The Habits of a Reluctant Convert

March 13, 2025 ~ Marc Sims ~ Leave a comment

Augustine’s Confessions detail approximately a 15-year-long struggle with God. His journey wanders through Manicheism, skepticism, and neoplatonism, before seriously considering the Christianity his mother taught him at a young age. After meeting regularly with the bishop, Ambrose, and attending church, Augustine’s intellectual arguments against Christianity (and the Bible) fade. He becomes compelled by the beauty and truth of … Continue reading The Habits of a Reluctant Convert

Such Were Some of You (1 Cor 6:9-11)

April 3, 2024 ~ Marc Sims ~ Leave a comment

https://youtu.be/E-c3HrlsUqU What should we think about the tragedy going on in the Middle-East? The only other event in modern history where more Jews died was the Holocaust. But, equally tragic, even more Palestinians—many of whom do not support Hamas, and some of whom are our brothers and sisters in Christ—have died in Israel’s retaliatory strikes. Six thousand … Continue reading Such Were Some of You (1 Cor 6:9-11)

Grace to You (1 Cor 1:1-9)

January 25, 2024 ~ Marc Sims ~ Leave a comment

https://youtu.be/rFX5nKgPNeQ Have you ever encountered a problem that was so overwhelming, so complicated, so gross, that you felt paralyzed about how to even begin dealing with it? The first car I ever bought was a 1987 Honda Accord with 330,000 miles on it. I spent 700$ at a police auction to buy it. I raised … Continue reading Grace to You (1 Cor 1:1-9)

Make a Difference

August 31, 2015 ~ Marc Sims ~ 1 Comment

Below is the transcript of my opening keynote address at my church's recent Engage event - the theme of the event was "Make a Difference". My lesson was from 2 Cor. 4:1-7. Hello, friends – you are here today because you are a leader. You may be a GROW group leader, a student ministry leader, or a … Continue reading Make a Difference

Dead Faith (James 2:14-26)

July 23, 2015October 1, 2015 ~ Marc Sims ~ Leave a comment

We have been saying that the fundamental theme of the book of James has been “authentic faith leads to a transformed life”. The passage we will cover tonight provides the heartbeat of the theme. James has been striving to encourage the brothers and sisters in Christ that they can endure trials without lashing back in … Continue reading Dead Faith (James 2:14-26)

4 Tips to Turn the Blade Back on Satan

April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 ~ Marc Sims ~ Leave a comment

“Therefore let us arm our hearts with these and similar statements of Scripture so that, when the devil accuses us by saying: You are a sinner; therefore you are damned, we can reply: The very fact that you say I am a sinner makes me want to be just and saved. Nay, you will be … Continue reading 4 Tips to Turn the Blade Back on Satan

“Holy Sonnet XIV” by John Donne

December 8, 2014April 13, 2022 ~ Marc Sims ~ Leave a comment

Batter my heart, three-personed God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. I, like an usurped town, to another due, Labour to admit you, but Oh, to no end. Reason, … Continue reading “Holy Sonnet XIV” by John Donne

How Were People in the Old Testament Saved?

October 14, 2014December 1, 2014 ~ Marc Sims ~ 1 Comment

How was Abraham saved? What about Noah? Adam? Moses? David? How did they get to heaven, if Christ hadn't come to die on the cross and raise from the grave yet? This is a fairly common question that pretty much anyone reading the Bible has asked (including myself). In this post I will hope to … Continue reading How Were People in the Old Testament Saved?