Last month, I considered the question: what is the church? In the previous article I discussed the New Testament imagery used to describe the church. In this article, I will briefly answer the question: why do we need the church? I will provide six reasons the church is valuable to Christians.

Doing what comes easily is rarely spiritually valuable. Habits that produce constructive changes in our lives take intentionality, consistency, and patience. Habits that mature us spiritually never–yes I am confident in the word–never develop by accident. Because our flesh fights against that which will make us more like Jesus, we must fight back and habitually choose actions that will make us increasingly like Jesus.

In Psalm 71, we find three specific habits that will help us reach our spiritual goal of Christlikeness.

As 2023 begins, I wonder who will be lord of your life in the coming months. When the angel announced the birth of Jesus, he was called Christ the Lord. Many people call Jesus their Lord, but fail to live as if he is actually the one ruling their hearts and lives. So often, our language is flippant and reckless; we say one thing, meaning another. We boldly claim that we are going to obey God, and yet blatantly disobey His word. “Lord” is a word that is often thrown around in Christian circles with little regard for its actual meaning. If we are going to claim Jesus as Lord of our lives, we need to be sure that we are using the word accurately.

We live in an angry country where people are eager to unleash their discourteous anger at the drop of a hat. In a culture that incessantly worships individualism and absolute autonomy, disrespectful and cruel speech has become the norm. Like it or not, it’s the way it is. Rude and disrespectful people are easy to find.

Maybe, you’re one of them.

Whenever I hear people speak who are in gospel ministry in various parts of the world, my heart is always encouraged. It is tempting to develop a myopic view of the world and only see what is right before our eyes.

In John 8:44 Jesus confronts his opponents by saying, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has shamelessly opposed God while promoting his crafty lies to humanity. It is important to note the essential truths were learn about Satan in this single verse of Scripture:

1. Satan is a murderer: he does not have anyone’s best interest in mind other than his own.

2. Satan has nothing to do with truth: he categorically rejects God and His commandments.

3. Satan contains no truth: his character is perfectly evil; there is nothing about Satan that is wholesome.

4. Satan is the father of lies: he effectively creates deceit in order to lead individuals down the path to spiritual destruction.

Given the unholy character of Satan, believers must pay careful attention to Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 6:10-20. In verse 11 of this passage, Paul writes, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” The armor of God is necessary for Christians to successfully stand against the vicious strategies of the devil. Satan is very real, and too powerful for even the most mature believer to defeat in his or her own strength.

“Schemes” is a translation of the Greek word methodeia, from which we get the English word “method” or “methodology.” Methodeia means “cunning arts, deceit, craftiness, trickery, or deception.” The word was used to describe a wild animal stalking its prey before attacking for the purpose of destruction. Paul’s imagery could hardly be clearer. Like a roaring lion, Satan is actively plotting and scheming against God’s people (see 1 Peter 5:8). He cunningly exploits the sinful desires residing in individual hearts to draw people away from God and His truth. Although Satan is not omniscient, he has observed humanity long enough to know what temptations are particularly effective. Because his character is unholy, he purposefully schemes to spiritually destroy as many people as possible.

Satan’s schemes are insidious; they are a perfectly baited and camouflaged trap waiting to ensnare and crush those who are not spiritually prepared. The devil makes use of various schemes to gain a spiritual advantage over individuals. He masterfully dresses up and disguises evil to make it attractive. Evil can quickly gain a foothold in a believer’s life because it is attractive, desirable, and seemingly legitimate. The devil’s chicanery makes sin appear reasonable and harmless.

Christians would be wise to consider Satan’s most familiar schemes. Six examples of common temptations would include:

1. Temptation to be hopeless: when individuals lose hope, they quickly spiral into despair. Those without hope often become consumed with anger, bitterness, and resentment. Hopeless people are easy targets for Satan’s spiritual attacks. When tempted to lose hope, recall the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair.”

