In a famous episode during the life of Christ, He invited His disciples to cross the sea of Galilee with Him. "Let us go across to the other side," He said. One by one, they piled into the boat. Many of them had fished the lake for years, seasoned veterans of those waters. They'd seen it all out there. But not that day. That day, a massive storm arose, like nothing they'd ever seen. (15 Minutes/4000 Words)
Read moreArchival Podcast: 4 Protections Against Temptation
4 Protections Against Temptation
Archival Podcast
“I am happy to share this archival podcast as a reflection on a topic that has been important to me.
I hope you will enjoy either revisiting this topic with a new awareness or reading it for the first time with fresh eyes.”
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4 Protections Against Temptation
Get Your Head Up! (Hebrews 2:5-9)
Get Your Head Up!
(Hebrews 2:5-9)
Humanity was supposed to wear a crown — not one made of gold and jewels, but of God's glory and honor. We were supposed to be a regal people, free and self-controlled. Love and joy and goodness were intended to flow from our lives and hands and hearts. No impurity, no sin, no crime or death or ugliness was to ever come from any of us. Ever. (7 Minutes/1300 Words)
Read moreTake Up Your War-Clothes (Ephesians 6:13-17)
To win the spiritual war, we must put on Christ's war-clothes. Paul lists six pieces of the spiritual armor. Paul was, remember, imprisoned as he wrote. He had seen Romans soldiers and their armor up close. The Spirit showed him a parallel, for God has given spiritual armor to his people. This list is life, for with these elements we can stand against the attacks of the enemy. (10 Minutes/1800 Words)
Read moreArchival Post: Are You Enslaved? — A Diagnostic Tool
Are You Enslaved?— A Diagnostic Tool
Archival Post
“I am happy to share this archival post as a reflection on a topic that has been important to me.
I hope you will enjoy either revisiting this topic with a new awareness or reading it for the first time with fresh eyes.”
click to read
Are You Enslaved? — A Diagnostic Tool
Husbands: Sacrificially Love, Part 2 (Ephesians 5:26-28a)
In speaking to husbands regarding the need for sacrificial love for their brides, Paul continued to hold out Jesus as their example. Jesus loves His church by sanctifying her, washing her with the water of the word, preparing her to be holy and without blemish. Jesus tirelessly works for His bride's beauty. (5 Minutes/700 Words)
Read moreRemember What You Learned (Ephesians 4:20-24)
Paul now reminds the Ephesian church what they had learned by first telling them who they had learned. They had learned Christ! (4 Minutes / 700 Words)
Read moreThe Point Of Life (Romans 8:28-30)
The Point Of Life
Romans 8:28-30
In a recent sermon at Calvary Monterey, my father — Bill to you — taught on the point of life. His teaching was based off Romans 8:28-30. His bottom line? The point of life, for the believer, is to become like Jesus. It is not a goal Christians invented, God did. His intention for his people is that we would become like his Son. (5 Minutes / 900 Words)
Read moreUnited To Your New Self — Who You Are Not (Ephesians 4:17-19)
The transformation of the caterpillar into a butterfly stands as a poignant illustration of the truth Paul next communicates to the Ephesians. He dreams of the Ephesians living in the newness of life that is theirs in Christ. He dreams of a church which, given a new nature from Jesus, now sours in that new nature. He sees a people who, like the caterpillar now transformed, are now something entirely different than what they used to be… (5 Minutes / 1000 Words)
Read moreBecome A Free Slave (Romans 6:15-23)
Become A Free Slave
Romans 6:15-23
I call it the Africa Decision Myth. I’m sure you’ve heard, or maybe even said it, before. The idea is simple: if God asks me to go to Africa, I will go. In other words, I will live my life, my way, and then if God busts in and interrupts everything, gives me a big ol' sign in the heavens, I will do as He asks. (16 Minutes / 3100 Words)
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