God is so committed to your ultimate joy that he was willing to plunge into the greatest depths of suffering himself for you.

Prayer should be done regularly, persistently, resolutely, and tenaciously at least daily, whether we feel like it or not.

To preach the gospel is to show people their need for salvation against a backdrop of God's nature and the character of sin, and then present Jesus as the only remedy for what ails them and the world. In my weekly preaching in the worship services I always call people to believe in Christ.

Real love, the Bible says, instinctively desires permanence.

By praying with friends, you will be able to hear and see facets of Jesus that you have not yet perceived.

If you're avoiding sin and living morally so that God will have to bless you and save you, then you may be looking to Jesus as a teacher, model, and helper, but ironically you are avoiding him as Savior. You are trusting in your own goodness rather than in Jesus for your standing with God.

For every one look at your sins, take five looks at your Savior.