Go find your new favorite Christmas apparel today! www.redriverministries.org/shop

Please follow along in our study through the book of Galatians. The latest episode is ready for you to download or listen to. www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords

The latest installment of Ancient Words is now available. This is part 9 of our study through Galatians. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords/episode/7e278b86/galatians-part-9-live-by-faith

Part eight of our series on Galatians is now available. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords/episode/7dd16c6f/galatians-part-8-not-by-works

I've got a new blog post up on the website. This is necessary information for the Body of Christ. https://www.redriverministries.org/post/the-devil-made-me-do-it

From my blog at www.redriverministries.org/blog Prayer When I look at the overall landscape of the church today, I notice a disturbing trend. There is, in the average church in the United States, a lack of prayer. I have seen this throughout my Christian walk, so this is not anything new. However, prayer is one of the most vital, life-sustaining ministries of a church. The average church service usually looks something like this: Call to Worship (usually either a Scripture or a greeting of some kind, this may also be when the announcements are read, and the prayer requests of the church are prayed over) Song Song Prayer over the Offering Receive the Offering Song Sermon (usually the pastor will pray briefly at the beginning and end of the sermon) Invitation Benediction Dismiss (with prayer) Now, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with this model. It works for many churches. In fact, the church I attend uses a model that is fairly close to this one. However, it is lacking. Where are the times of prayer? Unfortunately, at least in the American context, we are so focused on schedule that we have decided to cut out some of the more lengthy aspects of the worship service. We have done so to our own detriment. We are a people who are so entertainment driven that the idea of sitting and praying for even five minutes during a church service has become sheer boredom. We don’t stand for it in our churches because it does nothing to move the service along. What a pity! I can remember going to some older churches where prayer was still revered as part of worship and we would spend anywhere from five to fifteen minutes, on Sunday morning, pouring our hearts out to the Lord. We would pray for the sick among us. We would pray for the pastor. We would pray for the lost around us. We would pray for the rest of the service, that God would have His way. We would pray and seek forgiveness of our own sins and shortcomings. Whatever we prayed for, we would pray. This might not work in every church. Some people would be uncomfortable going into a church where the entire congregation is praying. However, I want to propose a few small changes to the worship service model that we saw earlier. Call to Worship from Scripture Prayer over the Service Song Song Pastoral Prayer over the Congregation Receive the Offering Prayer of Thanksgiving over the Offering Song Sermon (with prayer at beginning and end as usual) Congregational Prayer of Repentance and Restoration to God and Response to the Sermon Invitation Benediction with Prayer to close the Service. This revised model for a worship service will only work if we are less focused on getting out at a certain time and more focused on spending time in prayer and communion with God. Prayer is our way of communicating our needs to the Father. He knows what we have need of already, but that should not be a reason for us to be lazy in our prayer life, especially as a church body. Of course, this revised model is not a “one size fits all” type of model either. There are most likely many churches who would benefit from making changes here and there. However, the important thing to remember is that we need to be praying in our worship services as well as singing and listening to a sermon. The average church service lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. During that time most churches spend less than five total minutes in prayer. We can do better. We must do better if we are to see a change in the world around us.

The latest installment of Ancient Words is now available. Please click the link to listen and don't forget to share it with your friends and family. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords/episode/7d920955/galatians-part-3-only-one-gospel

You guys, January was a long month. I am just now able to get into the studio and start working on this year's podcasts. With the new year comes a new logo which will soon be available on shirts, mugs, and more merch in our store. Without further ado, here is the first installment in our study through the book of Galatians. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords/episode/7eace8ed/galatians-part-1-introduction

Next month we will finish up our study through the Upper Room Discourse in John. In January we are going to start going through Galatians. As I was studying for the first part of Galatians today, I made it through the first verse and had to stop. Too often we simply read the introductions to the epistles and we don't take time to study them. We do this to our detriment. There is so much truth in the greetings from the apostles in all of the epistles that we just miss because we think, "Oh, it's Paul saying hello." Does anyone else ever see this, or is it just me?

The latest installment of Ancient Words is ready to listen or download. Don't forget to share it with a friend. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords/episode/7c82e7f4/the-upper-room-part-21-jesus-the-eternal-son

I would like to ask for prayer for this week. First, we have been doing a Bible study in the city park in our hometown. So far the only people to show up have been my wife and me. There have been so many people asking about Bible studies in our area, but it looks like it is empty words at this point. Please pray that we will begin to see some fruits of this labor or we will know when it is time to stop trying. Second, we are having a night of worship Thursday night at the church we are attending. It is an AG church and my wife and I are more reformed leaning than this group is. Also, this will be my first time playing and singing since I had surgery on my hand. (I play guitar and had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand earlier this year and I haven't sang in about seven years.) Please pray that God will be glorified in this venture as well. Thank you all so much and may God bless you.

The latest installment of the Ancient Words podcast is now available to listen, download, and share. Click the link below. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords

Another book submitted to Amazon for publishing! Here's a breakdown: Total books - 18 Bible Studies - 3 (Including this new one) Church Questions Series - 5 (With one more almost complete) Ministry Helps - 5 (With one completed awaiting editing) Journals and Notebooks - 5 (These are only designed by me, not actually much writing involved.) (I categorized the Catechism in with the Ministry Helps because it is more of a tool for ministry than a Bible Study. However it could be classified as either one.) I am so thankful to God that He has allowed me to be able to add this to the ministry to which He has called me. I would not be able to do this without His guidance or my wonderful wife's support. If you would like to order any of these books, please follow the link below. Thank you all and God bless you. https://www.redriverministries.org/books

We have been hard at work getting new designs into the shop. These new designs are available for a very limited time because of their nature. That's right! It's time to start thinking about Christmas! Click the link below to shop all of our exclusive Red River Ministries designs, including seven new Christmas designs! https://www.redriverministries.org/shop

The latest installment of Ancient Words is now available. Click the link below to listen or download. Don't forget to share with your friends and family! https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords/episode/7b375db0/the-upper-room-part-18-the-father-loves-you

Please go read this. Even if you are unaware of the situation, it affects the entire Body of Christ. https://www.redriverministries.org/post/all-have-sinned-a-response-to-the-removal-of-dr-steven-j-lawson

The latest episode of Ancient Words is now available. Click the link below and share wit your friends. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords

I am pleased and surprised to announce that four of my books have been selected as finalists in this year's Ignite the Fire Indie Book awards. To cast your votes, click the link below. I would greatly appreciate any and all votes that come my way. Thank you all and God bless you. https://forms.gle/mig644VCzcrhp7iKA

The latest installment of Ancient Words is out today. In this installment we explore the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people. Click the link below and while you are there, check out our other great resources and ways to help support this ministry. https://www.redriverministries.org/ancientwords

I have a new blog post up on my website. I hope those who read it are encouraged and made to think about what it says. Click the link below to read it, share it with others, and thank you. https://www.redriverministries.org/post/false-prophets-among-us

The latest installment of Ancient Words, Part 14 of The Upper Room, is now available on your favorite podcasting apps, or you can click the link below. As always, remember to share with your friends and family. Thank you and may God bless you all. https://ancientwords.buzzsprout.com/1318735/15406223-the-upper-room-part-14-the-world-will-hate-you

How are we already in the third quarter of the year? Time is flying by. Third quarter newsletter is ready for viewing. https://www.redriverministries.org/newsletter