Michael D Johnson

More than a professional “nice person”

Dear Pastor, I am reminded that so much of our ministry consists of loving people, listening to people, encouraging people and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, kindness and gentleness. But I need to be reminded myself that I am more than just the professional “nice guy.” Niceness is not the missionContinue reading “More than a professional “nice person””

A prayer for simplicity

Dear Lord, Please simplify my life. May it be about You. – Loving You, worshiping You, spending time with You, listening to You, walking with You, obeying You. May it be about eternity.– May what I think, say and do be all about producing eternal fruit and getting as many people as possible into aContinue reading “A prayer for simplicity”

What’s my motivation?

There was an old Sprite commercial where one of the actors asks “what’s my motivation”? And it does seem an appropriate question for us to consider. As pastors we need to inspect our motives and also examine our purposes. As pastors we need to ask the Lord to show us our heart and reveal toContinue reading “What’s my motivation?”

Needing God. Wanting God. Pursuing God.

There is a God-shaped hole in all of us. Nothing can fill that emptiness except God Himself. Anything else that we try to find fulfillment in will leave us lacking, bankrupt, and lifeless. We need God. More than the air we breathe, more than the food we eat and more than the water we drink.Continue reading “Needing God. Wanting God. Pursuing God.”

Watch over your doctrine closely, part 2

In the first blog post, I gave a basic introduction to doctrine as well as dealing with the fact that how we address false teaching or theological misunderstanding is of utmost importance. We need to be patient, kind, and holy. In this post I would like to address how we watch over our doctrine toContinue reading “Watch over your doctrine closely, part 2”

Watch over doctrine closely

I Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers What does it mean to watch over our doctrine closely? What about for pastors who have been entrusted with the spiritual development of God’s people and given the role of watchingContinue reading “Watch over doctrine closely”

How God entirely sanctifies His children

I want to share with you the good news of the gospel and how God wants to deliver us from sin and make us holy and blameless and full of His perfect love. In this article I want to share with you what sanctification is, how God brings it to pass and how we canContinue reading “How God entirely sanctifies His children”

The lie of “more”

There is a falsehood that is often believed by many people. I know I have been taken in by it, and maybe you have too. The lie is that you have to “do more,” and that you need to “get more.” The accusatory thought is that you are not working fast enough, you are notContinue reading “The lie of “more””

So consumed

Do you find yourself so consumed with thoughts, feelings, plans and obligations that you just don’t know what to do? Like the expression: “I have so much to do, I don’t know what to do!” There are many things that vie for our attention. Many things that are worth paying attention to, and many moreContinue reading “So consumed”

Are you distracted? Are you tired? Is everything just too much?

If you feel like everything is just too much, too overwhelming and too painful, I want to share some life-altering truth with you! Please take the time to read both the first and the second parts of this article. They are both exceedingly important. Part 1 The gospel of Jesus Christ, is a message ofContinue reading “Are you distracted? Are you tired? Is everything just too much?”