This is an excerpt from the final chapter of the book upon which I have been working titled, “Hurdling the Barriers – Overcoming the 12 largest barriers to church health and growth.” I am currently working on the second draft and should be working on publishing soon thereafter. “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,Continue reading “The Barrier of Poor Stewardship”
Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.
Cautious Exercise (Romans 14:20-23)
“Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” (Romans 14:22, KJV 1900) I knew a young pastor who had no qualm with regards to drinking a beer once in a while. Even though I abstain, I had no problem with hisContinue reading “Cautious Exercise (Romans 14:20-23)”
Loving Restraint (Romans 14:16, 20-23)
“Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.” (Romans 14:20, ESV) Throughout the Scriptures, we see this theme of giving up on our own desires for the sake of the work to whichContinue reading “Loving Restraint (Romans 14:16, 20-23)”
Proper Pursuit (Romans 14:16-19)
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. . . So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (Romans 14:17, 19, ESV) I was serving as an elder in a church one time whereContinue reading “Proper Pursuit (Romans 14:16-19)”
Do Not Set a Trap (Romans 14:13-16)
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” (Romans 14:13, KJV 1900) There was a time when, as a young man, I did some trapping. There were various ways to trap an animal. I willContinue reading “Do Not Set a Trap (Romans 14:13-16)”
Hurdling the Barrier of Lost Vision
This is the introduction from the book, “Hurdling the Barriers – Overcoming the 12 largest barriers to church health and growth.” I will soon finish working on the second draft and then publishing. “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained” (Proverbs 29:18, NASB95) Years ago, while I was working for a company inContinue reading “Hurdling the Barrier of Lost Vision”
Being Convinced (Romans 14:5-12)
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. . .So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:5, 12, KJV 1900) As we saw yesterday, there are many areas in Christianity where believers have differingContinue reading “Being Convinced (Romans 14:5-12)”
No Quarreling Over Opinions (Romans 14:1-4)
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” (Romans 14:1, ESV) In 1983, the Lord gloriously saved me while reading a Gideon Bible in a Minneapolis hotel room while on business. This launched the most glorious adventure of my life. I remember those early days well.Continue reading “No Quarreling Over Opinions (Romans 14:1-4)”
Time to Awaken (Romans 13:11-14)
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11, KJV 1900) My wife says that I could sleep through anything. Well, it is not totally true, but close. I guess that it is something I developedContinue reading “Time to Awaken (Romans 13:11-14)”
The Only Unpaid Debt (Romans 13:8-10)
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8, KJV 1900) When I was in High School, I remember a huge event at our house. My dad said he was burning the mortgage. I had never heard the expression, but it meant thatContinue reading “The Only Unpaid Debt (Romans 13:8-10)”
Renewing the Heart 