Richard Ellis Talks

Parents know how rewarding it is when their child not only obeys them, but wants to do things for them out of love. In the same way, we please God not just by obeying Him out of obligation, but by delighting in serving Him. And when we live our lives to please the Lord, it's amazing how He uses us to impact others in rewarding ways.

Parents know how rewarding it is when their child not only obeys them, but wants to do things for them out of love. In the same way, we please God not just by obeying Him out of obligation, but by delighting in serving Him. And when we live our lives to please the Lord, it's amazing how He uses us to impact others in rewarding ways.

When we become Christians, it becomes our responsibility to tell others about Jesus. And sometimes, that means stepping out of our comfort zone. The question is, what scares us more: sharing the Good News with others, or not obeying the call of God to spread the Gospel?

When we become Christians, it becomes our responsibility to tell others about Jesus. And sometimes, that means stepping out of our comfort zone. The question is, what scares us more: sharing the Good News with others, or not obeying the call of God to spread the Gospel?

The Apostle Paul wrote that singleness is a gift, because it frees us up to serve God wholeheartedly without any distractions. But he pointed out that if we do get married, we should still be using our lives and our marriages to honor the Lord. When we put God first regardless of our "relationship status", every other relationship we have benefits from it!  

The Apostle Paul wrote that singleness is a gift, because it frees us up to serve God wholeheartedly without any distractions. But he pointed out that if we do get married, we should still be using our lives and our marriages to honor the Lord. When we put God first regardless of our "relationship status", every other relationship we have benefits from it!  

Sin weighs us down and keeps us from living the life that God intended for us. But when Jesus paid the price for our salvation, He washed us clean from our past and freed us from the burden of our sin. As children of the King, we're now free to run the race before us with our eyes fixed on the ultimate prize: eternal life in Heaven with our Father.

Sin weighs us down and keeps us from living the life that God intended for us. But when Jesus paid the price for our salvation, He washed us clean from our past and freed us from the burden of our sin. As children of the King, we're now free to run the race before us with our eyes fixed on the ultimate prize: eternal life in Heaven with our Father.

As long as we try to maintain control of our own lives, they're going to keep spinning out of control. As broken people, we're naturally drawn to sin, which leads to an uncontrolled way of life. The only way to "get a grip" is to live under God's reign and rule. He grows the fruit of His Spirit in us and gives us the power to harness our sinful nature.

As long as we try to maintain control of our own lives, they're going to keep spinning out of control. As broken people, we're naturally drawn to sin, which leads to an uncontrolled way of life. The only way to "get a grip" is to live under God's reign and rule. He grows the fruit of His Spirit in us and gives us the power to harness our sinful nature.

We can read our Bibles from cover to cover and listen to all the sermons in the world. But unless and until we respond in obedience, it won't have any real impact on our lives or on others. When we find ourselves struggling with how to understand what God's Word is telling us to do, we can ask Him to first help us hear what He's saying to us -- and then help us to obey in doing it.

We can read our Bibles from cover to cover and listen to all the sermons in the world. But unless and until we respond in obedience, it won't have any real impact on our lives or on others. When we find ourselves struggling with how to understand what God's Word is telling us to do, we can ask Him to first help us hear what He's saying to us -- and then help us to obey in doing it.

Our culture promotes the idea of making our lives a "buffet", where we pick and choose the things we do want, and toss out the things we don't. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, rather than being "pickers and choosers", we need to be "lifers" and commit to the things God calls us to fight for -- no matter the cost. That includes the decision to commit ourselves to a certain church, to commit ourselves to a certain group of people, and to commit ourselves to following Him.

Our culture promotes the idea of making our lives a "buffet", where we pick and choose the things we do want, and toss out the things we don't. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, rather than being "pickers and choosers", we need to be "lifers" and commit to the things God calls us to fight for -- no matter the cost. That includes the decision to commit ourselves to a certain church, to commit ourselves to a certain group of people, and to commit ourselves to following Him.

In today's culture, one of the most dangerous places to be in this world is in the womb. Increasingly high abortion rates tell us that life before birth has been devalued in our society, but if we believe what the Bible says, a person is a person whether they're still in the womb or outside of it. Even if we've made a mistake before, God offers forgiveness and restoration from our past and the opportunity to be both recipients and ministers of restoration.