Monday, August 31, 2026
Azusa street by Dan Lirette
FYI for those claiming Azusa didn't have the insane manifestations it did like "shaking like a locomotive", violent jerking, etc... be sure to read Azusa's own Apostolic Faith magazine... because these things were happening: Vol. 1, No. 3 from November 1906, page 1. The paper says people were being “shaken on the benches,” that many “fall prostrate,” and then explicitly says there was a shaking resembling what the old Methodists called “the jerks.” This is Azusa’s own lead article, Bible Pentecost. Vol. 1, No. 4 from December 1906, page 4. Missionary G. W. Batman testified that the Holy Ghost affected his entire body and that at times he was “shaken like a locomotive.” Vol. 1, No. 6 from February–March 1907. William H. Durham describes first lying under the “power” for two hours, then being prostrate on the floor for another two hours, and finally says the power caused him to “jerk and quake” for about three hours. Read all copies here https://www.apostolicfaith.org/doctrinal-and-historical/the-apostolic-faith-vol-1-no-1 This is a long post because it deals with the *actual* history of the Azusa Street Revival and how modern leaders have re-rewritten the narrative. I was wrong about the Azusa Street Revival ... and I want to update my position officially. Special thanks to brother Jerry Fuller for challenging me on this. And before I go any further, let me say from the get-go that I believe in God's power; that He works powerfully today, heals the sick, leads us by His Spirit, etc. I'm not rejecting Biblical revival or the genuine moving of God's Spirit; I'm rejecting a false historical account on a revival that resembles the Toronto Blessing more than the Book of Acts. The church has been given a “cleaned-up” version of the Azusa Street Revival. We’ve been told that Azusa was the greatest revival since the book of Acts where the only things happening were prayer meetings, preaching the Gospel, speaking in Biblical tongues and having genuine encounters with God’s power. After looking at the history of the revival objectively, I’ve found that leaders within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements have rewritten history to fit a narrative that's simply not accurate. What's always left out are the Toronto Blessing type manifestations that were in these meetings as well as the occultists and spiritualists who were mixed in. Azusa’s own newspaper, The Apostolic Faith, is where you can find what happened. It talks about people falling out, shaking violently and uncontrollably and experiencing “the jerks” (uncontrollable twitching like we see in Hinduism’s Kundalini meetings). William Durham “testified” that the power came on him and made him jerk and quake for three hours, moving through different parts of his body before he started speaking in tongues. Another testimony talks about being shaken “like a locomotive.” People would jump up and start running, jumping, violently shaking, spinning in circles, falling out onto the floor, jerking, kicking and rolling around. Some people weren’t able to move at all for hours; they were.... stuck in position. There was also “howling” (yes, like wolves) people babbling... and no; it wasn’t “speaking in tongues”; it was babbling nonsense. It’s a historical fact as the record shows there were also animal manifestations where people barked like dogs and hooting like owls. This is why decades later the church was ready and even eager to call the Toronto Blessing a revival; but it wasn’t. It was a demonic counterfeit of Biblical revival. The Toronto Blessing was the offspring of Azusa with it’s uncontrollable shaking and jerking, ungodly spasmodic bodily movements, unholy laughter and it’s own animal-manifestations. They weren’t identical movements, but the parallels in manifestations can’t be ignored. Even Charles Parham, William Seymour teacher and one of the fathers of Pentecostalism would come to denounce what he saw at Azusa. Parham was concerned about people throwing fits, having strange bodily contortions, rolling and kicking on the floor. He claimed that Azusa was full of fleshly manifestations, hypnosis and occultic manifestations. Even Frank Bartleman, one of Azusa’s greatest defenders, admitted they had spiritualists and hypnotists coming into the meetings. Bartleman wrote that the revival’s greatest danger was “the working of evil spirits within.” Think about that. The leaders of the revival itself never said,“Strange manifestations are happening. Let's stop them and return to biblical order.” According to Bartleman's record, they said, “We dared not call the attention of the people too much to the working of the evil… We could only pray”, showing they held the position that both godly and demonic manifestations were happening as a mixture... and didn’t want to interfere too aggressively as they felt they may be interfering with the Lord’s Spirit moving at the same time as evil spirits. So why are we given a version of Azusa where it’s presented as though it was the world’s greatest revival outside of the Book of Acts? The Bible never shows us that violent, uncontrollable shaking or the same “jerks” and “twitches” as seen in Kundalini meetings is the work of the Holy Spirit; on the contrary, these things are not the working of God’s Spirit at all. Scripture never