It seems ironic that the Pharisees wanted Jesus to perform a sign from heaven right after he miraculously fed four thousand people. They didn't want a miracle—they knew Jesus was…
This whole movement hints that this is a moment where the disciples are interacting with the divine. How do we know this passage is meant to show us Jesus is…
Mark sets up our next scene by pointing out two separate groups, Jesus' family and the scribes. But before looking at each group and their response to Christ, Mark is…
Many parts of this week’s passage are familiar to us. Jesus is presented as being famous far and wide. People from everywhere all come to see Jesus. We know why…
Many of us sense personal brokenness within. We are embarrassed by bad habits, unreasonable emotions, broken relationships, and personal failures. We sense that we are not everything we are supposed…
With the beginning of Jesus' preaching ministry, we have a conclusion, of sorts, to Mark's introduction. He had said, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of…
John has been helping us learn to deal with our hearts when they condemn us (3:19-20). He has shown us what happens when God sets our hearts free of condemnation…
Today, in part three, we will look at the last two lessons, followed by some applications of the entire passage of 1 John 3:11-18. This passage gives us practical help…
In our last few studies of 1 John, we celebrated the glorious truth that God loves us so much that He decided to call all believers His children. In this…
You may have noticed how John continually says, "we." We heard. We have seen. We proclaim to you. This was John's way of speaking for the apostolic group. They'd all…
John was clear. The church he wrote to **knew the truth** (21). They had not partaken in the **lie** floating around at that time (21). And it's a lie still…
Imputed righteousness is one of the greatest blessings that you and I could ever know. In Romans chapter 4 Paul tells us that Abraham was not justified by his works…
When God makes a promise, He keeps it. Sometimes God delivers on His promises in ways we don’t expect, but He always delivers in the way that He intends.
In this three-part series, we are going to explore this question: What kind of people enter into God's kingdom? We are going to ask this because the first time Jesus…
Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land. God had promised Canaan to Israel, and now it was time to take inventory. Did the inhabitants, a people ripe for…
The author of Hebrews longed for his readers to live by faith. As Jewish people who'd received Jesus as Messiah-Christ, they were in for ostracization and persecution. The church community…
We praise Abraham for his faith in God. We don't call him the father of faith for nothing. And, as the author to the Hebrews tried to urge his readers…
As a father, a daddy, Jairus was in great distress. His twelve-year-old daughter, the joy of his life, was on her deathbed. Sickness had overwhelmed her body, and her body…
The church, for every generation, consists of all types of people. Some have been enslaved, others have been upper class. Some have been laborers, others have been thought workers. Some…
One might read Paul’s words to Christian children in Ephesians 6:1-3, particularly his exhortation to obey their parents, and wonder if the Christian home is a cold and harsh place…