How would you answer the question, “Specifically, what glorifies God?” Tonight at bedtime, could you answer the question: “Did I glorify God today?” Unless we know what the Bible says glorifies God, how can we know if we’ve done it?   A study of two Greek words (doxa, “glory” and doxazō, “glorify”) tells us exactly what glorifies God. When you look at all 202 occurrences of these words, you discover five things we can do which glorify God: 1. Speaking of God’s power/awesomeness and righteousness/justice glorifies God (Matthew 9:8; 15:31; Mark 2:12; Luke 2:20; 5:25-26; 7:16; 13:13; 17:15-18; 18:43; John 7:18; Acts 4:21; 11:18; 12:23; 13:48; 21:20; Romans 4:20; 15:6-9; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 1:24; Philippians 2:11; 4:20; Hebrews 3:3; 2 Peter 1:17; Revelation 4:9; 11:13; 19:7) 2. Godly living, especially costly obedience and ministry, glorifies God (Matthew 5:16; John 12:28; 13:31-32; 14:13; … Read entire article »

Romans 1:18-25 says something very interesting: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them…. Even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks… One would expect that this kind of person… would have no religious practices would be entirely “secular” would laugh at those who worship   In fact, we see something quite different happening.  Here’s how our passage concludes: …They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Do you see that? They didn’t stop worshiping—they simply moved their allegiance from the One True God to … Read entire article »

Yesterday I had a wonderful discussion with four of TCC’s remarkable young men.  Ever since the MERGE conference four months ago, they’ve been meeting each week—on their own initiative!—to discuss, grapple with, and apply TCC’s weekly teaching!   It was the high-point of my day (and that’s saying a lot, since that morning I’d been on the lake in my sailboat!).  I wonder, what will God do though those four men over the next five, ten, twenty, fifty years?! … Read entire article »