Family Devotions and Spiritual Awakenings
"I will get married in a few months. What advice do you have for me?" Working with hundreds of college students, these are words I have heard many times. As...
The Reliability of God’s Word
In a world where it is difficult to know what to trust or who to trust, it is a comfort to know that we can absolutely trust in the reliability...
Santorini and the Bible
Santorini and the Philistines “Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the Lord will...
What Does the Bible Say?
What Does the Bible Say? It is impossible to get the right answer when you are asking the wrong question! Our world is full of issues that must be addressed,...
Journey Through Ezra
We are journeying through the little book of Ezra. And what an amazing book it is. Ezra is a very short book, a brief book, and it picks up exactly...
A Full Life » Robert Murray M’Cheyne
A Full Life Robert Murray M'Cheyne was one of the rare souls who was allowed to live and labor only a few years, but his influence has had a profound...
Indispensable Factors In Revival
Jonathan Goforth was a man who experienced the power of God in His life. This mighty preacher preached all over the world and made a difference for eternity. He was...
“I Don’t Know Who to Believe Anymore!”
"I Don't Know Who to Believe Anymore!" Recently, I heard a group of ladies speaking at a restaurant. The conversation revolved around current events and the chaos in our world....
The Bible is The Word of God
The Bible is The Word of God Few people want to talk about it and even fewer understand it. Yet, all of life boils down to authority: whose authority will we...
Togo: A Gospel Opportunity!
Togo. What do you know about it? For most people, the answer would be, "not much." Yet, in Togo, many faithful believers are laboring to see millions freed from the...
Yes, Doctrine Matters!
Yes, Doctrine Matters! “We have found a new church and it is wonderful! Everyone has a great time, and they don’t talk about doctrine.” I cannot tell you how often...
Study the Parables of Jesus
Everybody Loves a Good Story!Life is a story. Moses said, "We spend our years as a tale that is told." Perhaps that is why people around the world love to...
What Is Your Bible Emphasis for the Year?
This week someone asked me, "What is your Bible word for the year?" For many years I have adopted a word, a book, or a truth from Scripture as my...
Hear the Word Every Day This Year!
Most believers are content to hear a sermon on Sunday or listen to a preacher a couple of times each week. God designed it that we would hear from Him...
The Growth of a Sermon
A preacher’s sermon should simply be an organized expression of a biblical message. The right kind of preaching will not be rooted in a man’s idea but in God’s Word....
Christians You Should Know: William Wilberforce
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9 A Snapshot of the Life of William...
Improving Your Spiritual Memory through Scripture Memory
There are all types of memory. You may have an extremely good long term memory, or perhaps your short term memory is better. This is different for every person -...
Do You Know the Four Verses?
Recently I was sharing with a friend some of what God is teaching me through Psalm 119 this year. (Read more here.) It has been a joy to study it...
“Praying Through”
Years ago I used to hear some people refer to “praying through” as a metaphor for praying until you breakthrough to Heaven. I understand what many of these sincere people...
Preachers Need Preaching Too!
When my dad was in his 30’s God called him to be a preacher. I have heard him tell the story of seeking counsel from his older brother James who...
Help for Parents and Youth Workers
Each Saturday on "The Weekend Pulpit" we share a full-length Bible message from a recent meeting. Currently we are posting messages that I gave at the Wilds youth camp last...
The 22 Day Challenge
Behavioral scientists have suggested that it takes 21 days to create a habit. I don’t know about that but I do know that in three weeks time much can be...
A Devotional Discipline: Writing the Scriptures
God gave His Word once and promised to preserve it to every generation (Psalm 12:7). No new truth is being revealed and it is our conviction that God’s last word...
“Truth for Youth” Available on the Bible App!
Last month we made available for the first time a devotional plan on the YouVersion Bible App. “Which Way Do We Go?” is a fifteen day study on discerning the...
New Bible App Plan!
"Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not." (Psalm 17:5) We are firm believers in the power of God's Word. Enjoying the Journey is dedicated to...
Countdown to Christmas
Can you imagine the days leading up to the birth of Christ? No family has ever had thoughts, emotions, and Christmas preparation like that first family! Joseph and Mary, thrilled...
5 Ways to Get More Out of Your Bible Reading
Would you like to get more out of your daily Bible reading? We all find ourselves at times going through the motions but missing the meaning. Routines very easily become...
Messages from Southwide
One week ago we concluded the 2021 Southwide Baptist Fellowship. The Holy Spirit guided us through the meeting and every message from God's Word was used to minister to us....
Needed: Heart Preaching
There are all types of preachers and a variety of delivery styles. For years I told young men in homiletics that the important thing was that they become a Bible...
The Worst Thing Job Lost & the One Thing We All Must Find
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job…” So begins the story of a man who knew more about suffering and loss than most people...
Do You Really Believe In The Authority of the Bible?
