Rocky Creek: Recent Episodes
Rocky Creek
Esther’s position insulated her from the opposition to God’s people, but she couldn’t sit idly or stay silent. We ought to plead on behalf of others when they cannot protect themselves.
Haman’s rage consumed him, and his plot backfired in dramatic fashion. Unchecked anger not only harms others, but it also destroys us.
Haman designed a plan for the king to honor himself, but he surprisingly used those directions to honor his enemy, Mordecai. Do the right thing, and honor will come to you in the right way and at the right time.
Esther seized her God-given opportunity and used it with wisdom. When we obey His leading, we must act with diligence and discretion.
Mordecai urged Esther to intervene for the sake of God’s people but trusted their survival even if she refused. We must remember that God’s will advances, with or without us.
Haman’s hatred of the Jews incited him to seek their destruction. Any type of perceived superiority based on nationality or ethnicity is unfounded and ungodly.
Haman’s hatred of the Jews incited him to seek their destruction. Any type of perceived superiority based on nationality or ethnicity is unfounded and ungodly.
Mordecai wasn’t afraid to do what was right or refuse to do what was wrong. Regardless of the consequences, we must resolve to do the right thing.
A pagan king sought a replacement queen, and Esther’s beauty positioned her for a purpose far greater than appearances. With God, no position is accidental—only providential.
God’s people were exiles in a land where its leaders exemplified drunkenness, objectification, and all manner of sinful dysfunction. In this unconstrained society, God enacted a plan even though He was never mentioned or honored.
Instead of bragging about what we can do in our lives, we should focus on what Christ did through His death. The cross of Jesus is the only worthwhile boasting we should communicate.
Galatians 6:6-10 – God has designed the world to produce proper results according to how we live. Whether we do what our flesh desires or what the Spirit commands, we will experience reliable outcomes.
Being part of the Body of Christ means helping one another when we make mistakes or experience challenges. Sharing burdens reveals that we understand the importance of caring for others in the Church.
When the Spirit fills your life, others will begin to notice. Spirit alignment requires a surrendered identity, crucified desires, steady obedience, and humble relationships.
The Holy Spirit changes who we are on the inside, but that difference is often observed on the outside. Disciples of Jesus should possess faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
A life transformed by the Spirit ought to be noticeable. Christians should interact with others by portraying patience, kindness, and goodness.
The fruit of the Spirit provides evidence of our salvation. A disciple of Jesus should exemplify love, joy, and peace.
Even though the Spirit resides within us, we are not immune to sinful outbursts that seek to satisfy our fleshly impulses. We must wage war against the unspiritual desires that still plague us.
Grace changes our status with God, but it should also alter the way we interact with others. We are free to live eagerly compassionate lives, loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Some of a church’s greatest dangers can come from within in the form of people who add requirements onto the gospel. Don’t be lured away from the beauty of grace by misleading persuasions.
Christ did not set us free so that we continue to live as if in bondage. Through His sacrifice, He beckons us to live with unapologetic freedom.
Paul warns that the danger of spiritual relapse is real, even for those who’ve experienced gospel freedom. We slip when we trade God’s grace for manmade expectations.
We were enslaved to the ways of the world, but the Father desired to adopt us as His children. In Christ, we are free to live joyfully as the sons and daughters of God.
The law humbled every person under the awareness of sin, yet God’s grace was available to all. When we come to the cross of Jesus, we tread on level ground.
Many wonder why God provided a covenant for His people and later gave them rules they could not keep. The law couldn’t save anyone, but it did help in restraining the spread of sin.
Our works could not save us; in fact, they only condemned us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we obtain the faithful redemption that we require under sin’s curse.
If we believe our salvation to be of grace, we must not rely on our works after that. The Spirit that saves is the same Spirit that sanctifies.
Paul was so enthralled by the power of the gospel that he confronted others who were wavering in its truth. By faith and faith alone, we can experience lives that have been crucified with Christ.
Paul’s faith story began as a zealous persecutor of the gospel to a diligent proclaimer of it. When the gospel impacts our lives, it transforms us thoroughly.
Paul confronted lesser messages posing as the gospel since they corrupted the church. We must beware of counterfeit gospels that could hinder us from knowing the grace of Jesus.
As the people began to undertake God’s work, they wrongfully assumed they were good with Him. Beware of dangerous entitlements that make you believe God owes you something in your obedience.
People often view the future as bleak if they perceive the past as ideal. If we only focus on what God did previously, we will miss the glory days that He desires to bring now.
God called His people to repent of their selfish ways, but He called for more than a somber acknowledgment. They distinguished their repentance through their call for equal sacrifices.
God’s people put their comfort over His concerns. We must constantly evaluate if misplaced priorities have taken us.
While it is encouraging to take mission trips to multiple places, focusing more on fewer initiatives can be more effective. Moving missions from sporadic to strategic creates pipelines to engage the unreached.
As individual local churches seek to increase their membership, it becomes easy to overlook the larger context. We need intentional people mobilized for church planting and replanting to reach our city and beyond.
In recent decades, churches have created programs to do what God has called parents to do. We must align the efforts between the home and the church to disciple the next generation well.
While guilt or pressure can be successful motivators to get us to serve, we ought to minister to others in line with our giftings and passions. In those meaningful positions, those obligations turn into opportunities.
Being involved in the life of a church requires more than having your name on the roster of a group. Discover how to move from being a name on a list to developing relationships that further your discipleship.
If we simplify discipleship to mere information transfer, we miss much of what is necessary for transformation. We all need mentoring relationships worth imitating as we seek to follow Jesus.
We often minimize Christianity to a momentary decision, but if we are following Jesus, we should still be moving. A disciple of Jesus continues to pursue thorough spiritual maturity.
God does not intend us to navigate the challenging paths of this life alone. If we are to endure, we must commit to standing firm but doing so together.
Just as humanity awaited a Savior to come once before, we now anticipate the return of Christ to usher in His eternal glory. God and sinners will finally and completely be reconciled.
God has a plan to lift us up, but Satan has another plan to take us down. We must learn the path of humility to continue firm in the faith, undeterred by our enemy’s plans.
God gathers His people together because He knows sheep need a shepherd. In His wisdom, He calls leaders to imitate the chief Shepherd so they can serve as examples to the entire flock.
While the tendency is to respond to suffering with complaints, Scripture encourages us to rejoice instead. Suffering is unavoidable, but our response is supposed to be unusually hopeful.
None of us know when Jesus will return, but we know the time is approaching. As it draws near, discover the proactive priorities Christians should keep.
Our culture seems shocked and annoyed if Christians don’t join or support expressions of wild living. It is better to suffer for refusing temptation than it will be for those who embrace defiance.
In one of the most unique biblical passages, Peter explains that the Spirit of Christ has warned generations to repent. Only through Jesus’ sacrifice can we be saved beneath the cleansing flood.
In a super-charged political society, our confidence is not in parties, platforms, or persons, but our hope is in Jesus. Prioritize your gospel witness in a hostile culture as you keep a clear conscience.
The immoral culture of today’s world puts pressure on us to put our selfish desires first. Scripture gives us clear instructions to respond to what is right and righteous if we desire to see better days.
When marital expectations are unmet, we often blame our spouses instead of looking to ourselves for any needed changes. Discover who your spouse needs you to be and make any adjustments necessary for a healthier marriage.
Our jobs will be difficult, but we don’t have to make them extra complex by misaligned behavior. Look to Christ as the guide for responding to challenging work environments.
No matter how a government treats Christians, Scripture commands us to respond in God-honoring ways. God has made His will very clear regarding how we should respond to civil authorities.
If this world is not our home, we cannot give ourselves to every available temptation. The war against hypocrisy is important so that we don’t hinder others from seeing Jesus.
Our culture recently debated if a church’s services should be deemed essential during times of emergency. We realize a church’s necessity through the Scripture and our experiences.
To see consistent spiritual growth, we must be careful to avoid interpersonal drama and pursue biblical truth. A failure to do either will cause spiritual stagnation.
Many people stifle their discipleship due to complex relationships in a church or mounting questions regarding the Bible. Discover how you can handle both and not wander away from the faith.
Since the gospel has transformed us, our lifestyles should alter significantly. God’s perfect holiness empowers and expects our personal holiness.
Peter realized that Jesus fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah. Looking back over the Scriptures, we realize that the gospel was always God’s original plan.
