Posts by Dave Malnes
Following Christ: No Looking Back
Following Jesus is neither comfortable nor easy. He regularly challenges believers to redefine what it means to live a redeemed life, often by stretching our comfort zones and shedding light on misplaced priorities. The Gospel of Luke illustrates this through three distinct encounters on the road: As they were walking along the road, a disciple…
Read MoreThe Power of One
What number will help you feel successful this year? Is it a financial goal? A number of people? Or, is it a timeline? Be careful! Numbers may never feel like it’s enough unless firmly established and biblically rooted. While budgets require real numbers and our synod asks for statistics like baptisms, adult confirmands, and worship…
Read MoreSafe in Gods Love – Save to be his Witnesses
Loving safely expresses itself outwardly to others when we feel truly loved inwardly. I recently received a profound lesson about God’s love. My granddaughters were visiting, and because they love art projects, I asked them to decorate some of my golf balls with Sharpie pens. With broad strokes of color, hand-drawn red hearts, and messages…
Read MoreEvangelists Trust that God Works Behind the Scenes
Christians regularly pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” When Jesus sent out his disciples, he told them to proclaim, “The kingdom of God is near.” How can Christians convey this same message in today’s world? It begins by trusting the power behind the Word. Jesus illustrated…
Read MoreEvangelists Have the Best Seats in the House
In large stadiums, we find expensive box seats and and prime spots on the 50-yard line. They are not only the best seats to catch all the action, but they are also prestigious. It makes me wonder: What are the best seats in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus addressed this desire for status during a…
Read MoreAn Anecdote for “Selfish Ambition”
Ambition is often the catalyst for success in today’s world. The pursuit of power, glory, or a specific cause fuels a person to invest their time and energy into a singular goal. But is “ambition” an appropriate tool for Christians seeking to advance God’s kingdom? The answer depends entirely upon what drives that ambition. Whenever…
Read MoreNavigating influence in our world
People today are choosing to define God on their own terms. It seems more popular to follow a wide spectrum of influencers rather than a trusted source to answer the question, “What is truth?” And sadly, the Christian church has lost its edge to be a relevant source of absolute truth. How can we navigate…
Read MoreDiscerning the Anger Economy
The Fourth of July weekend is an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends. It may also be a time to exercise discernment in a volatile world with so much uncertainty and fear. It is understandable to be concerned about the future of our children and grandchildren, yet we ought to be cautious when various…
Read MoreMaking the best outreach decisions
It’s easy to avoid making difficult decisions. An expert wrote that it’s wise to not invest too much time making a decision, because it can cause too much confusion. Even asking opinions of others isn’t helpful because people usually don’t understand the context or the reasons. Instead, he argues, the best decisions usually have no…
Read MorePerspective on member participation in outreach activity
Many of our faithful members genuinely support evangelism, mission work, and outreach activity. Yet, well-meaning interest often does not translate into gospel activity. And that can be frustrating. Perhaps it may be helpful to re-calibrate our prayerful hopes and adjust our expectations. Fear, doubt, and anxiety are real emotions that can keep the most seasoned…
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