Focal Passage: I Peter 4:12-19 I had been a Christian for several years before I heard anyone speak on God’s purpose in suffering. I had heard preachers affirm Paul’s desire “to know Him and the power of His resurrection,” but they often failed to finish the verse: “…and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10). The false gospel of prosperity idolizes health and wealth, because
Focal passage: I Kings 19:19-21; II Kings 2:7-15 I’m very excited about the next five weeks of studies entitled Elisha: Seeing God’s Hand at Work. Elisha is one of my favorite Old Testament characters; I love his life stories! Plus, since retiring as a pastor twenty years ago, I’ve been serving churches in transition (when they’re in between pastors). So apparently I also love transitions; and the Elijah/Elisha saga
Focal Passage: Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-8 The suffering of Christ on Calvary is impossible for us to fully understand. The Son of God who laid aside His glory (Philippians 2:6-7) and took on our flesh (John 1:14) experienced all our temptations (Hebrews 4:15), and went to the cross to satisfy holy justice (II Corinthians 5:21) by paying the sin debt for everyone who would look to Him by faith (Isaiah 53:3-10).
Focal Passage: John 20:1-2, 11-18 Through the years blockbuster films often billed its stars like this: “Gone with the Wind, with Clark Gable — featuring Viven Leigh.” A more famous actor would be designated “with,” while an upcoming star was labeled “featuring.” Today’s lesson might seem to be titled “The Resurrection, with Mary Magdalene — featuring Jesus Christ.” But it’s just the OPPOSITE: our focal passage certainly features the grieving/rejoicing
Focal Passage: 1 Peter 4:1-11 When I was in elementary school I received a report card every six weeks. In addition to the fear and trembling activated by the grades, there was a preprinted set of behavioral concerns that teachers could mark each grading period. Multiple times I earned a checkmark by the box reading, “Needs to refrain from unnecessary talking and movement.” It was a convenient way for
Focal Passage: John 11:25-27 38-44 Sometimes a chapter of the Bible is so filled with excitement and life-truths that to focus on only a few verses of it seems almost irreverent. That’s the case today; our focal passage is just ten verses (out of 57 jam-packed ones) in John 11. In the series All Signs Point to Jesus, we come to the seventh ‘sign’ the Apostle John selected to reveal
Focal Passage: I Peter 3:13-22 As Christians our lives should draw a clear line between good and evil. Our suffering should be for the sake of righteousness and our testimony should affirm the same truth. First Peter 3:15 puts “Lord” first (the emphatic position), revealing the Lordship of Christ to be first and foremost in Peter’s mind. Nothing calls us to righteous living like worshiping Christ as Lord. When we
Focal Passage: John 9:1-11; 30-33 Many people have eye diseases, but only about 4 out of every 10,000 are born blind. Today’s study from John chapter 9 tells about one such rare individual. He became even more rare by being healed of congenital blindness. His story was the sixth of seven ‘sign-miracles’ that the Apostle John selected in his Gospel to prove Jesus’ deity and authority. In our focal passage,
Focal Passage: I Peter 2:11-17, 21-25 Most transient people have one thing in common – they travel lightly. How often have you seen a hitchhiker pulling a wagon? They tend to have the clothes on their backs and only a few very portable possessions, because they know they are just passing through. Peter addressed his readers as “strangers and exiles” in this world and exhorted them to “abstain from sinful
Focal Passage: I Peter 3:1-12 Submit is not a dirty word, but some Christians have tried hard to redefine it. As Jerry Vines said, “they use our vocabulary, but not our dictionary.” Ephesians 5:21 tells us we should submit to one another “in the fear of Christ.” If our lives are guided by the worship of Jesus, our attitudes should match. Instead of fearing that we will be disadvantaged,
Focal Passage: I Peter 4:12-19 I had been a Christian for several years before I heard anyone speak on God’s purpose in suffering. I had
Focal passage: I Kings 19:19-21; II Kings 2:7-15 I’m very excited about the next five weeks of studies entitled Elisha: Seeing God’s Hand at
Focal Passage: Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-8 The suffering of Christ on Calvary is impossible for us to fully understand. The Son of God who laid aside
Focal Passage: John 20:1-2, 11-18 Through the years blockbuster films often billed its stars like this: “Gone with the Wind, with Clark Gable — featuring
Focal Passage: 1 Peter 4:1-11 When I was in elementary school I received a report card every six weeks. In addition to the fear
Focal Passage: John 11:25-27 38-44 Sometimes a chapter of the Bible is so filled with excitement and life-truths that to focus on only a few
Focal Passage: I Peter 3:13-22 As Christians our lives should draw a clear line between good and evil. Our suffering should be for the sake
Focal Passage: John 9:1-11; 30-33 Many people have eye diseases, but only about 4 out of every 10,000 are born blind. Today’s study from John
Focal Passage: I Peter 2:11-17, 21-25 Most transient people have one thing in common – they travel lightly. How often have you seen a hitchhiker
Focal Passage: I Peter 3:1-12 Submit is not a dirty word, but some Christians have tried hard to redefine it. As Jerry Vines said,