1 Peter 1:6-9 – No matter how challenging our circumstances may become, all of the suffering in this world is temporary. Once we understand its limit, we can better see God’s refining process.
1 Peter 1:1-5 – Peter addressed his fellow disciples as exiles with the reality that this world is not our home. Given that fact, our hope must be in something beyond this life.
Through the meaningless troubles of life, we can find a clear purpose in Solomon’s final lesson. The purpose of life comes into focus when we do the two simple things prescribed.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8 – We grow older daily, which positions us closer to our final day than ever before. Age well by presently preparing for your future state.
While limited to how much wisdom we can possess, we should use well what insight God grants us. God’s wisdom can help us avoid doing stupid stuff that causes pain to ourselves and others.
None of us can escape that our lives will end, but we can do something about how we take advantage of the opportunities given. Don’t overlook God’s gifts along the way.
When we see the ungodly flourish and the godly struggle, we might question God’s standard of fairness. Part of trusting God is acknowledging that we may not understand why certain things happen.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 – We often complicate our lives by making unwise choices. This world promises us trouble, but we don’t have to add more to it by refusing to live according to God’s ways.
Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12 – Without contentment, we will protect our possessions with unhealthy perspectives. The treasures of this life are gifts from God as long as they don’t replace Him.
You can have all this world has to offer and no one to share it with due to how you align your priorities. Ensure your life has the margin to grow relationally with God and others.
As long as people have authority over others, injustice will be rampant. Political and financial influences govern our society, and these structures reveal how people often take advantage of others.
Time doesn’t slow down, and experiences don’t linger. We will encounter many transitions throughout our lives, but we must prepare for our eternal state, which will not change.
We can experience pleasures, obtain possessions, and intensify pursuits, and still feel empty inside. Even if we have all this world tries to offer, we will not find satisfaction here.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 – Even when King Solomon had everything, he felt it was all for nothing. No matter how personally successful you are, you will reach a place where you question the meaning of life’s pursuits.
We cannot settle for a human intermediary to regulate our relationship with God. Jesus has invited us to know Him and to abide with HIm closely.
Life is short, eternity is long, and each of us will spend somewhere forever. We can confidently trust Jesus because He has prepared a place in heaven for His followers.
John 10:1-10 – Jesus is aware of the dangers of untrustworthy spiritual figures. He watches over our souls and protects us from those whose only interest in our spiritual conditions is themselves.
In a world full of darkness, Jesus claimed to be the light that each of us needs. His illumination provides insight into who He is and clarity about where we should go.
For people who desired another heavenly handout, Jesus offered Himself as the only thing to sustain us. Only through Christ can you be truly satisfied.
John 11:17-44 – Outside of Lazarus’ tomb, it appeared as if death had claimed another victim. Jesus proved His power over death through resurrection and now invites us to come alive.
Jesus refused to flee when our endangered souls were in dire need. We marvel at the Good Shepherd who laid His life down for us on the cross to save us from our sinful wanderings.
We cannot avoid trouble in this life, but we can experience abundant peace through every trial. Keep a diligent desire to follow God’s instructions through hard times so you can endure.
To maintain awareness of God’s presence, we must prioritize holy habits to reinforce that reality. Know God better through consistent time committed to spiritual disciplines.
The closer we become to understanding the love of God as portrayed in the Scriptures, the more we should desire others to comprehend it as well. Don’t desensitize yourself to the lostness around you.
Our world is rampant with people who not only defy God’s Word but persecute anyone who seeks to do the opposite. We cannot compromise commandments to be accepted by our rebellious culture.
Just because someone is seasoned does not mean they are scriptural. We need personal commitment and committed disciple-makers to follow God’s ways for the long haul.
This culture seeks to lead us astray from God’s truth by planting doubt and distrust in our minds. The more we investigate Scripture, the more we find it trustworthy.
You can only say that God does all things well if you can accept that He does rightfully bring discipline into our lives. God can even use afflictions for our instruction.
The company you keep will dramatically affect how well you follow biblical principles. Beware the wicked and befriend the wise.
If you desire to finish strong at the end of your life, it is necessary to apply God’s Word now. To avoid a disgraceful ending, diligently learn and relentlessly stay on the scriptural paths.
We live in an increasingly strange world with combative critics and challenging circumstances. God has given us the Bible as an uplifting gift to strengthen our souls when we’re weary.
If you consider the Bible a hindrance from the life you desire, you will never value it accordingly. God’s Word is a blessing to apply and not a burden to avoid.
Throughout all the Exodus journeys, God had proved Himself faithful for the path still yet to come. Like the Israelites, we are grateful for God’s deliverance in the past and dependent upon God’s guidance in the future.
With all the growing anticipation of meeting with God after the tabernacle’s completion, God’s glory was so intense that Moses was surprisingly unable to enter. This blockade reminded the people of the great chasm between them and God that only the coming Messiah could rectify.
After receiving detailed instructions on how to build the tabernacle, the people archived how they fulfilled them precisely. If we are to complete God’s work, we ought to attempt it in God’s way.
With the commencement of the tabernacle’s construction, God called for givers and workers to mobilize for the task. Like the Israelites, we get to join God in His efforts if our lives are available to His invitations.
Before reminding the people of some of His expectations, God restated His unique commitment to them. The distinguishing characteristics of our lives are wrapped up in the promises of God.
God provided Moses with a description of Himself that became one of the most repeated characterizations in the Bible. As we unpack who God says He is, we discover the beauty and balance of His nature.
God invited Moses into a staggering type of intimate friendship with Himself. Moses became so accustomed to that level of proximity with God that He refused to go forward without it.
The people’s sin with the golden calf was so grave that God had to do something about it. Through the willingness of Moses and God’s rejection of his plan, we understand the substitute we need so desperately.
The people grew impatient with Moses’ apparent delay on the mountain and decided to take idolatrous matters into their own hands. Through their example and Moses’ response, we discover what we must do with the sin we embrace so quickly.
At the beginning of the tabernacle’s construction, God showed that He had filled specific individuals with His Spirit to complete the design and assembly. God gives each of us skills to do His work and wisdom to experience His rest so that we never confuse the One deserving of credit.
God explained how He desired His people to approach Him in worship. Through their prayers, offerings, and purifications, God showed them a sure path to engage Him.
God provided precise instructions regarding His expectations of the priests’ covering and consecration. As a kingdom of priests, our hope is being clothed in the righteousness of a perfect sacrifice.
Within the structure of the tabernacle, God architected details to remind us of how sin separates and how sacrifice restores. Our sin has separated us from God, and our only hope to reenter His presence is upon His conditions.
God’s determination to build a tabernacle to dwell with His people reveals an astounding truth – God actually desires to fellowship with us. This passage beckons us to consider His unwavering mercy and astounding grace.
God instructed the people to give in specific ways to create a place to meet with Him. The offerings of these formerly enslaved people are much like ours – given from the overflow of God’s provision.
After God provided the commandments, He ratified a covenant with His people. A sacrifice was essential so that the people could experience close fellowship with God.
In addition to God’s commandments instructing individual behaviors, He also provided a type of order in which society could thrive. In these multifaceted commands, we realize that God loves justice and a culture that embodies it.
In addition to God’s commandments instructing individual behaviors, He also provided a type of order in which society could thrive. In these multifaceted commands, we realize that God loves justice and a culture that embodies it.
After the Ten Commandments, God provided Moses with additional instructions that seemed varied and extensive. At the heart of these commandments, we understand that God is expounding on how we fulfill the first ten in our respect for Him and others.
The tenth commandment cautioned against coveting anything that belongs to someone else. We cannot practice contentment if we constantly compare what God has provided us with what we see adorning others.
The eighth commandment discouraged the practice of stealing. If we trust God for what we need and work diligently to provide for those around us, we will never need to take what belongs to another.
The seventh commandment warned the people against breaking marriage vows and entangling themselves in forbidden relationships. To avoid adultery, we must cherish marriage.
The fifth commandment instructs all people, regardless of age, to honor their parents. God has created the family structure to be a training ground for how we embody care and respect authority.
The fifth commandment instructs all people, regardless of age, to honor their parents. God has created the family structure to be a training ground for how we embody care and respect authority.
The fourth commandment standardized a week by six days to work and one day to rest. Keeping the Sabbath day holy is about ordering our time to remember who we are not.
The third commandment discouraged the people from vainly using God’s name. God’s name represents who He is, and we must never frivolously use it for any type of sinful agenda.
The second commandment warned the people of belittling God to any type of idol. We must ensure we worship the God who made us, not the gods we attempt to make.