gives barking, animal noises, rolling around, violent jerking or bizarre bodily contortions as evidence that someone is being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 certainly contains supernatural manifestations, but the real miracle was recognizable languages proclaiming the mighty works of God, followed by solid preaching where 3000 souls came to faith in Jesus in one day. Paul specifically says that spiritual encounters in a gathering must have self-control and order: “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets” and “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:32–33). He finishes by instructing that everything be done “decently and in order” (v. 40). Azusa Street doesn’t fall under any of this. If anything, it falls more in line with modern revivals that are clearly outside of Biblical norms. I have no doubt that people were converted at Azusa and I also have no doubt that the Lord genuinely worked in the lives of many who went to it. I personally believe that the interracial fellowship was the greatest miracle of the revival, especially in America’s 1906 times. But that doesn’t equate to the revival being a genuine revival. God can move anywhere, at any time and for any purpose He wants to; He’s God. The problem here is that we’ve been given a romanticized version of Azusa that leaves out the jerking, shaking, rolling, barking, twitching, altered states of consciousness, hypnotism, spiritualism and the inside warnings from people who were actually there. The kinds of manifestations that happened at Toronto were some of the most demonic in church history ... and some of them mimic what happened at Azusa. Why are Pentecostals and Charismatics who reject Toronto baptizing Azusa as “one of the world’s greatest revivals”? It’s because they’ve been lied to... and most have no idea that Azusa’s doctrines and manifestations were closer to the Toronto Blessing than the Book of Acts. A manifestation doesn’t suddenly become “Biblical” just because it happened during a famous revival in 1906 where modern Charismatic leaders have covered up the full scope of just how bizarre it truly was. The historical record testifies against the modern idea that Azusa Street was the “purest revival since Acts”. No... it wasn’t. Not by a long shot.
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Peace
There are seasons when life feels stable, predictable, and easy to understand. Then there are seasons when almost everything seems uncertain. Plans change, health concerns arise, relationships become complicated, financial pressure increases, the future looks unclear, and questions begin to multiply faster than answers.
In moments like these, peace can feel almost impossible to hold on to. Yet throughout his ministry, Dr. David Jeremiah has consistently reminded believers that biblical peace does not depend on perfect circumstances. It comes from knowing who God is, trusting what He has promised, and learning to rest in His presence even when life remains unsettled.
This emphasis has been especially visible in Turning Point's recent teaching series Encouraging Words for Discouraging Times, which has included messages centered on God's presence, His sovereignty, prayer, perseverance, and peace. But these themes are not limited to one sermon series. They reflect convictions Jeremiah has taught repeatedly for many years.
The Bible never promises Christians a life without trouble. Jesus Himself said that believers would experience tribulation. What Scripture does promise is something far stronger: God will not abandon His people, He remains in control, He hears prayer, He keeps His promises, and He is able to give peace that circumstances cannot manufacture and circumstances cannot take away.
Here are ten biblical truths that can help steady your heart when life feels uncertain.
1. God Is Still in Control When Your Life Feels Out of Control
One of the hardest parts of uncertainty is the feeling that we are losing control. We want to know what will happen next, how a problem will be resolved, whether our plans will succeed, and what tomorrow will bring. When those answers are unavailable, fear can quickly fill the space.
David Jeremiah has often pointed believers back to the sovereignty of God. Scripture does not present God as reacting nervously to world events or scrambling to fix unexpected circumstances. He remains Lord over history, nations, families, and individual lives.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
Being still does not mean becoming passive or refusing to act responsibly. It means recognizing that there is a difference between what God has placed in our hands and what belongs only in His.
We can make wise decisions. We can pray. We can work. We can seek counsel. We can prepare. But we cannot control every outcome, every person, every circumstance, or every future event. Peace begins to return when we stop demanding that we possess a level of control God never intended us to carry.
Romans 8:28 reminds believers that God is able to work through all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. That does not mean every circumstance is good. Some experiences are painful, unjust, disappointing, or deeply confusing. The promise is that God remains greater than the circumstance and is able to accomplish His purposes through it.
