Richard Ellis Talks

Jesus told His disciples on a number of occasions that He'd die and be raised from the dead. Yet when it actually happened, they were shocked by what had occurred. When we read the accounts of the resurrection in Scripture, it's easy to ask, "Why did the disciples doubt Him?" But we do it too, don't we? God sends us wake-up calls all the time, often through trials and tribulations, in order to draw us back to Him. Unless Jesus returns, we'll all face death one day, and it's up to us to wake up and obey His call before it's too late.

Jesus told His disciples on a number of occasions that He'd die and be raised from the dead. Yet when it actually happened, they were shocked by what had occurred. When we read the accounts of the resurrection in Scripture, it's easy to ask, "Why did the disciples doubt Him?" But we do it too, don't we? God sends us wake-up calls all the time, often through trials and tribulations, in order to draw us back to Him. Unless Jesus returns, we'll all face death one day, and it's up to us to wake up and obey His call before it's too late.

The idea of throwing caution to the wind and doing "whatever" we want, whenever we want has been accepted and even romanticized in our culture for centuries. But God calls us to a better way of living, and it starts with submitting to His will for our lives. When we live in obedience to "whatever" He has in store for us, we start to see extraordinary things happening not only in us, but through us, too!

The idea of throwing caution to the wind and doing "whatever" we want, whenever we want has been accepted and even romanticized in our culture for centuries. But God calls us to a better way of living, and it starts with submitting to His will for our lives. When we live in obedience to "whatever" He has in store for us, we start to see extraordinary things happening not only in us, but through us, too!

We're happy to put God on the throne of our lives when it suits our purposes, but we're just as happy to remove Him when we feel like we can do a better job of being in charge ourselves. But there's only one King of Kings. He's seated in Heaven on the throne of the Most High, and one day, we'll all submit to His Kingship. Instead of playing a "game of thrones" with God for control in our lives, what would happen if we yielded to Him completely and allowed ourselves to experience the life He offers us to the fullest?

We're happy to put God on the throne of our lives when it suits our purposes, but we're just as happy to remove Him when we feel like we can do a better job of being in charge ourselves. But there's only one King of Kings. He's seated in Heaven on the throne of the Most High, and one day, we'll all submit to His Kingship. Instead of playing a "game of thrones" with God for control in our lives, what would happen if we yielded to Him completely and allowed ourselves to experience the life He offers us to the fullest?

Racism isn't a political problem -- it's a church problem. As Christians, we should be counted on to treat all believers as brothers and sisters, because in Christ, there's no distinction between races, economic statuses, or any other disparity that separates us in the eyes of society. The only thing that can keep us together as family, regardless of our differences, is love.

Racism isn't a political problem -- it's a church problem. As Christians, we should be counted on to treat all believers as brothers and sisters, because in Christ, there's no distinction between races, economic statuses, or any other disparity that separates us in the eyes of society. The only thing that can keep us together as family, regardless of our differences, is love.

When it comes to life after death, we all try to imagine what it'll be like. The Bible promises that one of two places awaits us: Heaven for those who believe in Christ and accept Him as their Savior, and hell for those who don't. Do we want to call Heaven our future home, or do we want to miss out on it altogether and be left imagining forever how it would've been?

When it comes to life after death, we all try to imagine what it'll be like. The Bible promises that one of two places awaits us: Heaven for those who believe in Christ and accept Him as their Savior, and hell for those who don't. Do we want to call Heaven our future home, or do we want to miss out on it altogether and be left imagining forever how it would've been?

Jesus didn't have to die. Right up to the crucifixion, He could have saved Himself. But Jesus died because He wanted us, and now we've got to be willing to be wanted in a different way, for His sake. When we speak up about the difference that He's made in our lives, people will hate it. They hated Jesus for the miracles He performed and the truth that He spoke, but He didn't back down, even when it eventually took Him to the cross. It's our job to speak up for Jesus everywhere we go, even if one day it becomes illegal to do so.

Jesus didn't have to die. Right up to the crucifixion, He could have saved Himself. But Jesus died because He wanted us, and now we've got to be willing to be wanted in a different way, for His sake. When we speak up about the difference that He's made in our lives, people will hate it. They hated Jesus for the miracles He performed and the truth that He spoke, but He didn't back down, even when it eventually took Him to the cross. It's our job to speak up for Jesus everywhere we go, even if one day it becomes illegal to do so.

We've all heard the saying, "So close, yet so far." The Bible's clear that no matter how many good deeds we do, it will never make us "good enough" to save ourselves. Whether we try to make up for our mistakes with good actions or even believe that we don’t have sin in our lives, we're all physically born into sin and must be spiritually born again through Jesus Christ to be saved.

We've all heard the saying, "So close, yet so far." The Bible's clear that no matter how many good deeds we do, it will never make us "good enough" to save ourselves. Whether we try to make up for our mistakes with good actions or even believe that we don’t have sin in our lives, we're all physically born into sin and must be spiritually born again through Jesus Christ to be saved.

When Jesus went to the cross and died for our sins, He stood in the gap between us and God. Through His sacrifice, we've been redeemed, and now it's our job to stand in the gap for others through prayer. When someone doesn't yet know Christ, it's our responsibility to intercede on their behalf by praying for the Lord to protect them from evil.