustion
- Existence
- Existence of God
- Expectations of Children
- Experience
- Experiencing God
- Expressing Emotions
- The Earth
- The Epiphany
- The Exodus
F
- Failure
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faith and Prayer
- Faith in Action
- Faith in Christ
- Faith of the Church
- Faith Seeking Understanding
- Faith vs. Works
- Faithfulness
- Fallacies
- Fame
- Family
- Famine
- Farming
- Fathers
- Fatigue
- Favor of God
- Fear
- Feedback
- Financial Resources
- Financial Struggles
- Firm Belief
- Five Senses
- Fixing a Mistake
- Flourishing
- Focus
- Food
- Foolishness
- Football (American)
- Foreigners
- Forgiveness
- Forgiveness of Sin
- Formation
- Foundations
- Fragility of Life
- Free Will
- Freedom
- Freedom in Christ
- Friend of Sinners
- Fruit
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Fruitfulness
- Fulfillment
- Fullness of Life
- Fun
- Funerals
- Future
G
- Games
- Garden of Eden
- Gardening
- Gardens
- Gathering
- Generosity
- Genesis
- Genetics
- Getting Fired
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving and Receiving
- Giving Freely
- Giving God the Glory
- Giving to the Poor
- Gladness
- Glory
- Goals
- God
- God Cares For You
- God the Creator
- God's Abundance
- God's Acceptance
- God's Anger
- God's Creation
- God's Design
- God's Forgiveness
- God's Gifts
- God's Goodness
- God's Hands
- God's Incomprehensibility
- God's Invitations
- God's Judgment
- God's Law
- God's Love
- God's Majesty
- God's Name
- God's Nearness
- God's Plans
- God's Power (Omnipotence)
- God's Presence
- God’s Presence
- God's Promises
- God's Protection
- God's Provision
- God's Pursuit
- God's Righteousness
- God's Truth
- God's Unfailing Love
- God's Voice
- God's Will
- God's Word
- God's Work
- God's Works
- Going to Church
- Golf
- Good Life
- Good Works
- Goodness of God
- Government
- Grace
- Grace vs. Works
- Graduation
- Gratitude
- Great Exchange
- Greatness
- Greatness of God
- Grief
- Growth
- Grumbling
- Guidance
- Guilt
- Guilty
- The Glory of God
- The Golden Rule
H
- Habits
- Hands
- Happiness
- Hard Work
- Hard-Heartedness
- Hardship
- Harmony
- Harvest
- Healing
- Healing the Past
- Healing Wounds
- Health
- Healthcare
- Hearing God
- Hearing our Prayers
- Hearing What We Want to Hear
- Heart
- Heart Change
- Hearts
- Heaven
- Help
- Helping the Poor
- Hiding Our Sin
- HIV/AIDS
- Holiness
- Holiness of God
- Holy Fire
- Homelessness
- Homogeneity
- Hope
- Hostility to God
- House
- Human Condition
- Human Creation
- Human Development
- Human Judgment
- Human Judgments
- Human Life
- Human Nature
- Human Qualities
- Humanity
- Humankind
- Humble Leadership
- Humble Living
- Humble Prayer
- Humble Service
- Humility
- Hunger
- Hurry
- Hustle
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Ideas
- Identity
- Idolatry
- Ignorance
- Ignoring God
- Illness
- Image Bearers
- Immigrants
- Impact
- Improvisation
- Inadequacy
- Infants
- Inheritance
- Initiative
- Injury
- Innovation
- Insecurity
- Inspiration
- Intercession
- Intercession of Jesus
- Intercessory Prayer
- Interdependence
- Interviews
- Intimacy
- Investments
- Invitation
- Israel
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
J
L
- Labor
- Labor Day
- Lack of Control
- Lack of Forgiveness
- Lack of Leadership
- Law (Torah)
- Laziness
- Leaders
- Leadership
- Leadership Challenges
- Leadership Development
- Leadership Integrity
- Learning
- Learning from Your Mistakes
- Legacy
- Legalism
- Leisure
- Lent
- Liberation
- Lies
- Life
- Life after Death
- Life of Faith
- Life of Purpose
- Life Story
- Limitations
- Listening
- Listening to God
- Living
- Living for Christ
- Living Humbly
- Living Life
- Living Sacrifice
- Loans
