8-10-23 James (11) 4:13-17 — Don’t Boast About Tomorrow

As James chapter 4 concludes, we are instructed to put away selfish and man-centered thinking, and instead make plan by God’s will in doing the things we know that are right. 

8-6-23 Looking At The Lord's Supper (Back To Basics 8)

A study of the Lord's Supper and why so faithfully gather to celebrate it.

8-2-23 James (10) 4:7-12 - Drawing Near To God & Brethren

James gives us the most amazing list of action verbs to describe the depth of our need to be humble towards our gracious God: draw near, cleanse, purify, be wretched, mourn, weep, and be humble. Then he adds instructions towards our brothers: don’t speak evil and don’t judge. These are really just application of the greatest commandment of loving God fully and the second, of loving our neighbor.

James (9) 4:1-7 - Faithfully Loving God or Desiring This Sick, Sad World

James calls out loving this world and all the destructive things that causes, calling the brethren back to a full devotion to the God who loves us.

7-23-23 John's Gospel 59 - Spirit Of Truth; Help & Conviction

Jesus' teaching at the last supper continues in John 16:8-15 as He tells them of the Holy Spirit's work of convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgement which began in Acts 2.

7-13-23 James (7) 3:1-12 - The Tongue

James warns us that the tongue, such a little part of the body, has an outsized influence on our lives. Since it is likely the primary way we interact with others, he warns us about what we teach with is, how we sin with it, how it sets the course of our lives, can often burn a lot of it down, and is often an untamed hypocrite.

7-9-23 John's Gospel 58 - I Am Going To Him Who Sent Me

Jesus' last supper teaching continues, now about His return to the Father and the Spirit coming to help after His departure.

7-2-23 Order In A Created Universe (Back To Basics 7)

This world is so often seems chaotic and disorderly, but that is not how God made it. Let us consider the God's order that still remains, and how to deal with rebellion against it.

6-25-23 John's Gospel 57 - The World Hates Me And You Both

After a speaking of the common love of Jesus and the Father for His disciples, Jesus speaks of the sad reality of the hatred from the world that He and His disciples will face.

6-18-23 John's Gospel 56 - All Of The Basis Of Love

Christ showed His love in His sacrificial death, and asked His followers to make a return of that love by following His instructions from love and loving each other.

6-11-23 John's Gospel 55 - I Am The True Vine

Jesus is the true vine to which we as believers must be truly connected. If we are not, the Father will do His pruning work.

6-8-23 James (4) 1:19-27 - Doing & Receiving The Word

James instructs us to be quick to hear and slow to anger. While this is great general life advice, in this text the thing to make sure you hear is God's word, and it also the thing to accept instead of being angered by it.

7-6-23 James (6) 2:14-26 - Faith & Works

James explains what saving faith is reminding us of the faithful actions of Abraham and Rahab, while encouraging us against dead, unhelpful, and knowledge only versions of faith that some are satisfied with.

6-29-23 James (5) 2:1-13 - Sins, Judgment, & Mercy

James directly rebukes sins of partiality and bias, encouraging us to love and mercy instead of judging others.

6-4-23 Resurrection & The Afterlife - (Back To Basics 6)

A look at how important the fact of Jesus' resurrection is basic Christian teachings and what awaits us in the promised resurrection of the faithful.

5-25-23 James (3) 1:12-18 Temptation & Goodness

A look at the process of temptation, presented almost like a slow-motion replay, showing in each from the process that sometimes flashes by in a way to quick to recognize.

5-21-23 Delivered To Faith In Christ - Galatians 3:24-29

From the curse of law, we are brought to faith in Christ for freedom, unity and inheritance with and in Him.

1-26-23 2 Timothy (17) 2:1-10 A Good Soldier

Paul tells Timothy about passing on the truth and compares ministry to being a soldier, and also an athlete and a farmer.

1-19-23 2 Timothy (16) 1:12-18 Faith, Steadfastness & Mercy

Among the instructions from Paul here are: be convinced, retain, guard and serve.

1-12-23 2 Timothy (15) 1:1-11 Setting & Beginning

The second letter begins with thanksgiving, and calls to stir up the gifts given and to suffer for the gospel along with the apostle.