Ephesians 4:1-3 Here we find five important behaviors that all Christians should cultivate in their lives: humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and seeking unity. Each of these takes intentionality and sustained effort. Unity, in particular, requires serious effort. In fact, Jesus ...
The Apostle Paul prays for Christians to be strengthened that Christ may dwell in their hearts with the result that they may be rooted and grounded in love. He prays that they would be able to comprehend Christ’s love so that they may be filled with all God’s fullness. Thus, as we continue ...
The great mystery was hidden throughout the ages until revealed to the Apostle Paul. If it was known, the evil rulers
would not have crucified Jesus, and God’s plan for humanity’s redemption would have been thwarted. The inclusion of the Gentiles and the full significance of what Christ ...
Ephesians 2:11-12. Before Christ, the nations were hopeless because they had no Messiah and no real, solid hope for the future. Because of this, sin reigned and darkness increased in these nations. We too were lost. Those who had no Jewish
lineage were cut off from God’s ...
Ephesians 2:1-10 is a master text for understanding our need for salvation, God’s gracious offer of salvation, and how to live out our salvation in deed and truth. Living out of a grace narrative rather than a moral performance narrative makes it possible to avoid religious ...
God desires that we know Him in a way that enlightens the eyes of our hearts, transforming how we see Him, ourselves, others, history, and our eternal hope. The prayer in Ephesians 1 centers on God's calling, His glorious inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward those ...
Beginning our series on Ephesians, we’ll cover the first half of the first chapter (Eph 1:1-14). What emerges are three main
points: (1) you are blessed in Christ, (2) you are redeemed for new creation, and (3) you are sealed for an inheritance. Thus, God has equipped you with every ...
This was the greatest promotion a man ever received.
It was the testimony heard round the world.
There was a long History of events that led up to this victory.
Yeshua wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Movies teach us and help us connect to culture.
Jesus isn’t a normal ...
Although often overlooked, Mary Magdalene was a faithful and true disciple of Jesus Christ. She and the other women supported Jesus’ ministry financially. She was at the crucifixion and burial. After God raised him from the dead, Jesus appeared to her first, making her the chief ...
Through the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple, Jesus publicly announced his claim to be the Messiah. The leaders of Jerusalem responded with a campaign to discredit him publicly that failed miserably. Knowing what would come, Jesus stayed the course until that fateful moment ...
John 11:3 Phileo is a word that expresses deep friendship, affection, and warmth, love between close companions.
5, 11 They were more than disciples; they were friends.
8 Stone you - 10:31-32 Jesus, undaunted, knew that God would guide and protect him.
9 Look fellows, I am doing ...
Jesus said he wanted us to make disciples. Inviting friends and acquaintances to come to church is a great way to get in the game. After all, Christianity is really helpful with major problems people are struggling with today.
Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus commissioned the church to make ...
Isaiah 35:5-6 and 42:6-7; Luke 4:16-20 Jesus understood from the Scriptures that he was to heal the blind. However, there was no specific instruction given on how to do it. So how did he know what to do?
Matthew 12:22-23 With the possessed blind and mute man, he cast out the ...
John 8:32
The truth is liberating, setting a person free from the bondage of lies and deception. The truth is powerful and vitally important in life. We can’t live without it, but we also must handle it with wisdom and discernment. Even the truth can be wielded in a way that is ...
Self-control is the ability to tell yourself “no” when you’re tempted to do something wrong and “yes” when you don’t feel like doing something right. Jesus provides us with sterling examples of what godly self-control looks like in the real world. Rather than fleeing pain and pursuing ...
Some translations render the eighth fruit of the spirit as “gentleness”, while others as “meekness”. With Jesus, we see both manifested, with meekness as the most outstanding. Meekness is receptivity to God and the things of God. His words in the garden, “Not my will, but Yours be done”, ...
How do humans define kindness?
How does humanism define kindness?
What is kindness in Hinduism?
What is kindness in Islam?
How does the Bible define kindness?