The first commandment forbids the people of God to have any other gods besides the LORD. To obey this command, we must rid ourselves of any rivals threatening His place in our lives.
Before God gave commandments, He reminded the people about what He had already done for them. We don’t do good works to be loved by God, for redemption precedes regulations.
Jethro encouraged his son-in-law, Moses, to alter his leadership practices to focus on what God had called him to do. This simple yet significant change at Rephidim paved the way for what would happen at Sinai.
The Israelites fought against the Amalekites and prevailed under unique circumstances during the conflict. As our banner, the LORD unites and mobilizes the people of God to victory.
To provide the Israelites with water, God curiously instructed Moses to strike a rock in the side from which life-giving nourishment would run. This moment, and the event it foreshadowed, reminds us all that the LORD is truly among us.
The Israelites grumbled against the LORD when the conditions worsened, but He provided food for them still. God’s provision is as constant as His character is reliable.
When the Israelites discovered bitter water at the beginning of their trek through the wilderness, God instructed Moses on how to make it sweet. God reminded them that He is their Healer, and we must remember that no situation is behind His remedying.
At the banks of the Red Sea, the victorious Israelites worshiped the God who had saved them. We should live lifestyles of worship, constantly expressing gratitude to our faithful Deliverer.
With the sea in front of them and the enemy behind them, the Israelites were out of options unless God did something miraculous. The LORD has proved to be a waymaker time and time again for the people of God.
God led the Israelites through unexpected paths by unusual guides as they left Egypt. We must maintain trust even when God leads in ways we do not understand.
When the Israelites emerged from Egypt, God gave them a chance to live again. Jesus has defeated our greatest enemies and set us free to follow Him all the way to the Promised Land.
In the final five plagues, God humbles a man who considers himself a god and a people who thought themselves untouchable. God opposes the proud and will use any means necessary to humble us.
In the final five plagues, God humbles a man who considers himself a god and a people who thought themselves untouchable. God opposes the proud and will use any means necessary to humble us.
In the first five plagues, God shows His power over the gods of Egypt and attacks the Egyptians’ many sources of affluence. Nothing in this world deserves our wholehearted trust and allegiance.
While the planned Exodus served to rescue God’s people, He also intended it to wake Egypt up to His supremacy compared to the gods of this world. Never overlook how God uses His work among His people to bring the nations to Him.
Before the plagues commenced, Scripture provides a genealogy for Moses and Aaron, highlighting their unsavory family line. Just like these two who were used mightily by God, nothing in your family tree can disqualify you from God’s service.
God reassured Moses that He would be able to redeem the people no matter how bad the opposition seemed to be. In the circumstances that impact our lives, we must remember that there’s not a situation God can’t redeem.
Moses’ initial efforts only increased Pharaoh’s narcissistic rage and the Israelites’ horrific conditions. We must hold on to God’s promises when things get worse before they get better.
As Moses prepared to return to Egypt, God prepared him for the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, but a curious event on the way showed that Moses wasn’t exempt from that very thing. We must prioritize assessing our own personal obedience.
As Moses added to the excuses for why he couldn’t do what God called him to do, God kept providing assurances of why he could go forward. When God calls us to do something, He always equips us with exactly what we need.
Moses desired to deliver God’s people through his strength, but his efforts would never suffice. If God calls us to something great, we must realize His power must accomplish it.
In what seemed like a random set of events surrounding the first few months of Moses’ life, God orchestrated details to save Moses and God’s people. God rescues us from danger to place us in the center of His plans.
The Israelites intimidated the Egyptian Pharaoh, so he used all forces at his disposal to reduce their presence. No matter how much God’s enemies oppose His people, they will never fully succeed.
As the Book of Exodus commences, God reminds us of how He kept His promises to an unlikely family to fulfill an uncommon calling. God sets the stage to use His people to accomplish His purposes, and nothing can stop Him.
The angels announced the gracious and glorious arrival of Jesus to a group of panicked shepherds. The gospel emboldens our lives once we comprehend that Jesus actually came for us.
When the angel informed Joseph of God’s workings regarding Mary, he was willing to go forward with God’s plan. No matter how unconventional God’s plan proves to be, we can go forward if we are confident that God is in it.
If you think our days are full of reasons to fear, you must consider what it must have been like during that first Christmas when God invaded some people’s plans for His own. Met by God, these individuals were all overwhelmed by uncertainty, but the presence and promise of God were meant to rid them of fear and embolden them to go forward. Jesus has come, and everything must change.
Nehemiah left the city for a short time, and opposing voices emerged in an attempt to change direction. When compromises come among the people of God, we must commit to rerouting to God’s expectations.
As the people dedicated the wall’s completion, a joyous celebration commenced. When we celebrate God’s work, we should be known by sincere thanksgiving.
The people of God organized their efforts and installed leaders in critical areas. When we all know our roles, we are better if we serve according to our giftedness and others’ requirements.
As the people commit to keeping the covenant, they also agree to fund the temple’s financial requirements. When we give together, we join our generous offerings and stand amazed at what God does through aligned efforts.
After listening to the Word of God, the people were aware of their sins and repented. When conviction comes, we must humbly approach God with a restorative desire.
As the people gathered together, Ezra, the scribe, read God’s Word to the assembly to obey it. When the Word is central among the people of God, we can better operate the way God intended us to live.
As the workers prepared to settle into the land, Nehemiah assembled them to ensure all were covered. When everyone is accounted for among the people of God, we can rest knowing that we all have others watching out for us.
The people not only experienced organized efforts to slow them, but certain people also conspired against the leadership. When we’re tempted to slow progress, we must discern God’s will among all the competing voices.
After slowing down the opposition of outsiders, Nehemiah addressed how the rich were wrongfully exploiting the poor among them. When we fail to help each other, we work against that which God has called us to accomplish.
The opposition increased as Nehemiah and the people made progress on the wall. When forces oppose God’s work, we must stay faithful to His calling, knowing that He is more powerful than any resistance aligned against us.
As the work on the wall began, Nehemiah organized the people into specific groups to accomplish the greater task. When we work together as the people of God, we can marvel at the progress He intentionally makes among us.
Nehemiah risked his comfort to evaluate the work required to reestablish the people of God. When God puts a plan together, we see how He uses people and processes to accomplish something great.
Once Nehemiah heard the condition of God’s people, his brokenness led him to prayer. When our circumstances are not what they are supposed to be, do we approach God for His help?
In The Parable of the Persistent Friend, Jesus taught the need for consistent prayers. Many of us are not receiving certain things simply because we have failed to ask.
In The Parable of the Persistent Friend, Jesus taught the need for consistent prayers. Many of us are not receiving certain things simply because we have failed to ask.
In The Parable of the Persistent Friend, Jesus taught the need for consistent prayers. Many of us are not receiving certain things simply because we have failed to ask.
In The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard, Jesus confronted an entitled religious mentality that thought those who had been around longer deserved more. We must never move past the reality that God doesn’t owe us anything.
In The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus answered how many times we should forgive another person who has wronged us. If you realize how much you have been forgiven for in your life, it should not be a stretch to forgive others as well.
In The Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus taught to welcome those who are typically unwelcome. Those who think they deserve God’s presence rarely experience it.
In The Parable of the Wedding Feast, Jesus encouraged His followers to avoid pursuing places of privilege. Exaltation is not attained by proving greatness but by relentlessly prioritizing humility.
In The Parable of the Wedding Feast, Jesus encouraged His followers to avoid pursuing places of privilege. Exaltation is not attained by proving greatness but by relentlessly prioritizing humility.
In The Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus taught how unreliable our possessions could be to forming and completing our lives. Live for something that outlives you.
In The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Jesus contrasted one who thought he was righteous and another who knew he was not. If we believe our works to be righteous, we reveal our hearts to be unrighteous.
In The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus taught that whatever we do for others, or refuse to do, directly correlates to our relationship with Him. By refusing to meet the needs of others, many of us have left Jesus destitute.
In The Parable of the Talents, Jesus taught us to be faithful to steward whatever God has entrusted to us. It’s not about what you have but what you do with what you’ve been given.
In The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus warned disciples to prepare for His return. While we know neither the day nor the hour, we can guarantee that He will come again to gather those who belong to Him.
Jesus taught that those who serve God should not become entitled. Even if we do all God cmmands of us, we are still unworthy servants who should still be amazed to belong to Him.