Do You Really Believe In The Authority of the Bible? Few want to talk about it today and even fewer understand it. Yet all of life boils down to authority:...
TRUTH.
Such a beautiful word: truth. Its substance is much the same as its sound - simple and straightforward. There seems to be a short supply of it in our world...
How To Learn To Pray
We are all students when it comes to prayer. Andrew Murray wrote a classic book called With Christ In The School of Prayer. I must confess to you that I...
What the “Cancel Culture” Can’t Touch
The only reason people have to knowingly promote a lie is that, for some reason, they are afraid of the truth. God’s people never have to fear the truth! Truth...
More To Come
Are you worn down? Nerves on edge? Wondering what is coming next? These have been challenging days for so many, but we should not be surprised. As we near the...
How God Used A Christmas Passage To Show Me His Will
It was Sunday, September 7, 2015. My mind was racing in so many directions. I knew that God was working in my life to show me His will but it...
Christians Should Vote!
As Americans citizens we have been blessed - spoiled, in fact - to grow up in freedom. It is a freedom that few have enjoyed throughout history and many will...
5 Books to Read On The Book
There is no book on earth like God's Book - it is the very Word of the Living God, and every word of it is for us! I love the...
5 Books To Read For Answers
Ours is an age of questions, skeptics, and debate. Paul described the last days well when he wrote, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the...
Stop (Just) Reading the Bible!
Yes, that's what I said. Stop it. Stop reading the Bible. It is not that the Bible should not be read, rather, it is that too often we substitute Bible...
5 Books To Read On Preaching
It is a great privilege to stand and preach God's Word to others. In fact, it is a high and holy calling that should never be taken for granted! Preachers...
3 Things To Look For As You Study the Bible
Are you hungry to know God in a deeper way? We come to know God through His Word - literally, through His words. We believe that the very words of...
What Do You See When You Look In The Mirror?
The Word of God is an amazing book. Only through its divine lens do we begin to see clearly. Without it our view of reality is skewed by sin and...
4 Things We Must Not Do With The Truth
We live in a world of lies because people have rejected the truth. The condition of Isaiah's day is much like our own, "And judgment is turned away backward, and...
Our Next Bible Study Series
It is a joy to study God's Word and a privilege to share it with others. More and more people are joining our daily Enjoying The Journey episodes and we...
30 Years Ago Tonight
Thirty years ago tonight I surrendered my life to Christ to preach His Word. Thirty years. A few days later, as a twelve-year-old boy, I stood in a cottage prayer...
3 Ways To Use Your Lunch Break For God
We all love the lunch hour! A few moments of quiet from the busyness of the work day. The halfway point. And, most of all...the food! But have you ever...
Journey To The Land Of The Bible With Us!
Have you ever thought you would like to study the Bible in the very places where it all happened? Just this week I read devotionally the account of Moses looking...
40 Days Of Prayer
Every day should be a day of prayer, but it is a good thing to set aside specific seasons to give yourself to concentrated prayer. Extended periods of prayer help...
Messages In March
Recently we have heard from precious friends who are watching and listening to messages given at recent meetings. Sometimes the churches that we are in livestream their services or archive...
7 Ways The Bible Helps Your Prayer Life
We all know we ought to pray more. We all want to pray more effectively. Wouldn't it be wonderful if God wrote a manual on prayer? Indeed, He has! God's...
My 90 Day Adventure
Bible reading schedules have not been a great help to me. While I can appreciate the discipline they develop, for me they often became a distraction, a duty, a drudgery....
Dear Preacher, Preach In Faith.
Preach In Faith All of us who have preached for any length of time can testify that some things are different every time we stand to preach. The truth never...
“Is Drinking Alcoholic Beverages Right Or Wrong?” by Dr. Johnny Pope
This week on our "Enjoying the Journey" podcast I am dealing with what the Word of God says about alcohol. (You may subscribe or listen at enjoyingthejourney.org.) As an accompanying...
You Are What You Eat.
This is not an article on health and wellness. It is much more important than that. (If my mother is reading this I want to go on record as saying...
Improving Your Devotional Life
Almost every day, the topic of the devotional life comes up. Let's be honest. We all struggle with it. Not just consistency, but truly having a meaningful time with God....
One Word Can Make A World Of Difference – Helps for Bible Study
I remember well the first Bible word study I ever did. It was an easy word. I already knew what it meant...or at least I thought I did. On that...
A Story That Changed The Way I Look At The Bible
Below is one of the longest posts I have ever made and yet it will be one of the most enjoyable reads. As a college student, learning to learn, I...
A Bible Teacher
Most Sunday mornings I am asked to address a combined Sunday School class or spend time with a particular Bible study group. This is always something I enjoy doing and...
A Poem, A Principle, and A Prayer
When I was in college someone gave me a copy of an anonymous poem about the Bible as God's revelation of Himself. Today we begin a new podcast series called...
Special Announcement!
