At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Matthew 18:1. This question that the disciples posed indicates to readers that they still had a lot to learn about what it truly means to be a minister. They were caught off guard with Jesus’ answer, He told them they had to become as little children to become great. A few days ago, while I was teaching Sunday School, the children learned the story about Jesus telling the disciples to become like little children. This was such (and is) such a foreign concept for us to conceptualize. We try so hard to become someone of worth by the things we do, but to God, we become great when we have childlike faith and a servants heart. Oftentimes, God’s perception of greatness is the exact opposite of the prestige and popularity we have envisioned. Jesus came to this world as a humble servant to seek and to save those who were lost. The word minister means to serve; it is an action word. However, since the fourth Century it has become known as a position, rather than a call for every person…

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, ESV) I frequently use my dad’s old, worn Bible (now held together by duct tape) to read a morning passage. Today it fell open to Jeremiah 32, and I quickly noticed that he had marked verse 27. Although written as a question, there is no doubt this is a strong statement of God’s unlimited power. He is letting us know that nothing, absolutely nothing, is too difficult for Him to do. When our faith grows a little weak, we sometimes forget that. If you were to name some of the impossibilities in the Bible that Almighty God made possible, what would you put on the list? There are so many, but your list might read something like this. A sea rolled back, and a multitude walked through on dry ground (Exodus 14). The walls of Jericho fell as the Israelites shouted and blew trumpets (Joshua 6). The sun stood still (Joshua 10). Three men survived totally unharmed after being thrown into a fiery furnace  (Daniel 3). Daniel survived a night in the lion’s den (Daniel 6). A virgin gave birth to a long-awaited…

“But Noah found favor with the LORD . . . So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” (Genesis 6:8 and 22, NLT)  Near where I live is an area with a Walk of Fame that honors more than 150 famous people from the Greater St. Louis area. Embedded in the sidewalk are brass stars and bronze plaques recognizing entertainers, sports figures, literary figures, and others with notable accomplishments. I’ve walked the street and read many of the plaques on this Walk of Fame, but I find myself more impressed by the names I find listed in Hebrews 11. This chapter contains the Faith Hall of Fame. There are no brass stars or bronze plaques, but the men and women listed there are my heroes. Let me tell you one man’s story. Noah was nearly 500 years old when God said He could no longer tolerate the wickedness of mankind (Genesis 6). Yet, this one man found favor in God’s sight, and God spared him and his family from a watery destruction. When God told Noah to make an ark of gopher wood, he did not protest or procrastinate. He got to work—and continued to work for the…

We often blame external reasons when our prayer lives aren’t what they should be. I don’t have a quiet place. I don’t have enough time. But did you know you could be hindering your own prayers? God gave us prayer to worship, confess, seek His will, and ask for necessities and desires. In the Old Testament King James translation, the Hebrew word “pray” is often translated as “ask.” Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the garden. After their sin, God spoke through prophets, specially chosen people, and even a donkey. Few of God’s people talked to Him directly in the Old Testament. By the time Jesus came, the Jews had come to rely so heavily on the religious leaders that He had to teach them how to approach God in prayer themselves. Today, people change doctrines and churches to find the right fit. Many people depend on religious leaders instead of following a shepherd who follows Christ, searching the Scriptures for themselves, and changing their hearts to agree with God’s revealed truth. The first time “pray” is mentioned in the New Testament is in Matthew 5:44. Here, Jesus told the disciples to pray for their enemies, but…