In The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus showed the grave mishandling of the religious community to those whose lives were being changed. We cannot confuse our relationship with the Father as something we deserve.
In The Parable of the Tenants, Jesus foreshadowed how the world would reject Him rather than receive Him. As we look at His sacrifice, how will we respond to the cross?
In The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus challenged the stereotypes of religious people. Those who are people of the Kingdom show compassion to others.
As Jesus often spoke in parables, it divided those who understood the truth and those who rejected it. When people’s hearts become dull, they cannot receive the blessings of God’s truth.
To be a part of a local church means that we give and we receive for the mutual benefit of all members. Discover what differentiates between a stagnate and supportive disciple within this church.
While we haven’t arrived at God’s destination for our lives, we should watch for signs to determine if we are getting there. God hasn’t given up on us, and He will continue to work on us until He finishes what He started.
We live in a time where we have plentiful access to spiritual direction, but not all of it is from God. A disciple of Jesus needs to practice spiritual discernment in confusing religious times.
If we learn to embrace a church as a family, we can navigate all relationships and situations within. Jesus did not leave us on our own to follow Him, so we need to learn how to encourage one another to continue.
If we learn to embrace a church as a family, we can navigate all relationships and situations within. Jesus did not leave us on our own to follow Him, so we need to learn how to encourage one another to continue.
Jesus absorbed the wrath of God so that we need not fear its consequences for our lives. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can truly come to life.
On the night before Jesus died, He gathered His disciples to prepare them for His sacrifice. While the first temptation was an opportunity to take and eat what was forbidden, Jesus set another table so that we could be forgiven.
While we don’t know exactly when Jesus will return, we are confident that He will. The reality of Jesus’ second coming helps keep us in the light amid all the darkness of this world.
As we deal with the pain of losing others to death, our mourning should be different from that of the world. While we grieve, we must always maintain hope because we know the promises of God.
Even in light of Christ’s imminent return, we should not quit our jobs and cease providing value to our communities. God expects us to remain productive and ensure that our jobs are an outlet for ministry rather than an obstruction.
When we succumb to temptation, we surrender to our desires and reject the will of the Holy Spirit. God’s presence in our lives helps us fight back wandering ways.
The Christian life is more of a journey than a destination. For all the progress you have made, keep going forward as you follow after Jesus and make adjustments to your life.
The Christian life is more of a journey than a destination. For all the progress you have made, keep going forward as you follow after Jesus and make adjustments to your life.
Within the Body of Christ, we experience the gift of mutual encouragement. Through the challenges of this life, we need to support each other and seek to support each other.
With great affliction comes numerous opportunities to give in to temptation. As believers, we must be careful not to surrender to the flesh when we become overwhelmed.
In every culture, people’s opinions are rampant and varied, but we need the consistent, reliable source of truth found in the Word of God. Scripture is our sole standard as we seek to live for Jesus.
In every culture, people’s opinions are rampant and varied, but we need the consistent, reliable source of truth found in the Word of God. Scripture is our sole standard as we seek to live for Jesus.
If we genuinely care for others, we will prioritize their spiritual development. It is hard to fathom the impact we could see if everyone took the responsibility to disciple at least one other person.
When we live our lives for Jesus, He is the only affirmation we need to receive. If we can maintain the perspective that we live for an audience of one, we can seek to please Him in every aspect of our lives.
When we live our lives for Jesus, He is the only affirmation we need to receive. If we can maintain the perspective that we live for an audience of one, we can seek to please Him in every aspect of our lives.
If God is doing work inside a church, those who are outside should truly feel the effects of it. As we wait for the return of Christ, we should be the type of disciples unwilling to keep Kingdom activity within the walls of a church building.
More than lessons to learn, we need examples to follow. The most accurate form of discipleship is when we are intentional about life-on-life imitation.
Paul planted a church in Thessalonica, and, years later, he wrote them to express his genuine gratitude and persistent prayer for the congregation. As we look around our church family, we can also stand in awe of what Christ has done and anticipate what He will do.
There is no greater assurance to seek than that of your salvation. Know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life and your present life receives the purpose needed.
Out of all the gifts given to us, none can rival Jesus Christ Himself. Through a relationship with Jesus, we find the life for which we have all been longing.
We will be unable to overcome the world until obedience to God’s Word is desirable. Once God’s commandments are no longer seen as burdensome, we can experience the victory intended for us.
Our love for God and others is contingent upon HIs love for us. We are incapable of loving another until we grasp the unfathomable love of God.
Many people seem to be spiritual but really aren’t biblical. We must learn to test the spirits of what people say so that we don’t drift away from the Spirit of God.
It’s one thing to tell people that you love them, but it’s an entirely different thing to show them. Love requires more than words and should be displayed through our deeds and truth.
Can a true believer continue in habitual sin? God’s Word provides stark warnings about the changes that should be present in the disciple’s life.
If God is truly our Father, certain things about us are guaranteed to happen. Over time, we will grow more to look like Him if we truly belong to Him.
Some people appear like they know Christ, but over time, the masks come off, and we see who they truly are. Beware of deceitful people who claim temporary or modifiable association with Jesus.
While we live in this world, we are not called to love the things of this world. Knowing that heaven is our home, we must never get too comfortable with the things of this life.
Assurance of salvation can often be an elusive thing to obtain. God’s Word provides specific characteristics of those who have been truly born again.
To deny sin's presence in our lives only increases our level of guilt. The only way to walk in the light is by stepping out of the darkness in honest confession for true forgiveness.
Far too many professing Christians drudge through life, seemingly unaware of the joyful journey it is to follow Jesus. To know Jesus is to experience rescue from an ordinary life.
King David found the proper state of mind when he realized who he was and who he was not. We must fight against the tendency to assert ourselves pridefully among a culture built on self-promotion.
If we neglect God’s structure for our rhythms of work and rest, we will find ourselves eventually burning out. The gift of the Sabbath is a needed weekly pause amid a culture committed to constant hurry.
You will not grow closer to Christ by accident. Our spiritual conditions are contingent upon the intentional disciplines to withdraw from distractions and engage with devotions.
To experience spiritual sanity, we might require a digital detox. If you don’t discipline yourself to control technology, be assured that it is controlling you.
We wear busyness like a badge of honor in our culture, but the pace does significant damage to our souls. Consider how you should use your time in the wisest way possible.
We often find ourselves distracted with so much that we miss the most important things. If you feel too overwhelmed with distractions, you must evaluate and alter your habits to experience the life Jesus intends for you.
No one ever inherits a godly home, but it is built through the intentional application of biblical wisdom. If you want to experience your family transformed, make sure you know what to embrace and what to avoid.
Many families experience conflict because of members failing to be what the surrounding generations need them to be at the right time. You can avoid painful conflict if you understand how God has wired all family roles to interact with one another.
Every child is prone to push the boundaries, but God expects parents to enforce them for their own good. Loving your child isn’t allowing them to get away with anything, but it is committing to discipline them through everything.
God expects parents to be the primary disciple-makers of their children. Your home will never produce growing disciples without the intentional investment of one generation into another.
Solomon warned his son about the allurement of any forbidden woman, but she is more easily accessible in our days. Beware the trappings of lust and the consequences it is destined to bring, no matter what format the connection takes.
The temptation of adultery does a masterful job of highlighting the momentary pleasure while disguising the long-term pain. You must be careful to avoid a trap of falling for anyone who does not belong to you.
God has designed us to use our gifts to accomplish good things for the benefit of our families and others around us. To see all people succeed, we need to restore the dignity of work in our lives and the lives of others.
Couples often lose satisfaction in their marriage because they seek happiness in other pursuits. To restore the joy in your marriage, you must intentionally celebrate the gift God has given you in your spouse.
Every family passes on a legacy but not every legacy is worth continuing. Men are called to lead their homes by providing biblical instruction and a faithful example.
Our Heavenly Father loves us enough to correct us when we are in the wrong. In His discipline, He is more concerned with teaching us what we should do rather than shaming us for what we have done.
God should never be an afterthought regarding our finances and possessions. Learn from God's Word what it means to honor Him with all that He has given to you.
God didn't call us to trust Him with some of our hearts because He knows we need total commitment. Discover God's design for a life entirely entrusted to Him.
We can often carry deep regret simply because we listened to ungodly counsel. Our homes should lay a foundation of biblical wisdom equipping us to avoid the dangerous paths of this world.
As King Solomon instructed his son in the path of wisdom, he provided sound advice, which he personally failed to keep later in his life. Wisdom is not just about possessing the correct information but ensuring the proper application.