I am so very excited about the news I am going to share with you today! At the beginning of this year we began a daily podcast to promote the...
What I Have Learned About Series Preaching
Evangelists are not typically known for series preaching. For many years I thought that sermon series were basically pastoral in nature. More and more I believe that such preaching is...
A Devotional Truth for the Evening
Every close to the day is a reminder that God has not failed or forsaken us. Weariness should remind us that His strength was sufficient. Memories should remind us that...
A Devotional Truth for the Morning
I am in another time zone this morning. Next week I will be in a time zone ten and a half hours different from home! It is easy for mornings...
A Word for 2018
There is power in one word from God. I hold a personal conviction that the very words and every word of Scripture are given by inspiration of God. They have...
A Scripture for 2018
Many of us have made definite commitments to give renewed attention to God's Word in the new year. For me, that means something different every year. I try not to...
Will You Join Us On the Journey?
Six years ago this month I began writing on our blog. At the time God led me to call it Enjoying the Journey. (You may read more about why I chose...
Free Audio Book of Philippians
This months resource is one of my favorites. In fact, it is my favorite book of the Bible! One of my instructors in college said that his favorite book of...
The Danger of Erasing History
In 1948, Winston Churchill said to the House of Commons, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Our own nation is in the midst of a revolution....
A Simple Idea for Families
A Simple Idea for Families Families are busier than they have ever been. One of the most challenging things to do as a spouse or parent is to consistently read...
Walking with Jesus – 30 Days Through the Gospel Records
Are you spiritually fit? Spiritual health does not come on accident - it is a product of purposeful disciplines. In recent days the Lord has taken me again to the...
Revival of Bible Reading Bookmark – 7 Suggestions for Getting the Most from God’s Word
Each month this year we are offering a free resource to help encourage Christians and churches. These tools are designed to encourage prayer, Bible reading, witnessing, and personal ministry to...
Seven Tips for Bible Reading
I often hear wonderful messages on the subject of reading the Word of God. The Scriptures are so wonderful! We may grow stale, but the Lord is perennially fresh! We...
A Deepening Conviction
A Deepening Conviction Every conviction in our hearts should grow out of God's Word. With the passage of time, those convictions that are founded in eternal truth only deepen. The...
12 Minutes A Day
A Christian's relationship with the Word of God does not end with Bible reading, but it does start there. The simple discipline of reading the Scriptures is a powerful resource...
The Book That Saves the World
The Book that Saves the World A few weeks ago, I picked up a copy of the Wall Street Journal in a hotel. As I was breezing quickly through the...
An Aid for Your Prayer Life
Prayer is a help. It is our connection to the great Helper! Prayer is our lifeline to Heaven and the only way to live victoriously on earth. Yet, as surely...
Daily Bread (Daily Living – Part 4)
Confession: I love to eat. Food makes the day so much more interesting. It is one of my favorite hobbies to tour America by restaurant! Most of us rarely go...
3 Books to Use In Your Devotional Time
Books are wonderful tools. When it comes to the daily quiet time there are a number of wonderful books that may be used with great benefit. Occasionally I enjoy reading...
Why Carry a Bible to Church?
Why Carry a Bible to Church? My pastor always begins his Bible messages the same way: "Take the Word of God with me please and turn to..." It is a...
2015 – The Year of the Bible
Last January the American Bible Society released a study of the most "Bible-minded" cities in the United States. Our city was ranked number one. Knoxville, Tennessee was listed first in...
Our Daily Bread
This week a fine young man sent me a message asking how to keep his mind fixed on Christ while surrounded by so many distractions. It is not an easy...
A 31 Day Devotional Challenge that Could Change the Way You Approach the Bible
Two of God's most blessed servants, one hundred years apart, practiced the same devotional habit. Both George Whitefield and George Mueller read the Bible each day on their knees. This...
Making the Most of the Mornings
I am not a morning person. The older I get I am not a night person either! That being said, I have come to realize the power of the morning...
Quiet!!!
Silence is a beautiful thing. Our noisy world seems to clamor for attention more and more. In a home with little children quiet is often at a premium. When our...
Genuine Prayers = Meaningful Prayers
How to Make Prayer More Meaningful The new year brings with it fresh thoughts about our devotional life. We all need to give more time and attention to prayer. To...
The Greatest Method of Bible Study
The Greatest Method of Bible Study "I have been reading the Bible but I don't know how to study it. Can you help?" We have all been there at some...
The Power of History
I live around history...and I love it. Just outside my office at Crown College is a 30,000 square foot Christian Heritage Center. For me, history is alive and exciting. Yet...
My Greatest Need
Every generation requires true men of God who carry on the work of the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. An entry in the journal of Henry Martyn...
How to Pray for a Special Meeting
Today we begin our annual Baptist Friends Conference at Temple Baptist Church and Crown College. Pastor Sexton and our precious people love hosting this meeting and seeking to encourage hundreds...
5 Books To Read As Commentaries