After a fast start and a relatively peaceful beginning, the early church began to experience the persecution that Jesus warned them about in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV) 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile […]
Talk may be cheap, but the price of careless words is often high. Many relationships have been destroyed by untamed tongues. We must all be careful about how we talk to and about others. Watching our words might be the greatest challenge we face in life. James said, “For we all stumble in many ways. […]
There is nothing wrong with appreciating being blessed. While we must avoid being like the Pharisee in the parable Jesus gave in Luke 18:9-14, where the Pharisee concluded he was not a sinner based on his view of others, he was not wrong in being glad that he was not an extortioner, an adulterer, or […]
In his short epistle, Jude wrote, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). I cannot think of a more […]
Many Christians underestimate how important it is to think properly but Paul settles the matter. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there […]
There are several hundred denominations in the world today, all of whom claim to be following the same Lord and living by the same Bible. The problem is they all wear different names, teach different doctrines, and practice different works. People in the world are turned off by this and tend to reject God and […]
When Jesus asks a question, a lot of thoughtfulness should go into the answer. Well, He asked two great questions in Matthew 16. Matthew 16:26 (ESV) 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? […]
1 Peter 1:13 is one of my favorite passages. I like comparing the modern translations with the King James Version here because together they give us a good picture of what Peter is telling us to do. His message is to focus on spiritual things, such as the second coming of our Lord. The King […]
In Matthew 19:6 Jesus clearly taught that marriage is to be forever. In ver. 9 of the same chapter, Jesus shows how seriously marriage is to be taken when He said, “…Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put […]
Sometimes we need to stop and consider things, especially things that pertain to God. Let us take a few minutes to consider some things revealed to us by God’s Word. Consider the Wondrous Works of God “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). How one could […]