After Jesus’ resurrection, on the third day, the two Marys went to look at the tomb. Having seen the empty tomb, they left to go home but, on the way, they met the risen Jesus. As they… Read More

After his arrest, and towards the end of his mock trial, Pilate offered a choice to the Jews as to who he should release to them according to his custom. In Matthew’s Gospel, we read… Read More

One day, Jesus told a parable about a landowner who planted a vineyard and leased it out to vine-growers who would tend the vineyard for him. Part of the price of the lease was that, when th… Read More

As John nears the end of his revelation from Jesus Christ, he sees the new city of Jerusalem descending from heaven, and he hears Jesus say these words, “Blessed are those who wash the… Read More

While exiled to the island of Patmos, John, writing to the seven churches in Asia, opens his letter with praise to their common savior. He writes in praise, “To Him who loves us and re… Read More

While exiled to the island of Patmos, John received a lengthy revelation of Jesus Christ. As part of that revelation, Jesus gives him seven messages to seven churches in Asia. Included in ea… Read More

In his first letter to the church, Peter reminds us that suffering is part of the Christian life. Peter writes, “For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered… Read More

In his third letter to the church, John praises the believers for how they had treated strangers and those who traveled with the Gospel. John writes, “You will do well to send them on… Read More

Peter writes to encourage us that suffering is a normal part of the Christian life. However, he goes on to say, “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer… Read More

 Peter writes to remind us that suffering is a normal part of the Christian experience. Peter writes, “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with… Read More

The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers of the new covenant God promised to make with all people. In quoting an Old Testament prophecy from the book of Jeremiah, he writes, “For I wi… Read More

One of the themes of the letter to the Hebrews is how Jesus stands apart from all other spiritual beings and how he is superior to all others, even to the angels. The writer of the letter al… Read More

In the second chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, the author gives evidence as to how we can know that the message being preached is truly from God. He writes, “For if the word spoke… Read More

In the opening of his letter to Philemon, Paul tells him, “I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have towar… Read More

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul gives Timothy several commands. One of these is found in the second chapter of his letter. “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness… Read More

One of the topics of Paul’s second letter to Timothy is that of false teachers. In referring to false teachers, Paul is drawing a comparison between them and himself. Of such false tea… Read More

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy to “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to… Read More

Paul writes to Timothy regarding how the church at Ephesus should deal with certain problems that have been cropping up within the church. On if the issues centered around the support of wid… Read More

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul writes to Timothy telling him to “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness i… Read More

In his second letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul asks them to pray for him and his team that they might be “rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith” (2… Read More

In his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul enumerates both the similarities and differences between those who are believers and those who are in the world. In noting the differences… Read More

In the opening of his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul writes of the persecution and affliction he experienced as he traveled and shared the Gospel in Asia. Paul writes that he a… Read More

In the fourteenth chapter of his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul addresses the issue of speaking in tongues. This phenomenon was first recorded in the scriptures in the book of A… Read More

In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes to them regarding how they ought to live out their Christian lives. For example, in the seventeenth chapter of his letter, Paul writes, “Never… Read More

In the twelfth chapter of Romans, Paul lists a number of things that ought to be a part of every believer’s life. Each of these is presented as an active present participle which repre… Read More

Of baptism, Paul writes, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might… Read More

In describing those who are under the judgment of God, Paul writes that they are “full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers,  haters of God, inso… Read More

After Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he was left blind and had to be led “by the hand” to the city. Paul remained In Damascus “three… Read More

In the book of Acts, Luke tells us of a man in Samaria named Simon who practiced magic and claimed “to be someone great” (Acts 8:9). All the people in Samaria gave attention to h… Read More

In the book of Acts, Luke tells us of a man in Samaria named Simon who practiced magic and claimed “to be someone great” (Acts 8:9). All the people in Samaria gave attention to h… Read More

One day, Jesus was rebuking those who claimed to be the dependents of Abraham while, at the same time, seeking to kill him, one who spoke truth to them, something which “Abraham did no… Read More

There is a story in the book of John, where the Scribes and the Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who had been caught in the very act of adultery. In asking Jesus what was to be done with h… Read More

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, Paul is instructing them on how to prepare their offering for the brethren in Jerusalem who are experiencing a famine. Paul then encourages… Read More

In John 6, we read the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. In the story, Jesus multiplies five loaves of bread and two fish to feed the multitude of people who had come out to hear him… Read More

When Phillip called Nathaniel to come and meet Jesus, Jesus surprised him by saying, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:48) Nathanie… Read More

At the end of his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul writes, “Say to Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.&rsquo&hell…Read More

Paul tells us to “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Col. 4:6) The Greek word tran… Read More