When life feels out of control, the first truth to remember is simple: your life may feel uncertain, but God is not uncertain.
2. God Has Not Forsaken You
Uncertainty often produces another painful question: Where is God?
When prayers seem unanswered or a difficult season lasts longer than expected, it can become easy to interpret God's silence as God's absence. Yet Scripture repeatedly separates those two ideas. God may sometimes seem silent from our perspective, but He has promised not to abandon His people.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you.” — Isaiah 41:10
This verse does not say believers will never become afraid. Instead, God gives several reasons why fear does not have to control them: He is present, He is God, He gives strength, and He gives help.
Hebrews 13:5 repeats another foundational promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
David Jeremiah has repeatedly emphasized God's faithfulness during discouraging seasons because one of the enemy's most effective strategies is to convince believers that their difficult circumstances are evidence that God has forgotten them.
But circumstances are not the measure of God's presence.
Joseph spent years in slavery and prison before he understood how God was working. David hid from Saul even after being anointed king. Paul experienced imprisonment, persecution, rejection, and physical suffering. Even Jesus experienced the agony of Gethsemane before the victory of the resurrection.
A difficult chapter is not proof that God has left the story.
When you cannot trace His hand, you can still trust His character. God has not forgotten where you are, what you are facing, or what you need.
3. Trials Are Not Proof That God Has Lost Control
Christians sometimes assume that if they are walking closely with God, life should become increasingly comfortable. The New Testament presents a different picture.
Trials are not necessarily evidence that something has gone wrong in your relationship with God. In many cases, Scripture teaches that God uses difficulty to accomplish something in us that comfort could never produce.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” — James 1:2–3
David Jeremiah has often used the life of the apostle Paul to illustrate this principle. Paul experienced imprisonment, opposition, hardship, and uncertainty, yet those circumstances did not stop the Gospel. In some cases, the apparent setback became the very platform God used to advance His purposes.
This changes the question we ask during trials.
Instead of asking only, “How can I get out of this?” we can also ask, “What might God be doing in me while I am walking through this?”
Trials can deepen endurance. They can expose weak foundations. They can strengthen character. They can redirect priorities. They can teach us to depend on God rather than our own abilities.
This does not mean Christians should pretend that suffering is pleasant. Biblical faith never requires us to call pain painless or loss insignificant. It means that suffering does not have the final word.
God can be actively working even when the situation itself remains difficult.
4. Let Fear Drive You to Prayer, Not Panic
Fear always pushes us somewhere.
It may push us toward endless news, obsessive thinking, worst-case scenarios, anger, control, distraction, or isolation. But Scripture offers another direction: prayer.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6
In his teaching on fear and worry, David Jeremiah has often emphasized prayer as one of the first biblical responses to anxiety. Prayer takes what is circling endlessly in the mind and deliberately places it before God.
This does not mean we inform God about something He does not already know. Prayer changes our position. Instead of carrying a burden as though everything depends on us, we bring it to the One whose wisdom and power are greater than ours.
The next verse contains one of Scripture's greatest promises about peace:
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7
Notice that Paul does not promise that every problem will disappear immediately after prayer. Instead, he promises that God's peace can guard the heart and mind while we are still waiting.
Sometimes peace comes before the answer.
That is an important distinction. We often think, “If God fixes this situation, then I will have peace.” Philippians 4 shows that God can give peace before the circumstances change.
5. God Hears You Even When the Answer Seems Delayed
One of the most discouraging experiences in the Christian life is praying faithfully while seeing no immediate answer.
Jesus addressed this directly.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7
The language Jesus uses communicates persistence. Ask. Seek. Knock. Continue coming to God.
David Jeremiah has repeatedly connected prayer with perseverance. A delayed answer should not automatically be interpreted as an unheard prayer.
Sometimes God answers quickly. Sometimes He answers differently than we expected. Sometimes He changes the circumstances. Sometimes He changes us. Sometimes His timing requires patience we would never choose for ourselves.
Luke 18 records Jesus telling a parable specifically to teach that people “always ought to pray and not lose heart.” That connection is important. One of the ways believers resist discouragement is by continuing to pray.
Persistent prayer is not an attempt to wear God down. It is an expression of continuing dependence.
We pray because we believe He hears. We continue because we trust His wisdom. We wait because His timing is not careless.
