Elisabeth Howard and Jim Elliot were married on October 8, 1953 in Quito, Ecuador. They were missionaries to the Quichua Indian people. Their daughter Valerie was born in 1955. In October of 1955 Jim and Elisabeth along with four other missionary couples,  Nate and Marj Saint, Roger and Barbara Youderian, Ed and Marilou McCully, and Pete and Olive Fleming began an outreach ministry, “Operation Auca,” to the remote and primitive tribes of Auca Indians. Although missionary efforts had made inroads with several people groups in Ecuador, the Aucas remained a group of  tribes that had consistently repelled advances made by the white man. The Aucas were savage and dangerous. Yet, these missionaries were called and committed ...

God delights in humility. Why? Because humility reflects a soft, tender heart that is willing to submit, is aware of the needs of others, and is teachable. It is modest and does not exalt self. Humility is difficult for us. Pride is our default setting. Humility, however, is the opposite of pride. Pride presents as a stiff-neck and a hard heart that will not bend the knee toward one in authority. Pride says, “I can do this myself without anyone else’s help. I know what to do so why should I ask God or anyone else for help.” Humility runs to the cross to confess sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing. Pride defends sin and refuses to acknowledge it much less confess it.

In his letter to the scattered church, Peter ...

Having been a pastor for over 30 years, I have had to do my fair share of confronting sinning brothers and sisters. Some confrontations have been humbly received and restorative. Others have been met with anger, defensiveness, denial, and blame-shifting. I have discovered that my role in confrontation is to “speak the truth in love.” I can’t predict how the other person will respond nor can I control their emotions. I keep in mind that this is a person for whom Christ died and shed His blood. He or she is not the enemy but is a brother or sister in Christ. Also, I’m not here to win an argument; I’m here to win back a sinner.

What’s the biblical basis for confronting sinners? Probably the most widely used...

1. Speak softly and gently..