- Loneliness
- Longing
- Longings
- Losing Control
- Losing Yourself
- Loss
- Love
- Love of Money
- Loving Kindness
- Loving Other Christians
- The Law
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Lord's Supper
- The Lordship of Christ
M
- Making a Difference
- Mammon
- Management
- Manna
- Marital Problems
- Marriage
- Martyrdom
- Mercy
- Message of the Bible
- Messages
- Mind
- Mind and Body
- Ministry
- Miracles
- Mission
- Missionaries
- Mistaken Identity
- Mistakes
- Misunderstanding
- Modern Life
- Modernity
- Monasticism
- Money
- Moral Choices
- Moral Failures
- Moses
- Motivations
- Motives
- Music
- Mystery of Life
- The Meaning of Life
- The Military
- The Mind of Christ
- The Morning
N
O
P
- Pain
- Palm Sunday
- Parenting
- Parents
- Passion
- Pastors
- Paths
- Patience
- Peace
- Peacemaking
- Penalty of Sin
- Perfection
- Perfectionism
- Performance
- Persecuted Church
- Persecution
- Perseverance
- Perseverance of the Saints
- Persistence
- Personal Agendas
- Perspective
- Persuasion
- Pharisaism
- Philosphy of Life
- Place
- Plans
- Play
- Pleasing God
- Pleasure
- Politics
- Poor
- Poor in Spirit
- Poverty
- Power
- Power and Weakness
- Power of Prayer
- Power of Sin
- Praise
- Praise Music
- Prayer
- Prayer Life
- Prayers for Funerals
- Preaching
- Preaching Christ
- Preparation
- Presence
- Preservation
- Presidents
- Price
- Pride
- Priesthood of All Believers
- Priorities
- Prisoners
- Private Faith
- Problem Solving
- Problems
- Procrastination
- Productivity
- Products
- Professionalism
- Progress
- Promises
- Prosperity
- Protection
- Proving the Existence of God
- Provision
- Pruning
- Psychology
- Public Faith
- Public Witness
- Punishment
- Punishment for Sin
- Purity
- Purpose
- Putting God in a Box
- The Passing of Time
- The People of God
R
- Rain
- Reading the Bible
- Real Estate
- Reality
- Reason
- Rebellion
- Receiving
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving God
- Receiving Grace
- Receiving Love
- Receiving Thanks
- Receiving the Gospel
- Receiving the Word
- Recognizing our Sin
- Reconciliation
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Reflection
- Refugees
- Rejection
- Relationships
- Reliance on Others
- Religion
- Religion and Public Life
- Religions
- Religious Conflict
- Religious Liberty
- Religious Persecution
- Religious Practices
- Renewal
- Renewing our Minds
- Renouncing Faith
- Repentance
- Rescue
- Resilience
- Resistance
- Resisting Temptation
- Responsibility
- Rest
- Rest in God
- Restoration
- Resurrection
- Resurrection from Sin
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Retirement
- Retreat
- Returning to God
- Revelation
- Rewards
- Rhythms
- Rhythms of Rest
- Right and Wrong
- Right Relationships
- Righteous Indignation
- Righteousness
- Rock of Ages
- Role Models
- Roles
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Routines
- Rule of Life
- Running from Your Problems
- Running to God
- Rural Areas
- Ruthlessness
- The Resurrection and the Life
- The Rich
- The Risen Lord
S
- Sabbath
- Sacred vs. Secular
- Sacrifice
- Sacrificial Giving
- Salt and Light
- Salvation
- Salvation History
- Sanctification
- Satan
- Satan's Lies
- Saved by Grace
- Saving Faith
- Savior
- Schedules
- School
- Science
- Science and Religion
- Screens
- Scripture
- Search
- Searching for the Truth
- Seasons
- Secularism
- Security
- Seeds
- Seeking God
- Seeking Happiness
- Self-Acceptance
- Self-Achievement
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Deception
- Self-Discovery
- Self-Expression
- Self-Glory
- Self-Importance
- Self-Improvement
- Self-Indulgence
- Self-Justification
- Self-Knowledge
- Self-Love
- Self-Promotion
- Self-Reliance