If you have been praying for something for a long time, do not confuse God's delay with God's indifference.
6. Fill Your Mind With God's Promises Instead of Feeding Your Fear
Fear grows when it is continually fed.
Repeatedly rehearsing worst-case scenarios, consuming alarming information, imagining disasters that have not happened, and mentally replaying problems can strengthen anxiety until it begins to dominate our thinking.
Scripture offers a different discipline: fill the mind with truth.
David Jeremiah has often encouraged believers to identify specific biblical promises, write them down, memorize them, and return to them throughout the day.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” — Psalm 27:1
Other passages repeatedly used in biblical teaching about fear include Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 118:6, Proverbs 29:25, and Psalm 37.
The point is not positive thinking. Biblical meditation is not pretending everything is fine. It is replacing distorted thinking with revealed truth.
Fear says, “You are alone.” God says, “I am with you.”
Fear says, “Everything depends on you.” Scripture says God is sovereign.
Fear says, “You will never make it through this.”God's Word points to His faithfulness in the past and His promises for the future.
Fear says, “There is no reason for hope.” The resurrection of Jesus says otherwise.
We cannot always stop fearful thoughts from entering the mind, but we do not have to give them permanent residence there.
Feed faith more consistently than you feed fear.
7. Uncertainty Can Become an Opportunity to Trust God More Deeply
Most of us would prefer certainty.
We want to know what the doctor will say, whether the job will remain secure, how our children will turn out, whether a relationship will heal, and what the next year will look like.
But if we knew every detail of the future, much of what the Bible calls faith would no longer be necessary.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6
This passage does not tell us that understanding is bad. It tells us not to make our limited understanding the ultimate foundation of our trust.
David Jeremiah has described uncertainty as an opportunity because it forces us to decide where our confidence actually rests.
When everything is predictable, it can be easy to say we trust God while quietly trusting our plans, resources, routines, and abilities. Uncertainty exposes those hidden foundations.
That exposure can feel uncomfortable, but it can also become spiritually productive.
A season of uncertainty may become the place where prayer becomes deeper, Scripture becomes more precious, dependence becomes more genuine, and the character of God becomes more than a theological concept.
Sometimes God does not immediately remove uncertainty because He is teaching us something more valuable than certainty: trust.
8. Jesus Promised Peace, Not a Trouble-Free Life
One of the clearest statements Jesus ever made about difficulty is found in John 16:33:
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jesus was remarkably realistic. He did not tell His followers that faith would insulate them from suffering. He warned them that trouble would come.
Yet in the same verse, He spoke about peace.
That means biblical peace cannot simply mean the absence of difficulty.
Jesus explained this even more clearly in John 14:27:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”
The world generally offers peace when conditions cooperate. When finances are stable, relationships are healthy, nations are quiet, and the future feels predictable, peace seems reasonable.
Jesus offers a different kind of peace.
His peace can exist in a hospital room. It can exist during unemployment. It can exist during grief. It can exist when a family is waiting for an answer. It can exist during cultural upheaval, national uncertainty, and personal disappointment.
Why?
Because Christian peace is rooted in Christ, not in circumstances.
Biblical peace is not the absence of trouble. It is the presence of Christ in the middle of trouble.
9. Keep Going When You Cannot See What God Is Doing
There are times when faith looks less like a dramatic victory and more like simply continuing to walk.
You pray again. You open Scripture again. You go to church again. You forgive again. You obey again. You continue trusting when nothing seems to have changed.
That is perseverance.
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.” — Hebrews 12:1–2
David Jeremiah often connects spiritual strength with perseverance because Christian maturity is rarely formed overnight.
Romans 5 describes a progression:
“Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” — Romans 5:3–4
We usually want to skip directly from trouble to hope. Scripture shows that God often builds hope through a process.
Perseverance is what keeps us walking through the middle of that process.
You may not understand what God is doing today. You may not know why a particular door closed, why a prayer remains unanswered, or why a season has lasted so long.
But you do not need a complete explanation in order to take the next faithful step.
Keep looking to Christ. Keep obeying what you already know. Keep praying. Keep trusting.
God can do profound work during seasons that feel uneventful, hidden, or unfinished.
10. What You See Today Is Not the End of Your Story
Uncertainty becomes especially frightening when we assume that what we see today determines what tomorrow must become.
Scripture repeatedly warns against that conclusion.