Kindness in the scriptures is acting in benevolence with no obligation to do so.
Kindness of God in the OT
Genesis ...
In the Bible, “good/goodness” is more than just describing someone or something as being helpful, nice, or pleasant. Rather, being “good” (i.e., having “goodness”) deals with having moral excellence, righteousness, and integrity.
“Goodness” is a quality that we are to seek to exhibit in ...
Even from childhood, Jesus was about his Father's business (Luke 2:41-52). He always did the Father's will (John 5:30; 6:38; 8:28-29; 14:31). Humility is the key to his faithfulness. The Christian life isn’t about you. It’s about God and the work God is doing. When we humbly join God in ...
Jesus embodied patience through his gentle teaching, forgiveness, and endurance of human weakness. He corrected his disciples with kindness, bore their misunderstandings without frustration, and showed mercy even when betrayed or denied. His patience was demonstrated as he willingly ...
The fruit of the spirit, peace, as seen in the ministry of Jesus is viewed with practical suggestions on how to maintain peace throughout life’s complexities. The Prince of Peace gives us peace via the holy spirit.
Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Despite facing continuous immense ...
Jesus' joy was found in being an obedient servant to Almighty God. He expressed joy in sharing, serving, and suffering. Perhaps Jesus' most significant example of living with joy is how he focused on God's promises during his darkest hours and used God's truth and faithfulness as a way to ...
Galatians 5:19-25 The fruit of the spirit are nine behaviors or virtues that we should pursue. Thankfully, Christ exemplified each of these.
Mark 12:28-31 Jesus clearly taught us to love God and love our neighbors. However, what he said about each was different. He set the bar much ...
The Apostle Paul's love for God's people shines brightly in his communication with Philemon, offering us an exemplary model of Christian love and leadership to emulate. This letter, penned towards the end of Paul's life, exemplifies his unwavering love and faithfulness to the very ...
At the end of 2024, we want to take a moment and review what has happened over the past year. Additionally, we’d like to look forward to 2025 with you and share what God is putting on our hearts.
1. People
Romans 12:4-5, 15-16 We are a community of believers who weep together and ...
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in accordance with the prophecies of the Old Testament. The first to come and give honor to Jesus as the Messiah were shepherds and wise men. We celebrate with them in the coming of the Savior and the joy and hope that he brings to the world.
1. Jesus was ...
When we read the birth narratives of Jesus, we see that God chooses to work through human beings to bring about His plan of salvation. Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph are the stars of the show. When the child comes, he is a human being too. Strikingly absent from Scripture is any ...
The Messianic prophecies when compared with the historical events that occurred have impact in several ways. They validate the Messiah; affirm God's integrity; encourage hope; reveal Yahweh’s eternal plan; and unite the Old and New Testaments.
Genesis 3:15 A brief introduction to the ...
Revelation 6:8; 9:15 Catastrophic events and judgments will affect the earth and its inhabitants, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.
Revelation 6:12-21; 20:11 Catastrophic destruction of the earth’s surface
Revelation 16:16 "Then they gathered the kings together to ...
Galatians 6:9-10
We are supposed to do what is good toward everyone but do what is extra good toward
fellow believers.
Doing good is easy when everyone is being nice, but it can be challenging when there is
tension or conflict.
Acts 15:36-41
Paul and Barnabas had a ...
Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies is as controversial and ignored today as it was in the first century when he originally gave it. Even so, enemy love is a key distinction that sets Christianity apart from the other world religions and non-religions. Seeing this teaching foreshadowed in ...
We are called to love our neighbors, whether they are enemies or family. Our love, like Jesus’, is motivated by God’s love for us, not by how others treat us. Those who seem least deserving of love need it the most. Being right is not always loving; being loving is always right.
Luke ...
To love your neighbor as yourself, you must first love yourself. Although sometimes it may be hard, you should love yourself because you’re made in God’s image, you are an awesome human, and you are loved by God. Instead of falling into arrogance or self-loathing, focus on others without ...
