The book of Galatians is one of Paul's earliest works. In it, he combatted the idea that faith plus works lead to salvation. He warned his audience about the danger of trying to obtain God's favor through the keeping of the law (and losing God's favor when disobeying the law). (4 Minutes/900 Words)
Read moreDealing With Chaotic Times (Mark 3:7-19)
Many parts of this week’s passage are familiar to us. Jesus is presented as being famous far and wide. People from everywhere all come to see Jesus. We know why they are there—they want to see his miraculous power. Mark makes this clear: they came to him only after they heard all that he was doing. (12 Minute/3000 Words)
Read moreArchival Post: 5 Facets of the New Covenant God Made With You
I'm sure you always read the full agreement you make with various companies to use their software and hardware. A recent Apple software license agreement is 451 pages long. And when you clicked "I agree" I'm sure it's because you took the weekend to read through it. Or maybe your lawyer perused it. But did you know God has made agreements with humanity? The biblical word for these agreements is "covenant."
Read moreJesus Is the Culmination of God's Plan (Mark 1:5-7)
Mark uses what most assume to be hyperbole to describe John's popularity. He said, “All the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized.” John was wildly popular, and the masses were coming out to him for this fresh awakening. (4 Minutes/1000 Words)
Read moreNehemiah 3—God Renews His People By Inviting Them Into The Work
Sunday Teaching: Nehemiah 3—God Renews His People By Inviting Them Into The Work
Read moreHebrews 1:1-4—God Spoke By The Son—Christmas Sunday
Hebrews 1:1-4—God Spoke By The Son—Christmas Sunday
Read moreArchival Post: Faith Is The Way To God
Abel was the son of Adam and Eve and brother to Cain. We don't know much about these two men, but we do know they both offered a sacrifice to God. Perhaps God had instructed them to do so. Perhaps their parents had taught them the need for sacrifice. Whatever their reason for sacrificing to God, Genesis tells us their sacrifices were somehow different.
Read moreTwo Ways: Choose One (Psalm 1)
One of the most well-known lines of American poetry came from the pen of Robert Frost, in his poem "The Road Not Taken." He wrote: I think many love the sentiment, partly because they feel their own lives are unique, that they also have taken the less traveled road. They feel they have resisted the way of most to pursue the path of few. (15 Minutes, 3800 Words)
Read moreHow God’s Love Is Perfected in You – Agree With God About How Love Works (1 John 4:19–21)
First, we must recognize all our love is a response to His. We love because He first loved us (19). So God's love comes first to us before it goes anywhere else. He is the great initiator. (5 Minutes/1400 Words)
Read moreHow God’s Love Is Perfected in You – Let Love Have Its Perfect Work in You (1 John 4:17–18)
In this section of 1 John, we are learning to let God's love have its perfect work in us (1 John 4:13-21). Last week we considered the importance of growing in an understanding of God's love (4:13-16). Today, John will explain to us how God's love is perfected in us (4:17-18). (5 Minutes/1400 Words)
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