Washing Feet and ...

"Owe no one anything except to love one another." Paul gives us this pithy commandment in Romans 13. But if we’re honest, we might be tempted to ask, “Why do I owe anyone love in the first place?” Sure, we can understand that we owe Jesus our love; just look at all He’s done for us! But truth be told, most people haven’t really done much for us that we should owe them anything at all, let alone our love. But notice ...

Young Pastors in ...

A summary of my experience at the Senior Pastor’s Conference at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa this year. I’ve always felt a bit like an outsider. I would consider myself a third generation “Calvary guy”. Pastor Chuck was obviously the first generation and from his ministry God did a great work that brought a whole new generation of pastors and churches. I feel blessed and fortunate to have grown up in one of those c...

Are Altar Calls B...

There are some - perhaps many - in the Christian world today who do not think the practice of the altar call is either biblical or wise. There are also many pastors or preachers who may agree with the idea of the altar call, yet never actually make such an invitation. I believe the altar call is both biblical and important, and I believe that a majority of pastors and preachers should give their listeners a clear inv...

How to Use Parent...

One of the greatest ways to reach out into your community is to meet the real needs of parents and then to share with them the love of Jesus Christ. Some of that pressure comes from the outside with education, economic, and social expectations overwhelming many parents today. And some of the challenges come from inside the family itself. Conflict between family members, lack of cooperation, resistance from children, ...

5 Marks of a Dead...

Is the church you are attending alive or dead?  Or perhaps somewhere in the middle?  In the book of Revelation, Jesus addresses the Church of Sardis, which He classified as “having a name that lived, but was dead” (Revelation 3). Chuck Swindoll in his excellent commentary on the book of Revelation has an outline on “The 5 Marks of a Dead Church.”  I have taken it and added some of my own thoughts. A Dead Church Wor...