While we all seek affirmation from others, the source from which we seek it will determine the course of our lives. God's Word provides clarity for women regarding the type of worth they ought to esteem.
Habakkuk became overwhelmed as he canvased his circumstances, but He held to the hope that God would provide him with the necessary strength. When the path seems too challenging, God equips us to endure the journey ahead.
God promised Habakkuk that He would right all the wrongs done by their enemies, but the timing seemed delayed. A belief in God's sovereignty implies that we believe God does all things in the right way and at the right time.
The prophet Habakkuk could not understand how God could idly allow the sin of their enemies to continue unchallenged. If we believe God to be worthy of our complete trust, we must accept His plan even when it doesn't make total sense.
All of us go through storms, but only some of us make it out of them. As Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount, he taught his listeners how to build the types of lives that can withstand life’s storms.
Plenty of people know religious lingo and practice helpful service, but not all have an actual relationship with Jesus. Make sure that your faith isn’t make-believe.
Instead of treating others the way we wish to be treated, we often repay others for what they have done. The remarkable standard of the kingdom is simple, yet few will accept it.
Many of us are lacking certain things because we have simply refused to ask God for them. As our Father, he knows what we need and takes pleasure in giving us good gifts.
One of Jesus’ most misinterpreted phrases was his teaching on judging one another. Jesus didn’t expect us to refrain from accountability but abstain from hypocrisy.
You would have plenty of valid reasons to worry if God was not your intentionally provisional Father. Rid yourself of the weariness of worry and trust God for your daily needs.
When we believe our status to be contingent upon what we own in this life, it robs us of obtaining true treasure. Decide if you will either serve God or money.
Like many other spiritual disciplines, fasting can, unfortunately, be a means to gain the approval of others. Jesus taught that fasting should only be something directed to and noticed by God.
When others cause emotional pain in your life, forgiveness is the only restorative option. Jesus explained that our forgiveness of others is tied to God’s forgiveness towards us.
Jesus taught us how to pray but not what to pray. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus gave a template by which we can learn how to talk with God.
Jesus expects us to give, but he desires that we not give with a need to be noticed. The only recognition that a generous heart should seek comes from God.
Our tendency is to repay people for any negative words or harmful actions, but Jesus taught quite the opposite. The way of the kingdom is counter-cultural and yet life-giving.
Each of our reputations are defined by our level of credibility. Instead of exaggerating with empty promises, simply stay reliable with a trustworthy life.
While divorce is permitted in the Bible, it is never promoted in the Bible. Learn what Jesus had to say about those considering dissolving a marriage union
Adultery always begins far before the act. We must be careful what we look at and what we think about if we are to remain faithful to our commitments.
Jesus taught that just because your anger may not lead to murder does not mean that your thoughts are unclassified as sin. Unaddressed anger must be confronted in our lives.
The coming of Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament expectations and the requirement for our own righteousness. Jesus came from heaven so we could go to heaven.
Christians are to avoid being influenced by the world; instead, we are called to be influencers of the world. As salt and light, we are expected to transform the culture around us.
As Jesus began the most quoted sermon in history, he explained what the blessed or happy life looks like. Living according to the principles of the kingdom is a pivotal yet promising paradigm shift.
While we may be uncertain regarding the timing of the end, God is clear regarding the testing leading up to that end. Daniel’s final vision provides a vague progression of events accompanied by a clear expectation for His followers.
Daniel foresaw a clear progression of prideful rulers culminating in the reign of the Antichrist. For all the power amassed by God’s opponents throughout history, their end will be sudden and sure.
God sent messengers to Daniel to reveal how earthly conflicts are connected to spiritual warfare. If we don’t acknowledge that we are in a war, we will most definitely experience significant defeat.
In Daniel’s concern about the future, the angel Gabriel provided a needed amount of clarity yet permitted some level of confusion. While the details may be debated, the vision is clear – Christ is coming at an appointed time for a specific outcome.
As Daniel studied the scriptures, he was dismayed at how far the people had drifted from God. His prayer of corporate repentance provides a helpful guide as we seek a needed wake-up call from God.
In Daniel’s remarkably detailed vision of two coming kingdoms, God’s enemies are described as those who throw truth to the ground. No matter how powerful they may seem, God’s truth will endure, and He will ultimately defeat every remaining opposition.
Daniel’s frightening vision of future kings alarmed him until he beheld the coming King who would reign forever. Amid polarizing politicians and combative kingdoms, our great hope is in the true King who is on His way.
Daniel refused to pray to the king and was cast into the lion’s den because of his devotion. Not only did his bold stance make a statement about his faith, but it successfully witnessed to others as well.
When King Belshazzar took the vessels from the temple and used them for idolatrous purposes, God sent a frightening message to the people. The writing on the wall seeks to remind us that when God has had enough, He puts an abrupt end to sin.
Through King Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation and restoration, he learns an important truth: God can do whatever He wants to do whenever He wants to do it. None of us can block God’s will from coming to pass.
Daniel interpreted the king’s disturbing dream and showed him that all of his power had been given by the one with all authority. No matter who is in charge, God remains sovereign.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego risked their lives when they refused to worship the golden image. When it seemed that God abandoned them in their suffering, He actually met them within the fire.
God gave Daniel the ability to interpret the king’s troubling dream, but instead of taking credit at an opportune time, Daniel unashamedly gave God the glory. Our goal should be to use any platform to represent God rather than present ourselves.
Daniel and his friends had to decide whether they would be transformed by the culture or transformers of the culture. Just like them, we must resolve to show convictional courage in a nation increasingly hostile to biblical values.
When Babylon conquered Judah, the pagan king gathered a group of exiles to alter their worldview in order to reconstruct the whole nation. A small group heeded the biblical command regarding exile expectations and remained expectant of how God could use them during that time.
The world is in need of a story. People everywhere are disconnected from God and need to know the beauty of His rescue in Jesus. And that’s why Christians everywhere need to be equipped and prepared to effectively share God’s Story, the story that governs the world.
The people of God know what it is like to be down but not out. No matter the opposition we encounter, our God continues to hold us steadfast.
Many people claim to follow God yet live in continual guilt due to sin. The life that is truly forgiven is confident in the mercy of God.
Just because David had walked with integrity in the past did not guarantee that he would in the future. Walking with God is a continual commitment to pursuing biblical obedience.
God is infinitely responsible and yet intimately involved. Since God knows every detail about every person, we are to welcome him to investigate the deepest part of our lives.
When depression deepens, every person will either draw closer to God or further away from him. When all hope seems to be lost, resolve to hope in God nonetheless.
True worshipers can never perceive God as merely the “man upstairs.” As the Sovereign Maker, he is alone worthy of extravagant worship.
Life has a way of increasing our anxiety, but God’s faithfulness should embolden our capacity to trust him. If we genuinely comprehend who he is and what he has done, we can properly address any overwhelming circumstances.
We often need God’s protection from wicked people, but do we ever consider the protection we need from our own sinful habits? Just because we experience struggles does not mean that we can justify sin.
We mistakenly live as if we are the center of the universe. If we can truly understand the might of our Creator, we can finally grasp our proper perspective as part of the creation.
God’s blessing is a means to the end of God’s way of being known among all nations. How are we using the gifts of God to fulfill the commission of God?
In Paul’s final remarks, he recognized the church’s maturity due to their willingness to meet the needs of others. God often supplies our needs through the help of one another.
As Paul suffered in prison, he was able to endure partly due to the church sharing in his troubles. The people of God should be known for their willingness to walk alongside those who are in great need.
This passage of Scripture is one of the most quoted and most misinterpreted sections of Scripture. The secret of the Christian life is learning how to live it out regardless of our circumstances.
This passage of Scripture is one of the most quoted and most misinterpreted sections of Scripture. The secret of the Christian life is learning how to live it out regardless of our circumstances.
Making a stance for joy is waging a war against worry. Scripture clearly teaches what a disciple should do when anxiety attacks.
In any family, conflict is unavoidable, but, in the family of God, it must be dealt with, or else the church will suffer. Paul singles out two disagreeing church members and instructs us all how to reconcile when conflict comes.
As we live our lives on the earth, we are never to forget that our citizenship is in heaven. Ultimately, we belong to another King and another Kingdom.
Christian maturity is a matter of progression instead of perfection. As we follow Jesus, we gradually grow closer to Him in our personal discipleship.
