recent posts
By Joey Ruyter, MBC Prince William Discipleship Pastor
I hope my post on where conflict begins was encouraging, challenging, and helpful. Today, I want to discuss what happens after conflict begins. Typically, if we miss that the conflict really began in our own heart, we enter into a phase where we allow our imaginations to run rampant. There is damage that comes from this, but as with everything else, if we cling to the Gospel, there is hope to overcome.
NARRATIVES
Philippians 4:8 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these…
By Bethany Goodman, MBC Tysons Attendee
Ten years can fly by in a flash. That realization hit me recently when the invitation came for my 10-year high school reunion – via Facebook, of course, which was just coming into existence in 2004! Times certainly change.
I began thinking about not only my senior year, but my entire high school experience. Was I living for the Lord or what other people thought of me? Did I treat everyone the way God sees them or according to their social group? Did my fellow students and my teachers see Christ in me? Even more deeply, I started to think about who I was as an 18 year-old kid versus a 28 year-old woman. Had…
By Stephanie Green, MBC Staff Application Analyst and MBC Tysons Attendee
Have you ever noticed how many components of the Gospel are represented in the parable of the Good Samaritan?
And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But wishing to justify himself,…
By Mike Kelsey, MBC Silver Spring Campus Pastor
Self-pitying comparisons. Outburts of anger. Refusal to share the Gospel. What do all of these have in common?
Our hearts.
While we are all influenced by different factors (e.g. past history, physical causes, etc.), Scripture teaches that our behavior ultimately flows from the heart. This is why Proverbs 4:23 warns us, “Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life.” In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus gives us a picture that illustrates the relationship between our behavior and our heart (cf. Mark 7:20-23). Just as roots that are hidden beneath the surface produce observable fruit, our hearts produce our behavior. In other words, if we really want to…
By Joey Ruyter, MBC Prince William Discipleship Pastor
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that if you’re reading this, and you have a beating heart, then you’ve probably faced conflict in your life. It’s happened to the best of us, whether it’s between you and your parents, your spouse, your children, your boss, your siblings, a friend at church, or even your pastor. If you are engaged in any type of relationship, you have probably experienced it.
WHERE DOES CONFLICT BEGIN?
James 4:1 says “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”
I have found in my counseling encounters—and even in my…
By Nick Jones, MBC Bethesda Director of Discipleship & Worship Leader
This week in my Multiply study group we discussed Chapter 8, which speaks to the “kingship” of Christ, His Kingdom and what that means for us today.
As we discussed how the concept of Christ’s kingship practically manifests itself in our lives, another thought struck me. While we help others to see that they should make Christ the king and lord of their lives, what is the motivator behind this? In other words, what would motivate someone to want to make God a priority, let alone king over their lives? The answer would lie in the attributes of who God is.While we help others to see that they should make…
By Brian Hoogerwerf, MBC Tysons Young Adults Team Volunteer
What is the first thing you do when you wake up? How about the last thing before bed? For many of us the answer to either or both questions has something to do with checking email or social media. We live in a world that grants us instant connectivity to friends, family, work and news. Social media and technology are fantastic for bringing others into our community, but we must be careful of the constant influence on our faith life. With all this input, it is more challenging than ever to find quiet time, avoid distractions, and calm down our frequently multi-tasking minds.
Since social media is here to stay, perhaps we…