Matthew 6:5–15 ( Listen ) The Lord’s Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they th...
Feb 24, 2014•35 min
2 Corinthians 13:5–14 ( Listen ) 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but on...
Feb 17, 2014•29 min
2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ( Listen ) Paul’s Visions and His Thorn 12:1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, whi...
Feb 10, 2014•45 min
2 Corinthians 11:16–32 ( Listen ) Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle 16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would 1 but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts...
Feb 03, 2014•37 min
Matthew 6:9–13 ( Listen ) 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 1 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, 2 on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 3 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 4 Footnotes [1] 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy , or Let your name be treated with reverence [2] 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done [3] 6:11 Or...
Jan 27, 2014•32 min
2 Corinthians 10 ( Listen ) Paul Defends His Ministry 10:1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare ...
Jan 20, 2014•38 min
John 7:37–39 ( Listen ) Rivers of Living Water 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as 1 the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Footnotes [1] 7:38 Or let him come to me, and let ...
Jan 13, 2014•35 min
Isaiah 55:1–3 ( Listen ) The Compassion of the Lord 55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlas...
Jan 06, 2014•35 min
Matthew 6:9–13 ( Listen ) 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 1 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, 2 on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 3 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 4 Footnotes [1] 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy , or Let your name be treated with reverence [2] 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done [3] 6:11 Or...
Dec 23, 2013•31 min
2 Corinthians 9 ( Listen ) The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem 9:1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending 1 the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if s...
Dec 09, 2013•44 min
2 Corinthians 8 ( Listen ) Encouragement to Give Generously 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, 1 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor 2 of taking part in the relief of the sai...
Dec 02, 2013•34 min
Matthew 6:9–13 ( Listen ) 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 1 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, 2 on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 3 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 4 Footnotes [1] 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy , or Let your name be treated with reverence [2] 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done [3] 6:11 Or...
Nov 25, 2013•36 min
2 Corinthians 7:2–16 ( Listen ) Paul’s Joy 2 Make room in your hearts 1 for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, bu...
Nov 18, 2013•34 min
2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 ( Listen ) The Temple of the Living God 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? 1 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, an...
Nov 11, 2013•34 min
2 Corinthians 5:18–6:13 ( Listen ) 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling 1 the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin...
Nov 04, 2013•47 min
Matthew 6:5–13 ( Listen ) The Lord’s Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they th...
Oct 28, 2013•33 min
2 Corinthians 5:10–17 ( Listen ) 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. The Ministry of Reconciliation 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who ...
Oct 21, 2013•20 min
2 Corinthians 4:17–18 ( Listen ) 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. ( ESV ) 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 ( Listen ) Our Heavenly Dwelling 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hand...
Oct 14, 2013•36 min
2 Corinthians 4:13–18 ( Listen ) 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self 1 is wasting away, our...
Oct 07, 2013•39 min
Matthew 6:5–13 ( Listen ) The Lord’s Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they th...
Sep 30, 2013•33 min
2 Corinthians 4:6–12 ( Listen ) 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Treasure in Jars of Clay 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying...
Sep 23, 2013•39 min
2 Corinthians 4:1–6 ( Listen ) The Light of the Gospel 4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, 1 we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice 2 cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the mind...
Sep 16, 2013•35 min
2 Corinthians 3 ( Listen ) Ministers of the New Covenant 3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our 1 hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 4 Such is the confidence that w...
Sep 09, 2013•37 min
2 Corinthians 2:12–17 ( Listen ) Triumph in Christ 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are bei...
Sep 02, 2013•30 min
2 Corinthians 2:5–11 ( Listen ) Forgive the Sinner 5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you ...
Aug 26, 2013•33 min
2 Corinthians 1:12–24 ( Listen ) Paul’s Change of Plans 12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity 1 and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you...
Aug 19, 2013•32 min
For our last coffee house of the summer, Dr. Gordon Bals speaks on “Relationships, Loneliness, and the Church: What’s So Redemptive About Being Together?”
Aug 15, 2013•1 hr 29 min
2 Corinthians 1:1–11 ( Listen ) Greeting 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God of All Comfort 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are ...
Aug 12, 2013•35 min
2 Timothy 4:1–8 ( Listen ) Preach the Word 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound 1 teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from ...
Aug 05, 2013•31 min
1 Corinthians 12:12–31 ( Listen ) One Body with Many Members 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves 1 or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any les...
Jul 29, 2013•35 min
