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 moreJesus Fills Our True Need (Mark 2:1-12)
The story pivots us from the introductory days of Jesus' ministry to the controversial ones. We know Jesus wasn't popular with all people at all times—he was, after all, crucified. And most of us know that Jesus became disliked by the religious leaders of his day. So, his popularity must have become mixed with opposition at some point. (10 Minutes/3000 Words)
Read moreHebrews 1:1-4—God Spoke By The Son—Christmas Sunday
Hebrews 1:1-4—God Spoke By The Son—Christmas Sunday
Read moreRemember Who You Are - Fathers: In Relationship With Jesus (1 John 2:13-14)
Last week, we covered the little children in John's exhortation. In this second group -- fathers -- we have mature believers. (6 Minutes/1400 Words)
Read moreRemember Who You Are - Little Children: Forgiven by the Father (1 John 2:12-13)
Nehemiah was a man on a mission. He lived during a time in the Old Testament era when God's people weren't doing well. God had to discipline His people, so He allowed them to be carried off into Babylonian captivity. Years later, working for a foreign power far from home, Nehemiah heard news about Jerusalem, God's holy city. (10 Minutes/2500 Words)
Read moreGod Is Light (1 John 1:5)
In 1 John 1:1-4, we read John's purpose statement, his heart for his readers, a group of Christians in a circuit surrounding Ephesus, where he'd pastored. He loved this group and, fearing the false teaching which sniped them off one by one, he lovingly rose up to communicate the truth to his beloved, his little children. (6 Minutes/1600 Words)
Read moreGoal #1 of First John: Proclaim the True Jesus
As we saw in last week's introductory 1 John post, false teachers had crept into the early church. John could not stand idly by and let these deceivers talk about Jesus as if they knew Him. John had to step up to the plate and defend the historical and actual Jesus and share about His Master, Friend, Teacher, and Savior. (8 Minutes/2000 Words)
Read moreJesus Christ: The Ultimate Man - Part 2
This is not the title I normally use of Jesus. Perhaps I've developed an allergy to the title after hearing many say, "Jesus was a good teacher, a prophet, but not God." I reject that. He is God who became flesh to dwell among us (John 1:14). Still, he is the greatest prophet who ever walked the earth. (6 Minutes/1400 Words)
Read moreA Son Is Given (Isaiah 9:6)
The night Jesus was born, a son was given. God so loved the world, he sent his only Son (John 3:16). Jesus' birth as a baby was God's gift to humanity. He gave His Son. (2 Minutes/500 Words)
Read moreGod Is Light, Part 1 (1 John 1:5-22)
We read John's purpose statement, his heart for his readers, a group of Christians in a circuit surrounding Ephesus, where he'd pastored. He loved this group and, fearing the false teaching which sniped them off one by one, he lovingly rose up to communicate the truth to his beloved, his little children. He would proclaim the True Vine, the real Jesus Christ, to them. He aimed to bring them into fellowship with the apostolic group and the truth they were licensed to preach. (7 Minutes/1700 Words)
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