2. Temptation to be proud: pride is a common temptation; it is one Satan loves to employ. When persons think more highly of themselves than they should, they have little use for God and His Word. Proud people are conceited and readily look down upon others. Proud individuals believe they can live life on their terms, and typically rely on rationalizations and excuses to justify sinful decisions. When tempted with pride, recall the familiar words of Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

3. Temptation to be doubtful: when Christians doubt and question God’s goodness, discouragement and disbelief are not far behind. Individuals who question God’s character will open themselves to distrust. And distrust of God makes one particularly prone to the devil's wicked plots. When tempted with doubt, recall the words of Psalm 62:8, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”

4. Temptation to be impure: typically, impurity begins in the mind. Persistent patterns of sinful thinking produce sinful behaviors. Desires for pleasure, comfort, control, convenience, and praise can lead believers down various paths to sinfulness. The list of impurities is endless; therefore, there is not a believer who is impervious to this temptation. When tempted with impurity, recall the words of 1 Peter 1:15, “He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”

5. Temptation to be passive: it is easy to let our guard down and believe Satan has abandoned ship. Like a sniper firing from a rooftop, Satan often attacks when it is least expected. Satan is such a cunning enemy, he sometimes pauses his assault in hopes of discovering a more expedient time to serve up temptation. When tempted with passivity, recall Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

6. Temptation to be autonomous: the illusion of self-sufficiency and personal autonomy convinces people that they do not need God and have no responsibility to obey His commandments. Most individuals want to be the captain of their own lives and answer to no one but themselves. When tempted with autonomy, recall Jesus’s words in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

As a Christian entering the spiritual battlefield, do not be discouraged by the fiery darts of the devil’s cunning antics. Living in the midst of spiritual warfare guarantees that all of God’s people will face temptation. While Temptations will come, Christians have no reason to fear. According to Ephesians 1:20-23, Christ has already defeated the forces of evil; therefore, followers of Christ have no need to fear the devil or his minions. This does not mean, however, that these wicked forces do not have sway over people living in this age. Individual Christians are not called to win the victory which has already been won by Jesus on the cross. But believers are called to withstand the devil’s attacks. In Christ, Christians stand in victory on this side of the cross. Satan may rage and rattle his saber, but through Jesus Christ he is a defeated enemy who cannot destroy us.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers can stand strong. Put on and take up the whole armor of God, and courageously stand. Wrapped in God’s armor, Christians will be able to stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Because this spiritual conflict will continue until the end of the age, God’s people must be properly equipped. Ephesians 4:27 calls Christians to “give no opportunity to the devil.” While Satan and his forces are formidable foes, their attacks can be resisted through the strength of the Lord and His armor.

As James says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12).

President Joe Biden made history last week when he announced the federal government will be forgiving thousands of student loans. This unprecedented decision will cost American taxpayers millions of dollars. As with most political decisions, this course of action has been met with a variety of responses.

There was little surprise when Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine. Nonetheless, my heart sank when I saw the news early on the morning of Thursday, February 24, 2022 reporting that the invasion had officially begun. Days into this war, I pray that I am wrong about the trajectory of this conflict. Deep in my soul, I sense the stage is set for a widespread conflict in Europe which could possibly spread into other parts of the world.

My wife Michelle and I recently made a huge error in judgment. We bought our son a new bed. I know that sounds simple enough. Foolishly, we believed the project would be nothing more than switching out a place where our son sleeps each night. This seemingly uncomplicated purchase, however, led to a major remodel of our upstairs.

And here we are – 2022 has arrived! Somehow another twelve months has passed us by. I do not know about you, but I refuse to waste much time worrying about what has been. Amazingly 2021, with all of its blessings and trials, is past history. None of us can go back and erase, correct, or choose a different path. What is behind us is past history.

All of us will worship something this Christmas because you are, by nature, a worshipper. But will we choose to worship the Creator or the creation?

The church is to be a place where people are taught the Scriptures so they increasingly become more like Jesus. Programs facilitate this process, but they cannot replace it.

Over the last two months, we have been discussing David’s profound words in Psalm 142. As we read through this psalm, we find some key insights into David’s thought process.

We all understand that there will be people in our lives from time to time who seek to cause us difficulty. Most of us have probably known at least one person who particularly enjoys creating havoc for others. It can be discouraging when someone is seemingly laying a trap for us. In those times when it appears someone is out to get us, we must remember that the Lord knows our way.