I Timothy 1:12-13 — “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious…” The elders in the church at Ephesus had lost their focus on the Gospel. They’d become enamoured with other subjects that were not…
Hebrews 2:14-15 — “He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death…” As we continue our verse-by-verse study through the Book of Hebrews, we think about what the writer means when he says that Jesus “partook of flesh and blood.” We also think…
Luke 9:49-50 — “Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” The disciples had tried to stop a man from doing ministry in Jesus’ name because he was not part of their group. Jesus rebuked the disciples and went on to tell them how they ought to think…
I Timothy 1:10b-11 — “…And if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” How should we think about the moral Law given in the Old Testament and the teaching of the Apostles? How do we judge if the…
Exodus 14:1-14 — After delivering the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, the LORD led them into what appeared to be an impossible position. They were surrounded by the elite forces of Egypt with nowhere to go. As we think about this story, the prelude to crossing the Red Sea, we learn about dealing…
Luke 9:46-48 — “Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me…for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” The disciples were arguing over which one of them should be the greatest in the Messianic Kingdom. Their idea of greatness was shaped by the world around them and by…
Hebrews 2:12-13 — “…I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him.” In this lesson we think about how the writer quotes Psalm 22 in these verses. We go back to the Psalm and see the Messiah’s suffering and…
Luke 9:43-45 — “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them…” Jesus told His disciples plainly that He was going to die and yet they didn’t understand. This was because the meaning…
Nehemiah 13:1-9 — After completing the wall Nehemiah was required to report back to the Persian king. When he returned to Jerusalem he discovered that the High Priest had entered into an alliance with a man who had opposed the rebuilding work, and that man was now living in the Temple! Nehemiah was sorely grieved…
Proverbs 25:14 — “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.” As our region experiences a long dry spell, the image in this proverb is on that has become all too familiar. We have seen many clouds appear in the sky with the promise of rain but then dissipate…