- Self-Worth
- Selfishness
- Sending
- Sense of Humor
- Sense of Smell
- Sermon on the Mount
- Servant Leadership
- Servanthood
- Service
- Sexual Immorality
- Sexual License
- Shalom
- Shame
- Sharing the Gospel
- Sickness
- Signs
- Sin Management
- Sin Nature
- Sinfulness
- Sinners
- Sinners and Saints
- Sins
- Sins of the Church
- Slavery
- Sleeping In
- Sloth
- Slowing Down
- Social Justice
- Societal Problems
- Society
- Soil
- Soldiers
- Solitude
- Solutions
- Solving Problems
- Sorrow
- Sounds
- Sowing and Reaping
- Sowing Seeds
- Speech
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Leadership
- Spiritual Nurture
- Spiritual Practices
- Spiritual Problems
- Spiritual Transformation
- Spirituality
- Sports
- Spring (Season)
- Staying Humble
- Steadfast
- Steadfast Love
- Stewardship
- Stillness
- Storms
- Stranger
- Strength
- Stretching Experiences
- Stronghold
- Structures
- Struggles
- Struggles with Prayer
- Stuck
- Success
- Suffering
- Summer
- Sunday
- Surgery
- Surrender
- Sustainer
- The Saints
- The Sick
- The Soul
- The Spiritual Life
T
- Tabernacle
- Taking God for Granted
- Taking Stock
- Taking Up the Cross
- Targets
- Tasks
- Taste
- Taxes
- Teachers
- Teaching
- Team
- Teamwork
- Technology
- Temptation
- Ten Commandments
- Tenderness
- Terrorism
- Thankfulness
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thanksgiving (Holiday)
- Theological Division
- Theology
- Theology of Work
- Thinking
- Thirst
- Thoughtfulness
- Thoughtlesness
- Throne of Grace
- Time
- TIme Management
- Timekeeping
- Tired
- Tithing
- Tongue
- Town
- Tradition
- Training
- Transformation
- Transgressions
- Transitions
- Translation
- Treasure
- Trees
- True Worship
- Trust
- Trust in God
- Truth
- Turning a Blind Eye
- Turning People Away from Jesus
U
W
- The Weak
- The Work of the Holy Spirit
- Wages of Sin
- Walls
- Wandering
- War
- Warning Signs
- Warnings
- Waste
- Wasting Time
- Weakness
- Weakness of Will
- Wealth
- Weariness
- Weather
- Weekend
- Weeping
- Welcoming
- Western Culture
- Wholeness
- Wickedness
- Wilderness
- Wine
- Wisdom
- Witnesses
- Wittiness
- Women
- Words
- Work
- Work and Rest
- Work-Life Balance
- Workaholism
- Workmanship
- Works-Righteousness
- World
- World Leaders
- World Peace
- Worldliness
- Worship
- Wrath
Y
Top_level_categories by Reference
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Deuteronomy
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Esther
Psalm
- Ps 1 (3)
- Ps 2 (3)
- Ps 8 (1)
- Ps 9 (2)
- Ps 13 (1)
- Ps 15 (4)
- Ps 16 (2)
- Ps 18 (1)
- Ps 19 (2)
- Ps 23 (5)
- Ps 25 (1)
- Ps 27 (4)
- Ps 30 (1)
- Ps 31 (1)
- Ps 32 (2)
- Ps 33 (1)
- Ps 34 (9)
- Ps 37 (4)
- Ps 41 (4)
- Ps 42 (5)
- Ps 46 (9)
- Ps 49 (2)
- Ps 51 (12)
- Ps 56 (1)
- Ps 60 (1)
- Ps 62 (2)
- Ps 63 (1)
- Ps 65 (2)
- Ps 67 (1)
- Ps 68 (1)
- Ps 72 (2)
- Ps 73 (5)
- Ps 78 (4)
- Ps 82 (2)
- Ps 85 (3)
- Ps 90 (11)
- Ps 91 (3)
- Ps 92 (1)
- Ps 95 (2)
- Ps 100 (5)
- Ps 103 (7)
- Ps 104 (3)
- Ps 106 (1)
- Ps 110 (1)
- Ps 115 (4)
- Ps 116 (2)
- Ps 118 (3)
- Ps 119 (12)
- Ps 121 (1)
- Ps 122 (2)
- Ps 126 (3)
- Ps 127 (9)
- Ps 128 (2)
- Ps 130 (2)
- Ps 131 (2)
- Ps 133 (4)
- Ps 136 (3)
- Ps 139 (16)
- Ps 141 (2)
- Ps 145 (1)
- Ps 146 (1)
- Ps 147 (2)
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Ezekiel
Joel
Amos
Zephaniah
Zechariah
Matthew
- Matt 1 (1)
- Matt 2 (2)
- Matt 3 (1)
- Matt 4 (10)
- Matt 5 (19)
- Matt 6 (20)
- Matt 7 (7)
- Matt 8 (2)
- Matt 9 (3)
- Matt 10 (2)
- Matt 11 (2)
- Matt 12 (3)
- Matt 13 (5)
- Matt 14 (4)
- Matt 15 (1)
- Matt 16 (8)
- Matt 17 (2)
- Matt 18 (5)
- Matt 19 (5)
- Matt 20 (1)
- Matt 21 (2)
- Matt 22 (2)
- Matt 23 (7)
- Matt 24 (1)
- Matt 25 (18)
- Matt 26 (1)
- Matt 27 (1)
- Matt 28 (2)