Paul had plenty of room to boast in religious, familial, and personal accomplishments, but it was nothing compared to knowing Jesus. The opportunity to know the resurrected Christ is greater than anything else this world offers.
In Psalm 22, David wrote a worship song that also served as a remarkably comprehensive prophecy of Jesus’ death upon the cross. While the precision to detail is astounding, God's commitment to our salvation is even more remarkable.
Since Paul couldn’t personally gather with the church of Philippi, he planned on sending two individuals who epitomized reliable, gospel companions. We need to have good gospel friends, and we need to be good gospel friends to others.
If we want to make a difference in the world, we must avoid sounding just like the world. We are called to rid ourselves of complaining as we follow Jesus.
When it comes to the work of our salvation and sanctification, who is ultimately responsible? Scripture indicates that God works hard through our hard work.
Jesus never attempted to advance a personally painless agenda but gave of Himself for our benefit. If the magnificent Jesus can humble Himself so much for our sake, what excuse can we reasonably provide?
The path to unity is not waiting on everyone else to align themselves to you. Fight against personal selfishness and work toward humble servanthood.
A significant portion of following Jesus is the manner in which we follow Him together. As part of the Church, we are to make our lives count for Kingdom work in unison with one another.
While heaven might be your desired destination, the earth is your current situation. If you still have life left in you, God has more left for you to do.
The Reason You Are Still Alive [Phil. 1:19-26] - While heaven might be your desired destination, the earth is your current situation. If you still have life left in you, God has more left for you to do.
While we often think that suffering will serve as a blockade towards spiritual growth, it is often the vehicle. Realize that God may want to use that which you want to remove.
God began a good work in you, and He never leaves anything unfinished. While you are not there yet, He will gradually help you make progress.
The desire to get richer for selfish reasons will only lead to an impoverished life. The best reason to make more money is so that you can give it away.
We need not wonder if hard times will come but prepare for when they arrive. God’s Word provides helpful wisdom regarding how to make sacrifices now to experience security later.
The greatest obstacle to contentment is comparison. Debt seeks to secure our happiness now by committing to pay more for it later.
While laziness seems to be an accepted cultural disposition, it significantly lessens an individual's overall opportunities. God’s Word highlights both the blessings and the benefits of hard work.
Both the rich and the poor are in danger of neglecting God’s wisdom regarding finances. No matter how much you possess, you must be careful to prioritize biblical perspectives and biblical practices.
In a world where chaos abounds, where are we to find peace? Following Jesus provides the only path to experiencing unshakable peace.
Due to the frailties of earthly fathers, many people struggle to embrace God as a Heavenly Father. If you have ever wanted to know what God the Father is like, look no further than His Son.
Since we could not make it to God, God came for us. Jesus was more than a godly man, but the God-Man who provided redemption.
In a world full of conflicting advice, Jesus eagerly points us in wise directions. Not only are we blessed by hearing His guidance but by obeying His counsel.
When God arrives, everything changes in a moment. For the people of the world, His coming promises judgment, but for the people of the Word, His coming guarantees joy.
When we aren’t rewarded for our religious efforts, we tend to think our devotion is in vain. Our obedience should not be used as a bargaining tactic to get what we want.
When we interpret God’s blessings as our accomplishments, we are prone to stinginess over generosity. The people of God are given the blessings of God to use for the purposes of God.
Overlooking Personal Disobedience [Mal. 2:17-3:5] - The people of God wanted God to confront rebellious sinners, and they didn’t realize that effort would include them. It is easy to be disgusted with others’ sins while justifying our own.
As people who have been loved by a covenant-keeping God, we ought to keep our covenants to one another in marriage. God hates divorce because of what it does and what it will continue to do.
What happens when those who are leading in worship actually lead others astray? If the religious leaders are careless, the followers will rarely surpass their example.
What happens when those who are leading in worship actually lead others astray? If the religious leaders are careless, the followers will rarely surpass their example.
We tend to give our best to individuals and institutions while unfortunately offering God our leftovers. God is too glorious to present meager offerings before Him.
We can often look at our unfortunate circumstances and question God’s love for us. The sheer fact that God chose to love us in the first place should alleviate any lingering doubts.
If there is a true profession of faith, there should be a true progression of faith. While you have not arrived at complete spiritual maturity yet, you should be making progress. 2 Peter 1:1-9
In our discipleship efforts, we never reach the point where we can depend upon our own strength. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. John 15:1-11
Every dedicated disciple must employ spiritual disciplines in order to grow for the long haul. Through these disciplines, you train the habits necessary for your soul.
God has created us for and called us to unique tasks. As particularly gifted and positioned disciples, we each should pursue the needed maturity to do what God has called us to accomplish.
While we all know some degree of biblical knowledge, we each should probably know a little bit more by now. Committed disciples need to strengthen any uncertain beliefs by targeted study.
While we all struggle with sin, we are each prone to wander in different ways. For those confronting disobedience in their own lives, God provides a path of escape through every temptation.
If unhealthy expectations fuel our reasoning for spiritual growth, we will eventually stall out. Our growth must be motivated by delight rather than obligation. Matthew 13:44
If you feel like you are stuck in your Christian walk, then it is time to start moving again. The solution for spiritual stagnation is distinctive discipleship.
David desired to see holiness restored among God’s people, and so he decided to start it by focusing on himself. If we long to see revival, we must pursue our own personal integrity first.
David had experienced God’s deliverance repeatedly during his life, and so have we. Such a constant help deserves more than an occasional offering.
While we honestly hope that others receive what they deserve, do we really want that for ourselves? David cried out to God because he was fully aware of his own need for mercy.
As we rejoice in who God is and remember what He has done, it should often call us to repent of the sins we have committed. Many of our personal struggles could be avoided if we would just listen to God.
David dismayed the effects that atheism has on a person and on a society. People often deny the reality of God so that they can redefine the commandments of God.
David warned worshipers not to envy evildoers when their lives seemed prosperous. We must learn to trust God for His provision and forsake any unrighteous shortcuts during challenging times.
When David experienced the discipline of God due to his sin, God graciously restored his life. Even through these times, God showed that his justified discipline in our lives is always good and gracious.
When David experienced the discipline of God due to his sin, God graciously restored his life. Even through these times, God showed that his justified discipline in our lives is always good and gracious.
While God’s transcendence is amazing, His immanence is astonishing. The most surprising thing about our exalted God is how close He comes to ones like us.
As David encountered testing trials, he confessed that his sure hope in this life and the next was in none other than the LORD. If we desire to rediscover joy, we must reorient our focus upon the only one who can provide it.
When David was overwhelmed with God’s discipline in his life, he maintained a proper perspective and took it to God through prayer. Don’t talk to everyone else about your troubles while neglecting the one who can fix them.
As we commit to a local church, what happens when we fail to represent Jesus? The Bible is clear on expectations of how we are to confront one another to avoid drifting spiritually.
Many people will join a church based on what it has to offer their specific situations. Instead of focusing on what the church can provide for you, have you ever considered how you can use your gifts to bless the church?
Many people will join a church based on what it has to offer their specific situations. Instead of focusing on what the church can provide for you, have you ever considered how you can use your gifts to bless the church?
As a church grows larger, how do you avoid getting lost in the crowd? Our relationships in the church will only grow according to how intentional we are.
While the phrase, “church membership” is not in the Bible, the concept grounds the New Testament message and methods. Devoting yourself to a local church is essential for your soul and helpful for your congregation.
With so many expectations on us, what does committing to a church realistically look like? As we study the early church, we will see God’s intention that the church is to be more than a service you casually attend.
In the concluding comments of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus commissioned the disciples to take the gospel into all the world. If we continue to follow Jesus, He will lead us to people and places that need to hear the gospel.
As the women came on Sunday morning to anoint the deceased body of Jesus, they were shocked to realize that the tomb was empty. All of our faith and purpose in life is wrapped up in the belief that the tomb is still empty today.
When followers of Jesus sought to care for the body of Jesus, Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus died so early in the process. Scripture teaches us not only why He died so early but also why He died so willingly
As Jesus hung upon the sinner’s cross, people ridiculed His inability to perform one more miracle and escape His death. The greatest miracle of Jesus’ ministry was His commitment to forsake salvation from the cross so that we could experience salvation by the cross.
Intending to rid himself of the responsibility of Jesus’ death, Pilate assumed the people would choose Jesus over Barabbas to be the one prisoner released at that year’s Passover. Instead, the people chose to free a sinful criminal and condemn the sinless Messiah.
