Going Deeper

Several hundred years ago, in Florence, Italy, there was an enormous slab of marble that had been abandoned by artists who believed it was unusable. The stone had imperfections, cracks, and problems that made it difficult to work with. For decades, it sat there because nobody believed anything worthwhile could come from it. Then a young artist named Michelangelo came along. He studied the stone, saw something that others couldn't see, and began the painstaking process of carv

I've been thinking about the table for over a year now. And the more I've thought about it, the more convinced I've become that this could be one of the most important series I've ever prepared for. We live in a society that's becoming increasingly isolated, fragmented, shallow, superficial, and divided. I believe God is calling us to rediscover something we've overlooked for far too long: the power of the table. Someone once asked a theologian if he could summarize the Bible

There is always renewal before there is revival. Before God brings transformation through us, He wants to bring transformation in us. Before there is national revival, community revival, or revival in the people around us, there is a moment of personal renewal. We see this clearly in the life of Isaiah. A couple in our church, Cliff and Izzy, have been married for nearly sixty years. Before their wedding, they decided to take dance lessons because, between the two of them, th

Driving through Central Illinois, my kids were amazed by everything they saw—cornfields, cows, tractors, farming. I'm from the city, so they would point at a tractor and ask me what it was doing, and I'd confidently tell them, “They're harvesting.” I think. I don't know much about agriculture, but fortunately for me, the Bible uses it a lot. In Luke 22, Jesus uses an agricultural picture to describe a season every one of us will experience at some point in our lives. He tells

Walt Bettinger, the longtime CEO of Charles Schwab, developed an interesting way of interviewing people for high-level positions. He called it the “wrong order test.” Near the end of the interview process, he would invite a candidate to breakfast. But before they arrived, he would get there early and ask the restaurant staff to intentionally get the person's order wrong—not just once, but multiple times. Why? Because a résumé could tell him what someone had accomplished, but

Years ago, I was at a pastors conference in Long Beach, California. One of the speakers was Pastor Choco De Jesús, a pastor from Chicago who had become internationally known. About fifteen minutes before he was supposed to speak, I noticed him standing outside the auditorium talking with people. There was a green room available to him, so I walked over and asked him why he was out there instead of preparing backstage. He told me something I've never forgotten. “In all my spea

During my sabbatical, I had the distinct honor and privilege of driving from Minnesota to Georgia while my family got to fly. I actually enjoy a good road trip. I like the quiet, the time to think, listen, and especially pray. Somewhere in Georgia, I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit to begin praying about a season of breakthrough—a season where some things that have gone on longer than they should finally begin to turn. I couldn't shake that thought. Maybe you've been in

There’s a story about a father taking his son to a boxing match. Before the fight begins, one of the boxers kneels in his corner, says a prayer, makes the sign of the cross, and stands back up. The son looks at his dad and asks, “Dad, is that prayer going to help him win?” His dad says, “Yes, son—as long as he learned how to box first.” I think that’s a pretty good picture of Proverbs 21:31. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” The

There’s a story about a farmer who owned a 250-acre farm, but was ready to sell for something bigger and better. He called a realtor, and before listing the property, the realtor wrote a description of the farm: For Sale - Beautiful 250 acre farm. Fertile land that produces great harvest, rolling hills, quiet streams stocked with fish, a beautiful two-story house, and wonderful neighbors. When he finished, the farmer said, “Read that to me again.” So the realtor did. After he

Have you ever read a familiar passage of Scripture and suddenly seen something you had never noticed before? That happened to me recently with Philippians 4. I’ve read these verses countless times. I’ve preached them. I’ve quoted them. “Rejoice in the Lord always.” “Do not be anxious about anything.” “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.” “Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable…think about these