Rejoice in the Flames
Daniel 3:16-26 We know God is everywhere. No place exists where we can avoid His presence; yet we stand with the pagans in shocked amazement as a fourth man joins Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in...
View ArticleOur Rescue
Acts 12:8-17 Peter was bound to two guards, guards at every exit, and an iron gate. The effectiveness of these obstacles dissolved when confronted by the will of God. Yet, Peter did not grasp the...
View ArticleThe Source
1 Corinthians 8:1-6 Our family loves to play trivia games. We listen to the questions, shouting out the answers, often before the questions are finished. Yes, we keep score. Whoever wins is allowed to...
View ArticleWith The Spirit
Ezekiel 2:1-9 Ezekiel is called to be a prophet. God prepares him with a warning: it will not be an easy task. God does not just call Ezekiel, warn him of the challenges ahead, and then wish him “good...
View ArticleSweet As Honey
Ezekiel 3:1-7 As a young kid I remember being dared by a friend to try eating a piece of paper. Why? I could not begin to tell you, other than the fact that human brains don’t fully develop until the...
View ArticleBold in our Faith
Ezekiel 3:8-15 God gave this vision to Ezekiel while he was in Babylon with those who were taken as prisoners from Jerusalem. Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord which does not make sense because the...
View ArticleGod Is Honest
Matthew 10:9-20 Prophets can be likened to alarm clocks. Prophets were sent by God to be a “wake up call” from the bad choices that people were making. Not many people are terribly fond of their alarm...
View ArticleAtmosphere of Worship
Acts 13:1-5 The early church at Antioch was following the instructions of Jesus as given in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus says, “when you . . . ” throughout the sermon. This means that generosity,...
View ArticleUniquely You
Ephesians 4:11-16 Have you ever wanted to be someone else? Or perhaps you have wanted the characteristics of someone else? What if God made you uniquely as you are for His glory? Sin does have a way...
View ArticleGod Makes Us Worthy
2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 She said, “I’m not worth anything to anyone!” I replied, “Wait, what? How can you say that little one? You are worth more than you will ever know. Do you know why? Because you...
View ArticleRighteousness and Justice
Ezekiel 18:1-9 Every person in God’s family is to practice justice and live righteous lives. The Common English translation renders Ezekiel 18:5 clearly: “People are declared innocent when they act...
View ArticleAccept Your Responsibility
Ezekiel 18:10-18 Some people see or understand their connection to a church because their grandparents were members there or they grew up going there as kids many years ago. Some have a sense that...
View ArticleThere Can Be Repentance
Ezekiel 18:19-24 If we were looking for a bumper sticker slogan for the gospel, this is it: “There can be repentance!” This is the Christian message of good news. We aren’t on a road that has no exit...
View ArticleGod Is Just
Ezekiel 18:25-32 Everything that God does is right and just. God is holy and fair. As God’s holy people we are called to reflect God to the world. Early Christians were baffling to pagans because they...
View ArticleFor Our Salvation
Acts 4:4-12 Many are looking for salvation, although they might not see it that way. Some look for salvation through money. If I can make a certain amount of money each year then I’ll be safe. There...
View ArticleEveryone Is Accountable
Romans 3:9-20 Paul calls the Roman congregation (and us today) to the awareness that everyone is in the same boat: “the ground is level at the foot of the cross.” Trying to follow and keep the letter...
View ArticleBe Responsible in Obeying God
Hebrews 4:1-11 Does the author of Hebrews send a conflicting message about entering God’s rest? “[L]et us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it” (v. 1). Paul says we have all...
View ArticleWe’re Accountable to Care for Others
Ezekiel 34:1-6 Each of us have a unique set of life experiences, lessons learned, and stories to tell. We are each the only person with the influence we have. Nobody else has the impact, the circle of...
View ArticleGod Takes Over Shepherding
Ezekiel 34:7-16 Nobody is perfect. We strive for perfection; after all, it is God’s standard. However, we’re all human. Not the least of these are our pastors and church staff. In the church, people...
View ArticleThe Good Shepherd Is Just
Ezekiel 34:17-24 Have you ever met a bully at church? They are often wonderful people who mean well. They’re the ones who like to get the job done, whatever it is. They especially like things done...
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