Judas betrayed, the disciples fled, the people accused, and Peter denied. After all Jesus had done for this world, the world abandoned Him.
As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He fully grasped the weight of His impending sacrifice. Aware of the severity of God’s wrath, He emulated the need for prioritizing God’s will over my will.
Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate the Passover and to institute the Lord’s Supper. The head of the table not only recalled the Passover sacrifice, but He showed them that He was the true Passover sacrifice.
As Jesus prepares for His sacrificial offering on the cross, Mary prepared a sacrificial offering for Him through an alabaster jar. As followers of Jesus, there is no gift too extravagant to lay before our Savior.
People have attempted to predict the end times, but Jesus assured that no one will know the precise time. While we don’t have the exact details of Christ’s return, we can hold the certain reality of His return by faith.
Providing the people with signs of the times, Jesus prepared them for coming persecution. Jesus taught on the coming end times, not to increase our anxiety in the future, but to increase our activity in the present.
The rich and distinguished people in Jesus’ day believed that their worldly affluence provided them divine acceptance. When Jesus praised a poor widow’s offering, He revealed that the heart of giving is more important than the amount of giving.
Out of the 613 commandments in the Old Testament, some religious leaders wanted to know which one that Jesus thought was the most important. Not only did Jesus provide His top two commandments, but He summarized them all and gave His followers a simple direction for all of life.
People wanted to know what Jesus believed about the status of marriage in heaven. Jesus emphasized that what we receive in heaven will be greater than what we take with us to heaven.
Trying to trap Jesus in His words, His enemies collaborated in an attempt to force Him to choose a side between God and government. Jesus’ response teaches us what our commitment to both should be.
As the opposition to Jesus increased, He told a parable foreshadowing what would happen to Him on the cross. Just like those opponents, anyone who rejects Jesus rejects the Father who sent Him.
As the opposition to Jesus increased, He told a parable foreshadowing what would happen to Him on the cross. Just like those opponents, anyone who rejects Jesus rejects the Father who sent Him.
As soon as Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He intentionally targeted the religious community. Followers of Jesus must continually evaluate if we are fulfilling the call He has placed upon us.
As Jesus attempted to prepare His disciples for His death, their priorities were severely misaligned with His. As He came to serve, we should seek to give our lives away as well..
A rich young man wanted to follow Jesus, but he loved his possession too much. We must be careful that our riches don’t rob us of following Jesus.
In a time when children were viewed as distracting annoyances, Jesus intentionally prioritized them. Not only should we prioritize children, but we should start acting like them when it comes to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus was questioned regarding the nature of marriage and the opportunity for divorce. When an eternal God puts something together, it should last forever.
At Christmas time, people are searching for peace in all the wrong places. Christ has come not to bring us peace but to be our peace.
Jesus never reduced any sins to be allowed as acceptable in the life of His followers. Playing with sin has severe repercussions for our lives and great consequences for those closest to us.
As Jesus proceeded towards the cross, the disciples argued about who was the greatest and about who should be included. Until we address our pride, we will always see everyone else as the problem.
When a man brought his son to Jesus for deliverance, he uttered three words that should never be used to address the Christ. When we approach Jesus in our need, He deserves complete faith in His ability.
Jesus allowed some of His disciples to experience His transfiguration, but it caused them to turn what should have been a catalyst into a monument. Instead of getting a simple glimpse of His temporal glory, Jesus has made a way for us to behold His eternal glory.
Jesus taught His disciples regarding the incompatible nature of following Him halfway. As He still calls us today, He is expecting us to abandon all this world has to offer for the greater treasure of knowing Him.
While opinions of Jesus were rampant and varied, He desired to know whom His disciples believed Him to be. Peter’s initial response and subsequent reaction reveal our own desire to edit God when He doesn’t meet our expectations.
For a second time, Jesus leads a faithless group of disciples to help feed a great crowd of hungry people. Failing to remember Jesus’ power in the past can cause us to question His ability in the present for our physical and spiritual needs.
Jesus broke the status quo as He ministered to those who were on the fringes of society. Through His example, Jesus reminds us that no one is beyond deliverance.
The legalists of Jesus’ day appeared godly on the outside but were actually ungodly on the inside. Jesus taught the importance of addressing one’s heart which is the root cause for all of our actions.
The religious leaders valued their preferential traditions over God’s doctrinal truth. As followers of Jesus, we must ensure that we hold the Word of God as superior to the traditions of man.
Separated by chaotic elements, Jesus actually walked on water to reach the fearful in the boat and the needy on the shore. There is nothing so powerful that can hinder Jesus from meeting us in our greatest needs.
As Jesus mourned the loss of His cousin, He sought solitude but was unable to obtain it due to His prioritizing of others’ needs ahead of His own. When Jesus fed the five thousand, He demonstrated the powerful principle that compassion can never clock out.
When John the Baptist spoke out against King Herod’s personal life, it cost him his life. Speaking the truth rarely guarantees receiving the culture’s acceptance or approval.
Jesus was rejected in His hometown and prepared His disciples for similar rejection. Through His example and instruction, we learn how we should respond when our message is unwelcome.
As Jesus journeyed to help a life and death situation, He was interrupted by a smaller problem and yet was able to address both of them. Regardless of the size of our circumstances, Jesus is willing and able to come to our aid.
When Jesus delivered a man from demonic possession, the people had less acceptance of the deliverer than they had for the demoniac. When Jesus threatens our comfort and affluence, we can seek to rid ourselves from His influence as well.
Jesus slept through the storms that terrified the disciples. No situation is so great that Jesus can’t handle it.
Jesus taught parables to His disciples regarding how the Kingdom of God would grow. As His disciples, we should continue to do our part and watch God cause the growth.
Jesus told a parable of a sower which taught how different people will respond to the gospel message. As we share the gospel with others, we must be mindful of the reasons why some people never get it.
As Jesus’ influence increased, His family attempted to hinder His ministry. Jesus taught that sometimes doing the will of God will incur the opposition of your physical family and secure the support of your spiritual family.
Jesus taught that there is a specific sin that is unforgivable by God. What is that sin and how do we avoid it?
As the crowds increased around Jesus, He intentionally drew closer to fewer people as He appointed twelve disciples to be His apostles. As Jesus called the original Twelve to specific tasks, He calls us to follow Him in the same way today.
Religious leaders opposed Jesus while He was doing good on the Sabbath day because it broke their manmade rules. The follower of Jesus must realize that it’s always the right time to do the right thing.
The religious leaders of the day became increasingly frustrated because Jesus didn’t minister in the way they deemed appropriate. We must stop trying to fit Jesus into our religious boxes and realize that He came to do something new.
As Jesus gathered disciples, He befriended sinners in home settings. Acknowledging the needs of those around us, we should open our homes and open our hearts to minister to those in close proximity to us.
When Jesus forgave a man who came looking for healing, He revealed our need and His authority. As we attempt to bring people to Jesus, we must seek to address their greatest need – their need for forgiveness.
Moved with pity, Jesus touched and cleansed a leper who lived on the fringes of society. With the needs around us, we must be willing to place ourselves into messy situations in order to see redemption in others.
Jesus prioritized time with His Father early in the morning to prepare for the day’s assignments. If we are to follow His example, we must carve out intentional time for spiritual growth.
Jesus ministered at religious gatherings and at family gatherings. If we understand the power of God, we will live in such a way that acknowledges that ministry cannot be hindered by a time, place, or situation.
Jesus Uses Ordinary People [Mark 1:14-20] - Jesus called ordinary men to follow Him into an extraordinary work. As disciples of Jesus, we must also redefine our purpose to become fishers of men and join Him in His work to reach others.
Make Your Father Proud [Mark 1:9-13] - Jesus pleased His Father in what He did and in what He didn’t do. As followers of Jesus, we should imitate His obedient lifestyle.
Make Room for Jesus [Mark 1:1-8] - John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’ arrival. We must make room for Jesus in our own lives to join Him in His Kingdom work.
God blessed the nation of Israel in order to be a blessing to all other nations, but eventually, they refrained from sharing that salvation with others. After the work of Christ, followers are called to go outside the walls of the church to multiply as we make disciples and plant churches.
Paul instructed his disciple, Timothy, to take everything he had learned and entrust it into others who would turn and do the same thing. To multiply disciples, we must be intentional with our relationships for Kingdom purposes.
