It’s not just about the destination: it’s about the journey. Today, we start the journey of reading through the New Testament in 90 days. We don’t do this to say, “We did it!” We do this so that the Spirit of God applies the Word of God to our hearts. We are not exploring mere ideas or simple Bible stories. Together, we discover God speaking to us through His words—His divinely breathed words. This allows us to live to the fullest.
We’ve all heard the saying, “You reap what you sow.” This saying actually originates from the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. We’ve also heard variations of this sentiment like, “You get what you put in” or “You are what you eat.” But what happens when a righteous man like Hosea receives a painful calling from the Lord? Is he reaping what he has sown?
What you see is not always what you get! Appearances can be far different than reality. Just as the Israelites had the appearance of being God’s followers, yet utterly failed in their obedience, the same can happen to us. It’s possible to look the part, but not be the part. That’s why Hosea calls people to repentance. The call to return is as real today as it was then.
It often seems like we remember the things we should forget and forget the things we should remember. Over time, we have a propensity to forget commitments we’ve made. Vows made in youth are forsaken in adulthood. God’s faithfulness in the past is forgotten. Because of this, spiritual drift happens. Hot hearts become cold. The book of Hosea is about God’s relentless pursuit to restore our relationship with Him. Let’s remember His faithfulness and stay true to our commitments.
Moses received the divine calling from a burning bush, Elijah received the divine calling in a glorious vision, and Hosea got the divine calling by marrying an adulteress. The most unlikely love story is woven throughout the prophetic book of Hosea. While the calling may not be glamorous, the message of redemption is matchless. This is our story.
Singing does a lot for the soul. The songs we sing say a lot about us. When times get tough, we never want to lose our song. Amidst the pressures of life, it’s not only possible, but necessary to maintain our joy. There’s a clear path to remain joyful in joyless times.
It’s called infantile regression. That’s when an older person reverts to immature, childish behavior. It’s unhealthy. It’s destructive. It destroys healthy relationships. Yet there is a better path. It’s all about maturity. It’s about dying to childishness. It’s about openly confronting sinful patterns of behavior. It’s about an internal transformation of the heart. It’s God’s plan for His children.
Overwhelmed by all of the uncertainties of this season, it’s so easy to cry out and say, "I’m done!" I’m so done with _________. (Fill in blank however you want.) That feeling isn’t unique to us or people living through this pandemic. It happened in the early church. And God’s Word to them is His word to us—Live all in for Jesus!
All it takes to unravel a ball of yarn is one good tug. All it takes for a giant collapse is to knock over one domino. Likewise, the entirety of the Christian faith hinges on the death and resurrection of Jesus. If there is no resurrection, the Christian faith unravels and collapses. Is it reasonable to believe in the resurrection? Paul has been building up to this moment in his letter to the church in Corinth. He saved the biggest and most important question for last—the resurrection of Jesus C...
One of the most mind-numbing thoughts in the Christian faith is that God chooses to use the Church to further His Kingdom. He chooses broken, flawed and ordinary people like you and me to do His work. His calling isn’t for a small group of elite believers. No, every believer has a role and responsibility in the Kingdom of God. Will you answer the call?
We love an underdog story. We love to cannonball in refreshingly cool water on a hot summer afternoon. We love grandma’s secret recipe, road trips with friends, and the family pet. We love a lot of things, but what is love? Are there different kinds of love? What does God mean when He said He so loved the world? In the thirteenth chapter of Corinthians, Paul speaks to a love unlike anything else we’ve ever experienced.
The book of James was written to early Christian diaspora(those who fled due to adversity). Their land was stolen, they lost jobs, lived in danger, etc. In the context of their hard times, they were grumbling, biting each other, not sharing with poor, etc. Essentially, they became self-centered. This the context in which James was written. James Chapter 1 says not to flee trials, but rather to embrace them as character-builders... Also, be patient in trials. Seek MORAL wisdom in trials, because ...
There is a lot of satisfaction in building something. In I Corinthians 8, Paul challenges us to love one another with a self-sacrificing love, a love that is focused on doing what is good for others. This love edifies or builds up. He suggests that the misuse of knowledge can hinder any effort to sacrificially love each other. In this day of social media, where thoughts and opinions can frustrate, confuse and often provoke to anger, we can relate. Today, we will look at some of the ways we misus...
If you’ve ever had a major surgery or a life threatening illness, you know the deep intense desire for healing. You want to get to the place of full health quickly (and as painlessly as possible). Right now, our land needs healing … we are divided; economically, generationally, politically, and racially. Tensions are high, opinion are strong, fears are growing. Our desire: Lord, heal our land!
