How can we coexist?

Posted on February 5, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

This is the 20th post in the Sermon on the Mount Series. “Give peace a chance” “Coexist” You’ve probably seen bumper stickers with similar sentiments. The problem is that evil is a reality that must be dealt with. Some men (or women) will seek to dominate others through force or intimidation. Even a casual investigation into the […]

No money in the revenge business

Posted on December 3, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 5 Comments

A line from the movie The Princess Bride got me thinking about revenge and forgiveness and what the Bible has to say about them.

Remember the real enemy – it may not be who you think

Posted on June 8, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 2 Comments

1 Peter 5:8 tells us that our real enemy is the devil who prowls around looking for those he can devour. Unfortunately we, as church members, sometimes aid him in his devouring.

The God of new beginnings and second chances

Posted on March 1, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

Failure is a normal part of life. How does God respond to our failures? He gives a second chance and gives us the power to do better.

Yancey on the need for an absolute standard

Not only does Christianity provide an answer to the evils that surrounds me, it provides an answer the the evil that resides in my own heart.

The same power

These words have bothered me. I agree that they are true, I agree that Jesus has demonstrated that power to us. But singing them brought up some questions in my mind.

Remember the real enemy – it may not be who you think

1 Peter 5:8 tells us that our real enemy is the devil who prowls around looking for those he can devour. Unfortunately we, as church members, sometimes aid him in his devouring.

Working to get what we already have

The main point is that I don’t have to strive to achieve holiness; it is something that has already been granted to me. I don’t have to work to get holiness; I already have it by being in Christ. I had been working to get something that I already have.

Tune my heart . . .

It is precisely because Jesus died and rose again that I can have hope to be other than I am. For what could I pray if there was no hope that my sin has been conquered? For what could I pray if Jesus did not rise and demonstrate that sin and death are vanquished? What hope have I without the Cross and the empty tomb?

Please God alone

My greatest struggle in being part of the church has been when leaders possessed a certitude about how things should be done that borders on presumption. If I have learned one thing about humanity, it is that we are all inherently flawed. I have ample evidence in myself and others of the depravity of man. We are broken and that brokenness affects everything that we touch. As a result, we should have a healthy distrust of ourselves and a confidence in God alone.