After Jesus had died, and while he still remained upon the cross, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate “and asked for the body of Jesus.” (Luke 23:52) The word translated here as … Read More

Jesus warns his disciples of how they will be treated for his namesake, saying, “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some… Read More

Jesus warns his disciples that there will come times when those who oppose them “will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bring… Read More

In the story of the prodigal son, we read that, having become impoverished, the prodigal son comes to himself and resolves to “get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘F… Read More

In Luke 14, Jesus tells a story of a man who prepared a great feast and invited all his friends. However, on the day of the feast, when the guests were called to come, they all began to make… Read More

In the story of the Good Samaritan, a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jerico. Along the way, he was attacked by robbers and left for dead. While lying beside the road, both a priest… Read More

In the story of how Jesus fed the five thousand with two fish and five loaves of bread, we read, “Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed th… Read More

Jesus said, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37 NIV) Forgiveness is som… Read More

After Jesus was baptized, he was led into the desert where he fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights. During that time, the Devil tempted him. In one of his temptations, the Devil… Read More

In the narrative of the angel appearing to Mary to announce that she would bear the son of God, the angel announces himself to her by saying, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with… Read More

In telling the story of the birth of John the Baptist, Luke notes that both his father Zacharias and his mother Elizabeth were “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in al… Read More

On the third day after Jesus' crucifixion, the two Marys went to the tomb see the place where Jesus was laid. However, when they got there, the tomb was open, and Jesus' body was no longer t… Read More

When Jesus was on trial, it was the custom of the governor to release one prisoner to the people during Passover. In jail, along with Jesus, was a man named Barabbas, who had committed murde… Read More

In reading the story of Jesus’ betrayal, Matthew writes that, after Judas had a change of heart, he tried to return the money given to him for betraying Jesus. However, because the mon… Read More

On the night Jesus was to be betrayed, he and his disciples withdrew to a garden called Gethsemane. Taking Peter, James, and John, Jesus told them to wait and pray, while he went a bit furth… Read More

Shortly before his death, Jesus looked over Jerusalem and mourned saying, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gath… Read More

Jesus spoke a parable of a man who had two sons. He said to the first son, “Son, go work today in the vineyard.” (Mat 21:28) But the son said, “I will not.” (Mat 21:2… Read More

Matthew relates to us the story of how Jesus, mounted upon a donkey, entered Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd. Matthew tells us that this was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah wh… Read More

One day, some Pharisees came to test Jesus. They brought him the question of divorce. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” (Mat 19:3) J… Read More

After Peter made his famous confession that Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus gave him an amazing promise, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on ea… Read More

In between feeding the five thousand and feeding the four thousand, Jesus was approached by a woman; not a Jewish woman, but a Syrophoenician woman; a gentile woman. She came to beseech Jesu… Read More

I've gathered together my posts on this short mini-series into a downloadable paper. You can find this resource under the resource tab on my blog. This paper discusses the popular teach… Read More

This is the final part of a multi-part series. You can find the first part here, or the entire series here. I hope you enjoy our discussion.But I hate myselfSome people suffer from a deliber… Read More

This is the forth part of a multi-part series. You can find the first part here, or the entire series here. I hope you enjoy our discussion.How then can I love others?The difficulty in lovin… Read More

This is the third part of a multi-part series. You can find the first part here, or the entire series here. I hope you enjoy our discussion.What is wrong with self-love?Before we answer this… Read More

This is the second part of a multi-part article. You can read the first post here or all posts here. Hope you enjoy this series.What then did Jesus mean by, “as yourself”?This do… Read More

This is the start of a new multi-post article. I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on this popular topic. I hope this series is a blessing to you.But did not Jesus tell me to love… Read More

"Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed… Read More

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His g… Read More

"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they… Read More

"Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same st… Read More

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regar… Read More

"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so… Read More

"although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the… Read More

"Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no con… Read More

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you." (Philippians 3:1)Two things strike me as important in this ver… Read More

"But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you a… Read More

"But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be… Read More

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generatio… Read More

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at wo… Read More

"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on ear… Read More

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, ta… Read More

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but als… Read More

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by be… Read More

"in no way alarmed by your opponents — which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not… Read More

"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with on… Read More

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from bot… Read More

"for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be… Read More

"Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the… Read More

"Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known througho… Read More

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blame… Read More

"For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are part… Read More

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I… Read More

"Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: grace to you and peace from God our Father and t… Read More

"But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you… Read More

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utter… Read More

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with… Read More

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the hea… Read More

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11)T… Read More

"And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." (Ephesians 6:9)When Paul instr… Read More

"Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, b… Read More

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may l… Read More

"So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Chr… Read More