Striving for Simplicity and Purity
By Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Stay in Love with Jesus
“One of my prayers throughout life has been that I just stay in love with Jesus. I just stay in love with Christ. That He can still break my heart at times. That I can still read about Him and find that I flutter on the inside, or that I want to just drop on my face before Him. I adore Him. I think of Him in the daytime, and I dream of Him at night. He is my all in all. Paul wants that for us. More importantly, Christ Himself wants that.”
Plan for Leisure
“If you can’t remember the last time you really took it easy, or you really had an evening of fun, or you really, really planned some leisure, you’re missing it, you’re out of balance, you’re headed for trouble. You’re going to be deceived by the enemy. You’re going to think you’d rather burn out than rust out. That’s the most nonsensical analogy I’ve ever heard. Either way you’re out.”
The Temptation of Wealth
“There’s nothing wrong with wealth if God gives it. Only reason He ever gives us more than we need is to give it away. So don’t forget that either. Don’t envy those that have more than you have. Just be grateful you don’t have to face the temptations they live with or the struggle with wealth.”
Care for Your People
“People are not projects. They’re the reason we’re called to do what we do. Treat them with respect, with dignity. Uphold the people who are patient enough to listen to you preach. Stand alongside them. Affirm them.”
The Enemy Desires to Bring Us Down
“The serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness. He’s clever. He’s known you all your life. He knows every chink in your armor. He knows your weaknesses. He knows the subtlety of your sinfulness. He knows the secrets of your life. He knows you. He makes a study of you. His hope is to bring you down, to weaken you and to create in your life defeat, discouragement, loss, hopefully to the point that you take your own life. He rejoices over every suicide. It’s his ultimate goal to finish us off. Don’t ever forget that. No matter whatever happens to you, however big your name gets or however respected you are, or whatever may be your role, your position, or your possessions or whatever, you are the target of the enemy. He has darts, if you will, prepared for you, and you’ve got a big bull’s eye on your chest.”
Additional Resources
First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.
Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.
Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your finger tips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.
Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.
About the author
Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.
