July 27, 2021
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, I preached on when Jesus cleared the money changers out of the temple, which happened in John 2 and again in Mark 11. One of the most powerful sermons I ever heard was on these passages, and was given by Jim Cymbala at a praise gathering (you can watch it on YouTube here). Cymbala references the episode where Jesus clears the money changers out of the temple in order to drive home the point that God’s house is meant to be a house of prayer above all other things ...Keep Reading
Tags: Church, Prayer
July 20, 2021
by Eric Stillman
Many years ago, I remember someone telling a story that went something like this:
There once was a little girl who had a necklace made of plastic pearls that she loved to wear. One night, her father came and kindly asked her, “would you please give me your pearls?” The little girl refused, because she did not want to give them up. Night after night, her father would say good night, tuck her in, and then ask “would you please give me your pearls?” And night after night, the little girl would say no.
...Keep Reading
Tags: Grace, Discipleship, idols, Trust
July 13, 2021
by Eric Stillman
What price would you be willing to pay to experience more of the love, joy, peace, and fullness of God in your life?
Honestly, that question frightens me. Even though I know in my head that God is good, that He is the pearl of great price that is worth selling everything for, I still have a great deal of fear when it comes to following Him....Keep Reading
Tags: God, Discipleship, Sacrifice
July 6, 2021
by Eric Stillman
In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles are spreading the good news about Jesus through preaching and miraculous deeds. The Jewish high court arrests them and forbids them to speak in Jesus’ name. Peter boldly refuses to comply with their demands, and as a result, the religious leaders want to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel addresses the assembly, advising them to leave the men alone. He tells them that “if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)...Keep Reading
Tags: Church, Prayer
July 6, 2021
by Eric Stillman
In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles are spreading the good news about Jesus through preaching and miraculous deeds. The Jewish high court arrests them and forbids them to speak in Jesus’ name. Peter boldly refuses to comply with their demands, and as a result, the religious leaders want to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel addresses the assembly, advising them to leave the men alone. He tells them that “if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)...Keep Reading
Tags: Church, Prayer
July 6, 2021
by Eric Stillman
In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles are spreading the good news about Jesus through preaching and miraculous deeds. The Jewish high court arrests them and forbids them to speak in Jesus’ name. Peter boldly refuses to comply with their demands, and as a result, the religious leaders want to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel addresses the assembly, advising them to leave the men alone. He tells them that “if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)...Keep Reading
Tags: Church, Prayer
June 29, 2021
by Eric Stillman
In John 8, Jesus is put to the test by a group of Jewish religious leaders. A number of teachers of the law and Pharisees drag before Jesus a woman caught in adultery and ask Jesus whether or not she should be stoned, as the law of Moses commands. This is most certainly a trap set for Jesus, as you will notice the adulterous man is nowhere to be found. The trap is this: if Jesus upholds the law, all of the outcasts who have been drawn to him will desert him, but if he lets her go, then he will be guilty of breaking God’s law and discredit himself as a man of God....Keep Reading
Tags: Jesus, Church, John 8
June 22, 2021
by Eric Stillman
Another day, another report of a pastor behaving badly, ruining his reputation, disillusioning his flock, and shipwrecking the witness of Christ’s church. While I know that “there but for the grace of God go I,” I am also resolute in my heartfelt desire to bring God the maximum amount of glory possible through my life.
In Paul’s first letter to his protégé Timothy, he tells him to watch his life and doctrine closely....Keep Reading
Tags: Discipleship
June 15, 2021
by Eric Stillman
I was challenged recently by something I heard in a video by Dennis Fuqua, a pastor and leader of a prayer ministry called International Renewal Ministries. He was addressing the question of how to handle prayer requests that may have little relevance to your personal situation ...Keep Reading
Tags: Prayer
June 8, 2021
by Eric Stillman
There are few activities that are as dangerous to my spirit as looking at the websites of other churches. Far from being a neutral exercise, this endeavor typically ends with either despair, as I compare myself and our church and feel inadequate, or disdain, as I smugly criticize what I am seeing. Lord, have mercy....Keep Reading
Tags: Discipleship, Envy, Contentment