The more accurately we know God, the more fully we can love Him. Ignorance, wrong knowledge, and mischaracterization undermine our love relationship with Yahweh. Keeping Jesus’ commandments is paramount to loving God which includes love each other.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Wholehearted ...
Revelation 4:1-5 This is a vision of the throne room of God. Like the visions of the
prophets in the Old Testament, John struggles to find the words to describe what he sees.
Revelation 4:6-11 The incredible scene of worship and praise that John sees in heaven
is breathtaking. What ...
Like Isaiah and Daniel, Ezekiel saw God. In Ezekiel’s vision, God was with strange spiritual creatures that were hard for him to describe. The whole experience clearly communicates how transcendent God is.
Ezekiel 1:4-28 The prophet Ezekiel has a vision of four-winged living creatures ...
Daniel 7:9-10 The Ancient One takes his seat as judge upon the throne. Thousands of attendants wait on him while fire rushes out everywhere. The scene bespeaks God’s awesome sovereign authority over all.
Daniel 7:8 The dream portrays the little horn as a mighty leader who opposes God ...
Exodus 33:20-23 No man can see God and live.
John 1:18 No man has seen God.
We can know God through His creation (Romans 1:19-20), through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119), through His Son (John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1-2), through the holy spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10), through ...
Light has always been an interest for humankind. We desire light so that we can see. But one day, we won't need to search for light as God's light will fill the whole world.
The Bereans were noble-minded because they searched the Scriptures daily to test the message Paul was preaching. Today, separated by so much time, our only sure bet to understand and practice authentic Christianity is to continually evaluate our beliefs and traditions in light of ...
Restorationism is a movement within Christianity that seeks to restore authentic Christianity and live it out today. King Josiah serves as a premium example of someone who discovered his beliefs and practices diverged significantly from scripture. He initiated reforms to restore true ...
Vince and Mimi Finnegan celebrate 50 years of marriage by sharing how God blessed their marriage and the biblical principles they apply. Marriage is an example of Christ and the church, so the same principles are applicable. By the grace of God and His blessing have we had these wonderful ...
Although not a commonly used word today, “prudence” is an important virtue to cultivate in our lives. The prudent person thinks
before acting, considers the consequences, anticipates potential needs, and prepares him or herself for what lies ahead. The result is managing one’s affairs ...
Patience is a Virtue. Wait on the LORD.
Psalm 37:7a. “Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him...”
Psalm 40:1. “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”
Lamentations 3:26. “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the ...
Diligence refers to a consistent, intentional, and careful effort to accomplish something, and therefore, it is multifaceted. Diligence is characterized by:
Persistence—being determined to continue towards a goal despite difficulties, opposition, or setbacks
Attentiveness—being ...
God is merciful in His character. He supremely demonstrated His mercy in what His Son did for humanity on the cross. As a result, we should show mercy to others. Still, we need wisdom to know when to show mercy and when not to.
Exo 34:6. God is merciful and gracious in His character. These ...
As demonstrated by how we cringe when we see someone disrespect another, God designed humans to crave and expect a certain amount of basic respect. As Christians we should live in a respectable way and show respect to others, even when they haven't earned it. God calls us to be respectful.
1 ...
Matthew 18:7 Skandalon - the trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed, wand which, when touched by the animal, springs and causes it to close causing entrapment.
Revelation 2:14 The Moabite women sexually seduced the men of Israel.
Matthew 18:8 “Hand” - what you do; “foot” ...
Depression is on the rise, especially in the youth of the USA. What is going on? And what can we do about it? In The Coddling of the American Mind, the authors identify three “common cognitive distortions” and the solution to all three is found in the Scriptures.
Mental Filtering: ...
To maintain sanctified thinking, we must control anxious thinking patterns. Catastrophizing, negative projecting about the future and overgeneralization come against the joy and peace that is ours in Christ.
Numbers 13:23-14:1 – Catastrophizing (predicting that things will turn out badly) ...