Most children, at some point in their lives, have heard these words, “You wait until your dad gets home!” Those words signal that there’s trouble around the corner. Perhaps it’s only an idle threat, but often, those words are a clear warning of impending discipline. That’s the essence of Paul’s words to the church at Corinth. That’s the message wayward followers of Jesus hear in His desire to see them repent and turn to Him.
It’s often the forgotten component. In building a strong spiritual foundation, it’s absolutely essential to have many spiritual fathers and mothers. An independent spirit wants to go it alone. That’s a formula for disaster. The wise person surrounds themselves with wise, experienced people. Failing to do so leads to bad decisions with painful consequences. Everyone needs many fathers. Everyone needs to be a father.
Jesus once said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” Division is a detractor. Division is a destructive force. Division was never the intention. God’s calling for his Church has always been to come together, uniting under one name—the name of Jesus.
It’s an amazing feeling to complete a 500- or 1000-piece puzzle. When all the pieces perfectly fit together, there’s a sense of completeness. Mission accomplished! But what happens when the pieces don’t fit? It’s a horrible feeling when we’re stuck and just can’t put it all together. In constructing the Body of Christ, the local church, each of us is a piece of the puzzle. Only through a deep work of the Holy Spirit can we find our perfect fit.
It’s absolutely beautiful when done right, but a train wreck when done wrong. God, in His plan for His people, designed this thing called "Church." It’s not a building. It’s far more than an organization. It’s the gathering of believers who are empowered and equipped to encourage each other and impact the world. 1 Corinthians is a letter written to a local gathering of believers, teaching them to do Church right. It’s a great guide for us to build a healthy body.
Life is complicated. There are many paths to choose from, so how can we know we are on the right path? Jesus’ call throughout the Gospels is “Follow me.” But what does that mean? How does this practically flesh out in this life? Jesus’ interactions with the rich, young man in Matthew’s Gospel give us key wisdom and indicators, directing us to the righteous path.
The core of Jesus' message often focused on the word "prepare." Jesus spent three years preparing His disciples to continue His ministry. He called people to prepare for eternity. He prepared followers to be fully committed disciples. The single focus to prepare flows out of His ministry. His call then is His call today – prepare. Now is the time. We are the people. Prepare!
It’s time to wake up! It’s time to stand up! It’s time to fight! And the fight is a fight for our families! The first institution created by God is under assault. The enemy knows that if he can attack the family and take it down, he will control everything. That’s why there’s an intense battle cry – Fight for Your Family!
Our hope and prayer in this season is that you would be so filled with the Spirit of God that there would be overflow. In our current reality, the mission stays the same: we must go, live, talk and breathe the good news of Jesus Christ. Now is a time of preparation, and if we are going to share the gospel, we must become adept in our understanding of God’s grace.
When experiencing global disruption, it’s tempting to ask, "Why?" Perhaps the better question to ask is, "What?" What is God trying to say? What are the lessons that we need to learn? Throughout history, God has disrupted the world. It happened at the Tower of Babel. It happened with Noah and the worldwide flood. It’s happening today. So what’s God saying? What’s the lesson that we need to learn? Don’t waste the moment, but learn—learn sitting at the Master’s feet.
One of the most common, if not the most common commands of Scripture is, “Do not be afraid!” This is not a suggestion or a comment, but a command. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” On the cross, Jesus wins over fear and offers us to join Him in victory. This may be easier said than done. Are you living in fear?
The Resurrection is not as much an event as it is a person. And that person is Jesus. In a sense, Resurrection became one of the names of Jesus. Where ever he went the possibility of resurrection happened. It wasn’t about becoming more religious or even self-improvement—His ministry was driven by life. It was bringing back to life that which was dead. Jesus is doing exactly that today. Amidst hard times, disappointment, and stress, the man called Resurrection is still doing what he does best. Re...
Is there a manual for how to navigate troubled waters or journey through uncharted territory? Absolutely! Not only is there a manual, there is guide and His name is Jesus. As the early church was going through hard times, Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave them a clear path forward. That path remains the same today. The path is found in God’s word, the Bible. Our guide, our example, and our leader is Jesus.
In this season of disruption in our lives we should take time to evaluate where we stand. We have been given the gift of space and time to process. How are we using that gift? Are we living a life with purpose? Are we humbly seeking God and all He has for us?
It’s a war! Yes, there’s a health war going on right now. There’s an economic war happening. But there’s a greater war happening, and it’s a spiritual war. When much around us crumbles, the enemy becomes opportunistic. He attacks. He seeks to destroy. He desires to take charge of our minds, our emotions, and our future. But here’s the good news. Through the power of the cross, we have victory. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the enemy is a defeated foe. Freedom is ours!...
Everything has been leading to this moment. God has been on the move throughout human history with everything culminating in this moment. All the miracles, the teachings, the prayers, and the suffering comes down to this moment. The moment is the cross, and after Jesus said one word, “Τετελεσται”, everything changed.