After Jesus’ resurrection, he commanded his followers to go and make disciples of all nations. Instead of committed disciples obeying the Great Commission, we can revert to becoming consumers who succumb to the great omission.
On Easter Sunday, the disciples eagerly shared the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. If Jesus has truly defeated sin and death, we should fervently run to the world in order to multiply disciples with the news of his salvation.
Man’s attempts to reconcile with God were not only improbable – they were impossible. We reenter the presence of God not because we found a way but because Jesus made a way.
You Can’t Make It On Your Own - In Paul’s concluding remarks to the Colossians, he provides personal comments regarding specific ministry partners. Within these comments, Paul models the type of friends that a disciple will need to continue towards maturity.
Instead of waiting for unbelievers to come to the church, the church is meant to go to the unbelievers out in the world. By making the most of every evangelistic opportunity, disciples engage in Kingdom work by the way they pray, walk, and talk.
Disciples in the Workplace - A disciple can never clock out of Kingdom work. Even in the workplace, Christian bosses and workers must display a different level of intentionality and productivity for the sake of discipleship.
A tangible evidence of a maturing disciple is the loving way he or she treats other disciples. The church should be a display of the unity that God’s presence provides among all believers.
While the place of heaven is our destination, the way of heaven should be our pursuit. As disciples, we are to put to death the deeds of this world and to put on the new self as we seek the things above.
The Apostle Paul saw three dangerous heresies present in the church at Colossae and we experience them today. Biblical discipleship is sufficient and doesn’t need any alteration.
Disciples Have Deep Roots - Satan will use deceitful doctrine to distract disciples from being established in the faith. Disciples must be rooted in Christ and established in biblical doctrine to persevere.
Disciples in the Home - Authentic discipleship moves from the church and should eventually change the home. Disciples obey God’s commands for how families are to treat one another particularly in the relationship between husband and wife and between parent and child.
Disciples Don't Quit Until They Reach Maturity - The goal of the Church is to present every disciple as complete in Christ. Working with the power God provides, we are to disciple one another with the goal of spiritual maturity.
Not only were we created through Jesus, but we were also created for Jesus. As he holds all things together, even our spiritual growth is kept from shifting when it is placed in his hands.
Fully Pleasing to God - As the gospel transforms us from the domain of darkness into saints standing in the light, our lives are meant to be fully pleasing to God. Disciples strive to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
Paul recognized the Colossian church as a group of disciples who had been changed and yet were still being changed by the gospel. As disciples, the gospel should be continually bearing fruit and increasing within us and through us.
Samuel remembered God’s faithfulness in the past to help him go forward. As individuals and as a church, it is important to celebrate his activity in the previous year as we anticipate his work in the coming year.
Herod felt threatened when his throne was challenged by Jesus’ birth. There is only room for one king on the throne of your life, and you cannot experience peace until Jesus sits upon it.
The Book of Revelation reveals a different perspective that happened at the birth of Jesus. While the enemy comes to bring chaos, Jesus has come and will come again to bring peace.
Joseph thought he had been betrayed by Mary and yet surrendered his personal feelings to obey God’s commands. In our relationships, we must submit to God’s Word to experience God’s peace.
When the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, they told them that peace on earth had come. As we look around us, how do we reconcile this supposed peace with the state of the world?
The Word: All Things New (Rev 21:1-8) - What once was broken will be made right again. Jesus is making all things new.
Priests could never sit down in worship because sacrifices would always need to be offered. Once Jesus offered himself, he sat down at the right hand of God for the task was finished once and for all.
In Paul’s description of the Church, he explained that Jesus’ cross broke down sinful, ethnic boundaries we established. How are we to combat racism within the Body of Christ?
Learning biblical information does not guarantee biblical transformation. We must learn how to apply the Word of God into our lives.
As the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples, the early church was born. This body of believers met together day by day and saw God do amazing acts in their midst.
Before the cross, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in an act of humble servitude. Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
As Jesus began his public ministry, he gathered disciples in order to teach them how to live for the Kingdom. As he once encouraged them to be salt and light, we are called to the same lifestyles as his followers.
As God’s people wavered in their devotion, Malachi promised that the promised Messiah was drawing near. This great and awesome day of the LORD would change everything.
King Josiah stumbled upon the neglected Word of God and it changed the nation. We must blow the dust of the Bible and encounter God’s claims upon our lives.
As David neared his death, he gave final instructions to his son, Solomon. Out of all the wisdom he could have given, he urged his son to walk in the ways of the LORD.
Samuel was called to be a prophet during a time when the word of the LORD was rare. His ministry was established by God’s presence and determined by God’s Word.
Even though the people had gotten out of Egypt, Egypt hadn’t gotten out of the people. Growing impatient with God’s timing, the people used a gift from God as an idol for God.
Once Israel died, his sons feared Joseph’s retaliation. While Joseph had been hurt by their evil, he viewed his suffering role as critical in the good God was doing.
God miraculously gave Abraham a son but later commanded to sacrifice him. Instead of Abraham having to go through with Isaac's death, a ram in the thicket became the substitute.
It didn’t take long before sin corrupted God’s good creation. While disobedience brought about brokenness, God revealed a plan to redeem what had fallen.
The Bible is not a collection of disconnected, moralistic stories. It is the one overarching story of how the cross of Christ will rescue a fallen people.
Similar to our context, Ezra the scribe lived in a time when the Word of God had been neglected. How are we to reorient our lives to what the Bible teaches?
King David refused an opportunity to make a sacrifice to God which would cost him nothing. When we give anything to God, we must give our very best.
When David was king, his followers killed giants even larger than Goliath and it wasn’t even that significant of an event. Giant slaying leaders develop giant slaying followers.
When King David was supposed to be winning the battle on the field, he stayed home and lost the battle within his heart. Sin can start with being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After God’s Own Heart: Reserved Seating (2 Sam. 9) – David showed kindness to disabled Mephibosheth by carrying him to the king’s table. Seated with the King of kings, our brokenness is hidden and God’s favor is restored.
David wanted to honor God by building him a house, but God had a greater house of which David could never build. The greatest work of our lives will not be what we do for God but what God has done for us.
When David returned the ark to Jerusalem, he learned how God takes worship very seriously. We can’t worship God if we neglect the Word of God.
Israel put their strength in King Saul the tall until Goliath the taller came around. In the battle against a giant, never forget the greater story of which we are a part.
David was the least likely to become king but God set him apart for this task. While man judges the external value, God judges the internal worth.
In every home, there are exposed places for the enemy to enter. We must identify where they are, build up the walls, and fight against his tactics.
While the church provides important spiritual environments, the most critical spiritual environment is the one in which you live. Parents are called to evangelize and disciple their children.
While sin seeks to corrupt our families, God has given us a helper through the gift of marriage. In marriage, you are meant to be a suitable helper for your spouse.
Families can build their homes upon numerous worthless pursuits. As believers, we must build our families based upon the biblical blueprint provided.
The tendency can be to give as little possible. Instead of showing minimal generosity, we should see how we can give until every need is met.
In our striving for church unity, we must avoid majoring in the minors. God’s Word teaches us how to maintain unity and deal with those who stir up division.
We will never do enough good works to earn God's favor. Our only hope for salvation is if Christ shows us mercy.
As we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, never forget that God is able to pass over our sins because Jesus was the perfect substitute.
People tend to drift to either passively waiting on Christ’s return or actively working while ignoring his return. We are to show zeal in our work while we wait.
While we are on the clock vocationally, we are also on the clock missionally. Even if your job isn’t in the ministry, you are in the ministry.
Churches are prone to segregate groups by ages. The biblical example is quite different by modeling multigenerational relationships.
All Talk (1:10-16) - Many can profess doctrinal clarity but few can practice ethical purity. As believers, we cannot be all talk in our commitment.
Churches can easily drift from the biblical mandate. God’s Word provides specific directions to bring order within a church family
Practical Heretic [Jonah 4] - It is worthless to agree with a theology that we cannot embrace. We must fight against the tendency to withhold from others the same grace that benefited us.
The God of Second Chances [Jonah 3] - Despite our sin, God provides second chances. Not only does he show grace to us, but he can show grace through us.
A Fish Named “Grace” [Jonah 2] - No amount of rebellion is greater than God’s love. His relentless pursuit of us often finds us in the lowest possible places.
Anywhere but Nineveh [Jonah 1] - It is not beyond God to call us to difficult and unexpected tasks. If we attempt to flee, God proves that he can always outrun us and get us right where he wants us to be.