“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10). “For” at the beginning links this verse with the “grace of God” (2:9). It is important to notice that this…
Our children are ours for a while so they can be God’s forever. Children are a gift, a sacred trust from God (Psalm 127:3-5). Because parenting is a stewardship, we can be confident the Lord will one day ask, “How have you done with the little one(s) I placed in your care?” One of the…
The book of Galatians was written in the heat of controversy. There were some who were trying to coerce Christians to be circumcised and to observe various aspects of the Jewish law. Paul saw this as a threat to the very nature of the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9) and said “to them we did not yield…
His real name was Joseph, but he was known by the early church as “Barnabas” because of his ability to encourage. He so excelled in the quality he was known as “Mr. Encouragement.” Sometimes we have to be around discouraging people and circumstances. There are people who apparently have the “gift” of being able to…
His real name was Joseph, but he was surnamed “Barnabas,” which literally means “son of encouragement” (or consolation). If he were alive today, he would likely be called, “brother Barney,” and people would say, “Look how he encourages!” If the church of our dear Lord is to be built up and God exalting, there will…
Perhaps few roles are as encompassing and have an individual wear so many hats as that of preaching. Differing expectations of preachers occur on a congregational basis, leadership basis and even on an individual basis. And then there’s also the personal expectations of the preacher himself! Recent evidence suggests that the average congregation expects, based…
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Blessed, blessed, blessed! Ephesians 1:3-14 is one long sentence in the original language. Notice how in verse 3 Paul deals with the source of real blessing – The…
It’s not about being morbid, sad or cynical. It is an important but often neglected area of preaching. In 35 plus years of full-time preaching, the count stands at 342 – funerals, that is. I’ve done funerals for babies who were born premature and for people who were almost 100, for AIDS victims and for…
Church fights almost always are the result of at least someone being too friendly with the world. At least, that’s what James 4:1-6 says. If envy, jealousy and selfish ambition fill the hearts of Christians (the wisdom from below – James 3:13-18), then wars and fights are bound to occur in churches (James 4:1-3). James…
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both…