Faithfulness is one of those defining virtues in the character of any man or woman that’s required for success in virtually every category of life. It’s the faithful spouse who stays true to the marriage when tempted to do otherwise; it’s the faithful parent who nurtures and admonishes his or her children through the challenges of child-rearing; and it’s the …
Collision Of World Views
In today’s world, the Christian is confronted with a variety of points of view. From the social doctrine of humanist Christianity, to the promises of the prosperity doctrine, to the recent political ideologies of the Social Justice and Black Lives Matter movements, our churches often find themselves as the center of these conflicts. There is a collision of worldviews occurring …
The “Smiley Face” of God
On Easter, Christendom celebrates the joyous Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The contrast between death and life cannot be more pronounced. Death elicits faces twisted in grief, and weeping, while the birth of a new life brings radiant countenances, and laughter. The face is an essential element of every human relationship. Even God, to make himself known by men, had to …
The Perpetual Victim
Our modern Western culture has embraced so many of the debilitating ideologies of victimhood. It’s taught to our children in schools and mandated in our business and cultural policy. What is the servant of God to do? It’s been said that “Suffering is universal, but victimhood is optional.” Each of us daily must face this choice – to either acquiesce …
A Journey Through Philippians
Last month, John taught on one of the other two reproof epistles, The Heart of 2 Corinthians. He is following up with Philippians, another such epistle that corrects the behavioral deviation from a doctrinal epistle (Ephesians). Short and sweet, it is a remarkable letter that is LOADED with heart and pathos. If you first read Acts 16, the scintillating account …
The Poison Of Unforgiveness
Many people ruin their health and their lives by taking the poison of unforgiveness. It is a spiritually crippling affliction that impedes the life of the Christian. Past wrongs, hurts and injustices enslave and deprive a person of the blessings that they would otherwise enjoy. Far from being optional, forgiveness is a must for the person who desires a healthy …
Our Greatest Freedom
In the past year, we denizens of Planet Earth, and in particular the USA, have witnessed, and been subjected to, a blatant and continuing attack on our freedoms—of religion, speech, assembly, self-defense, and more. This assault is obviously coming from the Devil, who remains bent on achieving his 6000-year goal to enslave humanity under his control. But there’s also a …
A Caution To The Church
God has given us everything a Christian needs for a godly life. He does this through the knowledge of Him and His Son which we find in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything that we need. And yet today, just as in the early church, we find those who would pervert this Gospel and nullify its message of salvation. This teaching …
The Heart of Second Corinthians
Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is a heartfelt, comforting, and inspiring section of Scripture. It was likely written about 4-6 months after 1 Corinthians. The believers there had gone way off track in many categories of God’s revelation/exhortation to them as set forth in Romans, and even though it was painful for him to do, Paul reproved them over …
Compassion
Compassion is an essential part of God’s character, and mankind is the object of that compassion. In Isaiah 49:15, God tells us that, even though there exists a remote possibility that a compassionate mother would forget her dear child, God will never forget us. This same compassion was highlight of Jesus’s earthy ministry. This teaching takes an in-depth look at …