Next Steps

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah 3:1-2 This is one of the greatest verses of the Old Testament because it’s a verse of hope. Jonah begins his journey by doing everything he can to run from…

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.…

6 This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel,     even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver,     and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample on the heads of the poor     as on the dust of the ground     and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use…

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,     “return to me with all your heart,     with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart     and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God,     for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love,     and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:12-13 If you’re a parent, it’s easy to spot…

4 “But I have been the Lord your God     ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me,     no Savior except me. 5 I cared for you in the wilderness,     in the land of burning heat. 6 When I fed them, they were satisfied;     when they were satisfied, they became proud;     then they forgot me. 7 So I will…

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13 If you go back and read the teachings of Jesus again, you’ll find that he highlights mercy as a virtue to…

2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. . .  1 The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife…

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me,…

1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed…

Several years ago Atlanta pastor Andy Stanley preached a sermon series that has always stuck with me for its simplicity and practicality. Titled “Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith,” Stanley taught from his years of experience as a pastor, noting that when people told their story of faith and how God had grown…

Josh Daffern
about

Josh Daffern

Born and raised in California, Josh graduated college from California Baptist University and spent two years as a missionary in Africa before coming back to America and finding the love of his life (Robin). Josh graduated from New Orleans Seminary with a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry. Josh has been involved in full-time ministry for over twenty years. He enjoys hiking, beach volleyball, reading, playing anything competitive, and rough-housing with his kids. Josh, his gorgeous wife Robin, his outrageously handsome boys Zeke, Shepherd and Lincoln and his princess Elle, live in northern Virginia. Josh also blogs on Patheos as New Wineskins: an Apologist for the Modern Church and you can find links to all his content on joshdaffern.com. Enjoy the blog!

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