Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (John 8:31) Dave Was an Example I recently retold a story by Donald A. Carson, New Testament scholar and professor. When Carson was in college, he led an evangelistic Bible study. When he felt out of his depths and when skeptics asked the hardest questions, Carson would …
Human Plans and God’s Over-rulings
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails and will stand. (Proverbs 19:21) Our Plans and God’s The Lord expects us to make plans for work, education, family and finances. But often we are frustrated by detours. In traveling, construction and traffic can block our planned route. On a long-distance trip this …
Guilty or Not Guilty?
Cleanse me…and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity….Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:7-12) Menninger and …
Guided by Christ
This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. (Psalm 48:14) Direction is Needed Years ago an ocean liner sank along the coast of Ireland. The ship’s captain was an excellent seaman, so everyone wondered what caused the accident. Divers recovered the ship’s compass. In the compass box, they found the …
Jesus Our Guide
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:24) We matter to God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and He promises to guide us. The Lord has led His people in Bible times, He’s doing it right now, and He will continue to steer us until He brings all Jesus’ followers safely home …
Every Christian’s Benefit Package (Part 3)
I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. (Psalm 34:1-2) Regaining Perspective One Bible study teacher taped a large piece of paper on the board and made a black dot in the center with a marking pen. Then he asked …
Every Christian’s Benefit Package (Part 2)
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits. (Psalm 103:1-2) We are to adore and love the Lord for all His benefits. This includes not only the forgiveness of sins, but also the lifting of shame. God bends down to love lowly and unclean …
Every Christian’s Benefit Package (Part 1)
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits. (Psalm 103:1-2) In Bible times and now, God’s people sometimes feel hard-pressed on all sides—squeezed, crushed, puzzled, depressed, depleted, anxious, persecuted, abandoned, abused, struck down, and about to be destroyed. But Jesus promises that He gives …
Jesus: Our Perfect Elder Brother
Both Christ who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly, I will sing your praises…I will put my trust in Him…Here am I, and the children God …
Elder Brother Syndrome
Jesus warned: Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven….Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, …