TLC
Galatians 6:1-6 When our kids were little, we bought a house in Centerburg, Ohio. We loved that home. It did not always love us. We couldn’t afford much at the time, so we looked for a home that could...
View ArticleConfession, Redemption, and Mercy
Proverbs 28:7-14 Lying was second nature to me in middle school. I do not envy my parents, and probably have received my just dessert with a few of my own children. One summer, a friend and I snuck...
View ArticleLong-Lasting Investments
Luke 16:1-9 Living under the constant pressures of consumerism, we are tempted to invest what the Lord has given us in ephemeral goods that have temporary value. In this light, it’s very ironic that,...
View ArticleFaithfulness Leads To More
Luke 16:10-15 We have two children under the age of 10 who often act like they are 30 and ready to tackle just about anything. We often tell them that, if they consistently demonstrate to us that they...
View ArticleGodly Consistency
Genesis 41:33-43 Imagine the surprise on Pharaoh’s face and on the faces of his aides when the young Hebrew convict they brought in was able not only to interpret the ruler’s strange dream in great...
View ArticleClose To Home
1 Timothy 3:1-7 In 1 Timothy 3, Paul reminds us here that what God has given us extends to more than just the financial and material resources at our disposal. We are also responsible for “people...
View ArticleFront Row Seats
1 Timothy 3:8-16 More often than not, we tend to serve in the church in response to a need. Something needs to be done, no one is there to do it, and, gently nudged by God and, possibly, ministry...
View ArticleTrajectory Of Faithfulness
2 Timothy 4:1-8 As one who had fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith (v. 7), Paul could emphasize to his younger colleague the importance of being a good steward of the gospel...
View ArticleThrifty and Thankful
Proverbs 13:11-18 In a day and age that glorifies quick success and lavish lifestyles, where debt exists in pandemic proportions, and in which fortunes are made and dissipated almost overnight, it’s...
View ArticlePleas For Justice
Luke 18:1-8 One of the deepest cries of the heart is our longing for justice in a broken world. Society favors the rich and powerful, often at the expense of the poor and weak. Inequity, prejudice,...
View ArticleJustice, Mercy, and Humility
Luke 18:9-14 Prayers of the poor and vulnerable often echo a longing for justice in a broken world. What might the prayers of those who have privilege and power sound like? Jesus follows up the...
View ArticleCall To Repentance
Romans 2:1-11 Salvation is a free gift from God; we are saved by grace, not by our own works, so that no one of us may boast of our own righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet, our good deeds are not...
View ArticleWinning Vs Losing
Hebrews 10:32-39 The author of Hebrews encouraged believers who had experienced persecution not to lose heart; their confidence in Christ was not in vain and would be rewarded in due time. There are...
View ArticleWe Have the Mind of Christ
James 1:19-27 There is kindness and good in the world, but there is also a lot of anger and hate. James observes that human anger does not produce the kind of righteousness that God desires. When we...
View ArticleA Virtue and Direction
1 Peter 5:1-11 Humility is not only about refraining from boasting about ourselves and our accomplishments. Humility also expresses itself through godly submission to others. The apostle Peter urges...
View ArticleRise Up and Stand Firm
Psalm 20:1-9 Everyone wants to be successful. Some are successful by the world’s standards. They have the modern equivalent of “horses and chariots,” things that symbolize status, power, and wealth....
View ArticleThe Scandal of Allegiance
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 It is quite a challenge for us to separate the word “allegiance” from our own political leanings, whatever they may be. The term does have associations with loyalty toward a...
View ArticleThe Scandal of Allegiance
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 It is quite a challenge for us to separate the word “allegiance” from our own political leanings, whatever they may be. The term does have associations with loyalty toward a...
View ArticleUnique and Unified
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 If we are united in Christ, why is there so much division in the church? We sometimes offer the world an embarrassing look into our dysfunctional family. The truth is believers...
View ArticleA Fool For Love
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Who wants to be a fool? I can think of a few people. Mother Teresa, for example, could be considered a fool for spending her life surrounded by poverty, disease, and death....
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