The Christian Priest

Read 1 Peter 2:4-10 … In the book These Things are Written by speaker, instructor, and writer Jack Lewis – received as a gift from a good friend – there was this statement about the role of the Priest as the “man who represents the people to God. He is a cult official who serves …

The Suffering Church

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 … Why is it that the Church is the first to suffer? The first place we tend to think of the suffering of the Church is from the outside, which is attested to from biblical and secular history, and can even be seen in our own day and time. But it …

Tribulation

Read John 15:1-8 … Is there any simpler fact than difficult times are not fun? From the beginning of the world, it has been a truth that when people suffer, when life becomes difficult, joy and happiness seem to be leached out of life. Often people tend to think in terms of what has touched …

A Watershed Moment

2 Corinthians 3:1-11 … The arrival at Mt. Sinai by the children of Israel has been seen by some as a watershed moment in the lives of those in the Exodus, and beyond. Of course, arguably the most significant event at Mt. Sinai was the giving of the Law – that body of Instruction that …

Harm My Peace

Read Romans 14:14-23 … It is always interesting to have religious conversations with people – one never knows where they will go or what will be said. Case in point, a conversation regarding something on the news sparked a chat about various beliefs concerned with the end times. Not too outrageous, but after a short …

Go and Tell Him

Read Matthew 18:15-17 … Perhaps one of the most difficult things to do is confront a brother or sister that has done something that causes problems for either another individual or the Church as a group. It’s not easy because confrontation is not really built into the Christian mindset. Our mindset is to love our …

The New Commandment

Read John 13:31-35 … Jesus used different teaching methods: direct instruction as in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6-7); example as when He drove the money changers from the Temple courts showing what zealous for God looks like (Matt. 21); or even miraculous events like walking on the sea (Matt. 14) and the transfiguration …

Sincere Error

Read Acts 26:9-11 … The discussion revolving around the idea of “sincere error” is likely one of the more hotly debated topics. The thought is usually crouched in the question of, “How wrong can a person be and still be right with God?” There are many diverging thoughts along this general line of questioning, which …

Demons, Tongues, Poisons, and Healings

Read Mark 16:15-20 … The Great Commission given by Jesus is just that, a commission given to the Apostles to spread the Gospel – the Good News – of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the salvation that came along with that sacrifice. This driving mission statement has rightly been taken up by …

Metamorphosis

Read Colossians 3:1-17 … Sometimes folks get into a rut and a well-meaning friend might give the unsolicited advice of – “Why don’t you (fill in the blank)? The change will do you good.” While there is value to being in a rut at times: it gives one stability, it makes life more navigable, it …