Joseph's prison was not the end of his story. David's wilderness years were not the end of his story. Peter's failure was not the end of his story. The crucifixion was not the end of the story.
God sees beyond the chapter we are currently living.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17
Paul's words are remarkable because his sufferings were anything but trivial. He could call them temporary only because he viewed them from the perspective of eternity.
David Jeremiah has consistently emphasized Christian hope as something far deeper than optimism. Biblical hope rests on God's character, Christ's resurrection, God's promises, and the certainty of eternity.
This is also why Romans 8:28 remains so powerful:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
The verse does not say that all things are good. It says God is able to work through all things.
The painful chapter you are living today does not possess the authority to write the final chapter of your life.
God does.
How to Practice These Truths When Anxiety Returns
Knowing biblical truth is important, but peace also requires repeatedly returning to that truth when fear comes back. Anxiety often does not disappear after one prayer, one sermon, or one encouraging conversation.
That is why spiritual disciplines matter.
- Pray specifically. Tell God exactly what you are afraid of instead of allowing vague anxiety to dominate your thoughts.
- Choose one promise from Scripture. Write it down, memorize it, and return to it throughout the day.
- Limit what continually feeds fear.Staying informed is wise, but constantly consuming alarming information can distort your perspective.
- Remember God's past faithfulness. Think about previous seasons when you could not see a way forward but God provided what you needed.
- Stay connected to other believers. Fear grows easily in isolation.
- Keep doing the next faithful thing. You do not need to solve your entire future today.
- Look to Christ more than your circumstances. Peace grows when the object of your attention becomes greater than the object of your fear.
Peace Is Possible Even Before Life Makes Sense
The central message running through David Jeremiah's teaching about fear, discouragement, prayer, trials, and uncertainty is not that Christians should deny reality.
It is that reality includes more than what we can currently see.
Yes, life can be uncertain. But God is faithful.
Yes, circumstances can change suddenly. But God's character does not change.
Yes, prayers may seem delayed. But God still hears.
Yes, trials can be painful. But they are not meaningless.
Yes, the future may be unclear. But it is not outside God's hands.
And yes, trouble is real. But so is the peace of Christ.
You do not have to understand everything God is doing before you can trust Him. You do not have to know what tomorrow will bring before you can obey Him today. And you do not have to wait until every problem disappears before you can experience His peace.
The same God who has carried His people through generations of uncertainty remains faithful today.
When life feels uncertain, return to what is certain: God is present. God is sovereign. God hears your prayers. God keeps His promises. God will never forsake you. And in Jesus Christ, you have a hope that circumstances cannot destroy.
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Evangelicalism necessitates evangelism
James Leo Garrett Jr., arrived at a similar conclusion. The dean of Southern Baptist theologians said evangelicals “insist upon the supremacy of Scripture, the all-sufficiency of the divine-human Jesus Christ, the necessity of the transforming experience of being born anew or justified by grace through faith, and the inner compulsion to share one’s faith in Christ with those who do not believe.”9
Johnston postulated a definition which accounted both for the movement’s center and divisions. “Evangelicals,” he wrote, “are those who believe the gospel is to be experienced personally, defined biblically, and communicated passionately.”10 These practices appear to be what bring evangelicals together.
Clericalism by Malcolm Yarnell
Against the Spirit of Clericalism God gives his Word and his Spirit to every member of the redeemed to bring him or her to faith, to guide the believer into the will of God, and to equip every believer for ministry. The spirit of medieval and magisterial clericalism denies this. “Clericalism is a radical misunderstanding of the place of clerics in the Church. [It assumes clergy] form a special elite within the church, … are superior to laity, are deserving of special and preferential treatment and finally, have a closer relationship to God.” T. P. Doyle During the Protestant Reformation evangelicals tore down this “wall,” as Martin Luther called it, by reminding believers of their priesthood in Christ. However, clergy throughout history, from the high church to the low church, and from the left to the right, constantly seek to rebuild it for the sake of their own power and authority. A church I was close to announced recently “we are no longer going to evangelise. God has brought enough people in we are now going to disciple them instead.” This statement is: - a denial of the lostness of mankind - A denial of the Saviour who came to seek and to save that which was lost -a denial of the Holy Spirit of God who calls people to Himself. Why? He has bolstered his authority as cleric by: -claiming all translations got it wrong and he alone has translated certain parts of scripture correctly. -continually “magnifying his office”. Why would someone bolster clericalism ?
