Author Archives: jimperdue

Five Words That Can Change Your Life – Adopted

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I’ve been adding posts on the blog in a series entitled, Five Words That Can Change Your Life. It’s a series on one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, Romans 8. The series will cover five words that provide five themes for different sections of the chapter: freed (1-8), empowered (9-11), adopted (12-17), transformed (18-30), and loved (31-39).

I’ve posted on the words freed and empowered and today the focus is the word adopted. Erwin Lutzer said, “There is more grace in God’s heart than there is sin in your past.” Romans 8:13-17 reveals four things that happen in our lives when we are adopted into the family of God.

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The Significance of Summer Camp

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I’m so excited. I’m at Summer Camp. That’s right. Right now I’m in Cocoa Beach with students from Second Baptist. It’s going to be a great week!

As I’m here, multiple memories of camps just like this one come flooding to my mind. Such. Great. Memories.

Let me make a confession. I don’t like the beach. Really never have. My family loves the beach. So I tolerate the salt and sand out of love for them.

But I love summer camp with my church. Why? Continue reading →

Five Words That Can Change Your Life – Empowered

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I continue the series on Romans 8 entitled, Five Words That Can Change Your Life. We’ll focus on five words that provide five themes for this chapter: freed (1-8), empowered (9-11), adopted (12-17), transformed (18-30), and loved (31-38).

Today, we discuss how we are Empowered. The dictionary defines the word like this: to give power or authority to; authorize, especially by legal means; to enable or permit. Through Christ’s death on the cross and the indwelling power of Holy Spirit, Christians are empowered by God. 

How? Romans 8:9-11 helps answer that question.

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Some of the Most Important Books I Will Ever Read

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I asked my pastor friends on twitter a simple question: “What’s the best book you’ve read lately? Any category, genre, author, style.” A reply from a friend of mine, Michael Stovall, got me thinking. Here’s what he said: “@jimperdue 1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish … Dr. Seuss”

Now, I know my buddy was joking, but in a way I’m sure he was serious too.  Here’s what I mean. As a dad of four small children, some of the most important books I read will not be the leadership books, ministry books, theology books, or preaching books on my shelf. Instead, they will be the books I read to my children.

I know this is anathema to many of my pastor friends. But please hear me. I believe in leadership, ministry, theology, and preaching. I believe in the gospel, missions, evangelism, and church growth. But I also believe in being a dad to my kids – I’m the only one they have.

So, there are days where some of the most important pages I’ll turn (other than my Bible) will be Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Quick as a Cricket, or Hop on Pop. I’m not sure that these readings will score me points with the ministry elite. But I want to be a hero to my kids. I want them to love Jesus because they’ve seen a daddy who loves Jesus – and loves them too!

Five Words That Can Change Your Life – Freed

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We continue our series on the blog entitled, Five Words That Can Change Your Life. The first word is found in Romans 8:1-8: freed. Because of our Savior’s sacrifice on the cross and the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, we are free from the power of sin in our lives.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Romans 8 is the Christian’s Declaration of Freedom, for in it Paul declares the spiritual freedoms we enjoy because of our union with Jesus Christ.”

 

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