Joe Barnett

Five Days of Hymn Stories 2 Just As I Am [W]hoever comes to me I will never drive away.                                  —John 6:37 “I want to come to Jesus, but I don’t know how,” lamented the bedridden thirty-two-year-old Charlotte Elliott, to […]

Five Days of Hymn Stories 1 Abide with Me Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.        —Luke 24:29 Abide with Me is one of the best-known and most-loved hymns of the past two centuries. It was composed by Scottish Anglican Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, the same

[M]ay the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.                —2 Thessalonians 3:16 In preparing his disciples for his death and departure, Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (Jn 14:1). “Peace I

[W]ithout faith it is impossible to please God.                          —Hebrews 11:6 Here are three stunning stories of faith. 1 Abraham rises early in the morning to begin the trek to Moriah, where he will obey God’s command to sacrifice his only son (Gn 22;

You of little faith.   —Matthew 8:26 Four times in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus chided his disciples for faltering faith. Thrashed by a savage storm, the disciples were terrified. “You of little faith,” Jesus said, “why are you so afraid?” (Mt 8:24–26). In Peter’s water-walking flop, fear trumped faith. “You of little faith, why did you

[O]ffer your bodies as living sacrifices.                     —Romans 12:1 Maybe you’re talented at singing, teaching, sewing, or cooking—and you’re using that skill to serve the Lord. You are aware, aren’t you, that what you are offering to him is what he has gifted to you? We

Come to me . . . I will give you rest.             —Matthew 11:28 Uncompromising commitment to your spouse simplifies your life: “Dos” and “Don’ts” are on auto-pilot; no need to chart “For” and “Against” columns. Likewise, when you commit to Jesus, life is simplified. You’re no longer faced with

[We] are being transformed into his likeness.                    —2 Corinthians 3:18 “[I]t is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God . . .” (Eph 2:8). You didn’t do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must

You are not your own.  —1 Corinthians 6:19 Am I in the right place? Am I doing the right thing? Do you find those questions unnerving? I believe I was “called” to ministry. But it didn’t occur in a spectacular way at a specific moment. Nothing mystical happened, empowering me to give my testimony, and

[S]top passing judgment on one another.                   —Romans 14:13 In Romans 14, Paul warns us to tap the brakes when passing judgment on the conscience and conviction of others: “why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother?” Browse a few