Consequences of a Halfhearted Confession
1 Samuel 15:24-35 The legend of Robin Hood goes back to the 1300’s. He is commonly known as an outlaw who robbed from the rich to give money to the poor. His story and heroics have been the source for...
View ArticleFreedom From The Law
Acts 13:36-43 The Israelites were given the law to help them learn boundaries, to live according to the values and commandments of God’s kingdom. However, law has its limitations. Laws can be...
View ArticleDon’t Be Afraid of Outsiders
Acts 13:44-48 A strong biblical motif is the “insiders versus the outsiders.” The “insiders” are considered those who know the Scriptures, the laws of God, and at least pretend to adhere to them. The...
View ArticleStick to the Fundamentals
1 John 1:3-10 The context for 1 John 1 is important. John may have been the only living apostle at the time this letter was written. As the primitive church began moving farther away from the...
View ArticleListening To The Truth of the Spirit
1 John 2:18-25 John was confronting those who had succumbed to heresies that had been circulating. John believed in the return of Jesus very soon. There is urgency in his warnings. The antichrist is...
View ArticleWe Are Not Immune To Arrogance
Luke 18:9-14 As believers, we are called to humility and surrender to God’s will and ways. We are all on the same journey, but if we are not careful, a spiritual arrogance can set in. We may begin to...
View ArticleVirtual Training
Titus 1:1-9 Paul was hosting a virtual leadership-training event in Titus 1. It wasn’t possible to gather in person and so he sent a letter. He reviewed leadership responsibilities–beginning with...
View ArticlePure Enough?
Titus 1:10-16 What is pure? That’s a question the Food and Drug Administration in the United States has trouble answering with clarity. They have dodged lawsuits because of legal precedents allowing...
View ArticleChina or Melamine?
2 Timothy 2:20-26 Growing up, my mother set our everyday table with turquoise melamine. She knew we couldn’t break it if we tried. China was for company. She saved it for special occasions. As...
View ArticleA Faith-Informed Conscience
1 Timothy 1:15-20 When Eve took the fruit, she disobeyed what God had said even before eating it. She allowed the tempter to inform her understanding of right and wrong. Eve’s definition of what was...
View ArticleFaith-Fed
1 Timothy 4:1-8 In Paul’s day, those who preached messages that did not conform to the truth of God were often successful in proclaiming their message in church. Paul warned Timothy about their lies...
View ArticleHandling Problems God’s Way
1 Timothy 5:17-25 In 1 Timothy 5, it seems that something has gone wrong within the leadership of the church? Paul instructed Timothy to handle problems respectfully, with witnesses, and in person. It...
View ArticleThe Perfect Law
Psalm 19:7-11 Nothing we do is perfect. Even when we try hard using our best skills and knowledge, perfection eludes us. Psalm 19 remind us that God’s law is perfect. It does not need to be edited or...
View ArticleTeach According to People’s Needs
Titus 2:1-8 Flight attendants have a litany of safety information every passenger needs to know. Often, passengers are much more interested in finding something else to listen to or watch. Yet, most...
View ArticleBy Grace, Salvation is for All
Titus 2:9-15 Some people will arrive on time or even early. Others will always be 20 minutes late no matter what they do. They cannot get their schedules to match the time on the clock! Life is a...
View ArticleTeach to Encourage
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 Teachers know well that the instruction they prepare will fall on deaf ears unless they show students what they need to learn. There is a renewed interest in mentorship. The...
View ArticleTeach in Love with Sincere Faith
1 Timothy 1:1-7 Most adults spend more than two hours a day on social media, according to a recent survey. It’s possible to scroll through social media updates and allow our thinking to be shaped and...
View ArticleChosen To Praise God
1 Peter 2:4-10 The rewards of the Christian life are difficult to recognize in the realities of daily life. It seems like defeat, discouragement, and despair chase even the most faithful of God’s...
View ArticleTeach to God’s Glory
1 Peter 2:11-17 John Wesley as a young scholar at Oxford University invited a few classmates to gather regularly to discuss theology and read the Bible together. They developed a “method” for living...
View ArticleBeware of How You Teach
James 3:1-6 The most dangerous weapon in the world is not made of metal, fired from guns, or delivered by rockets. The tongue inflicts the most damage above all other weapons. The bruises and scars...
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