10 Things I Really Care About

Hey Discover Church, in reflecting over the last several years of my life and ministry I have compiled a list of practices that I am fully committed to fleshing out.  I have challenged our staff and ministry team leaders to not only agree with them but to also fully commit to them.  Over the next several weeks I will be unpacking them for you here.  I am sharing these with you in the hope that you will:
1.  understand who we are more completely
2.  see this in who we are as a church
3.  work hard to align yourself and your practices around these things
4.  help us improve in these key areas

The first of the "10 Things I Really Care About" is a commitment to strong, biblical teaching.  Simply stated, I really, really trust the Scriptures.  God has provided wonderful promises to us through the Bible.  Here are a few that guide me regularly:

• The Bible purifies-Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."  
• The Bible guides-Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
• The Bible prepares & equips-2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
• The Bible is our offensive weapon-Ephesians 6:17 "Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
• The Bible is alive & powerful--Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."

As the Pastor of Discover Church I have a charge to, "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2).  This is not an easy or light responsibility rather it is one that I take very seriously.  

There are so many life-giving results that come from the Scriptures why would I need to depend on any other source to communicate?  God has promised that His Word will accomplish all He wants it to do (Isaiah 55:11).  It is with full confidence in Him that I stand before you week in and week out.  I promise to not share my thoughts but to speak under the authority of the timeless truth of the Scriptures!