Friday, August 28, 2026
My times
Heresies historical
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Knowing God
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Enough
Phil 4:19 God’s Actuality My God God’s Ability. Shall supply God’s Abundance All your need God’s Allowance According to His riches in Christ Jesus
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Waiting
Waiting rarely feels like progress. We live at a pace God never asked us to keep — and when He asks us to slow down, the stillness can feel like being left behind. The word "hurry" shows up far more in our vocabulary than it does in God's plan. But the quiet seasons aren't empty ones. Often they're where the deepest work happens — where God "patiently, deliberately, steadily, moulds us in the shadows," preparing us for what He'll do later in the light. What looks like a delay is usually formation. Scripture doesn't promise waiting will be easy — only that it won't be wasted: "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him." — Psalm 37:7 Notice the rest built into that verse. Not the rest of giving up, but the rest of trusting the One who holds the timing. You don't have to force the door open. Where is God asking you to wait right now? Share below — let's encourage one another to trust His timing.
Preaching to Men
REACHING MEN, GROWING MEN: VIBRANT CHURCH Many churches say they want to reach men, but their approach often works against that goal. Men are not looking for a watered-down message, religious code language, or a service stripped of urgency. They respond to truth, purpose, challenge, and a clear mission. Reaching men does not require changing the gospel. It requires communicating the gospel with clarity, courage, and conviction. POINTED PREACHING Stop apologizing for what the Bible says. Men need preaching that identifies sin, demands change, calls for faith, and insists upon obedience. Preaching should confront the conscience—not merely soothe the emotions. Speak directly. Make the issue clear. Press for a decision. Men respect a preacher who knows what he believes, says what he means, and refuses to soften the truth to avoid offending people. This does not mean preaching with arrogance or cruelty. It means preaching with biblical authority. A trumpet that gives an uncertain sound will never prepare men for battle. PLAIN SPEAKING Drop the religious code language. Many men who enter our churches do not understand our familiar expressions. We must stop assuming that everyone knows what we mean. Explain biblical truth in plain, understandable language. Be honest. Be transparent. Be real. Men can detect pretense. They are more likely to listen to a man who admits his struggles than to one who pretends he has never had any. Authenticity does not weaken our message—it gives credibility to it. Plain speaking does not dilute truth. It makes truth impossible to misunderstand. PUNGENT CHALLENGE Give men something worth living—and dying—for. Men were created to embrace responsibility, accept risk, fight worthy battles, and accomplish meaningful missions. Christianity is not a comfortable addition to life. It is an absolute call to follow Jesus Christ. Challenge men to pray, lead their families, conquer sinful habits, serve their churches, reach the lost, defend the weak, and advance the gospel. Do not merely invite men to attend. Call them to engage. Do not ask them to sit on the sidelines. Give them a mission that demands courage, sacrifice, discipline, and faith. Men will endure hardship when they are convinced that the mission matters. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION Put the cookies on the bottom shelf. Tell men what biblical obedience looks like on Monday morning. Explain how to pray, study the Bible, lead family worship, love a wife, discipline children, resist temptation, manage money, resolve conflict, and share the gospel. Do not stop with principles. Provide practical steps. Men appreciate clear instruction. Show them what needs to be done, why it matters, and how to begin. Give them something they can put into practice immediately. Truth must travel from the pulpit into the home, the workplace, and everyday life. PASSIONATE SERVICES Church should NOT feel lifeless. The preaching should have conviction. The singing should have heart. The praying should have urgency. The people should participate as though eternal matters are at stake—because they are! Passion is not manufactured excitement. It is the natural expression of people who genuinely believe that God is present, Jesus saves, prayer matters, and eternity is real! Men are not attracted by dead formalism, empty routine, or halfhearted participation. They respond to a faith that is alive, confident, and purposeful. We do not need entertainment. We need spiritual energy born out of conviction. THE NEED OF THE HOUR If we want to reach men, we must stop treating them like passive spectators in children’s church. Give them solid truth. Speak plainly. Challenge them deeply. Train them practically. Engage them passionately. Men do not need a softer Christianity. They respect the rugged call of Jesus Christ: “Follow me.” — Harold Vaughan
