This just occurred to me that I find interesting:
While Jesus was being arrested and Peter pulls out his sword, Jesus reprimanded him saying, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” It is clear that the Father’s will for Jesus is to be arrested, and eventually go to the cross. So [...]
What do you think of when you hear the story of Jonah?
We usually think of Jonah as the main character. His disobedience landed him in the belly of the fish. Then he repented and he went to preach in Ninevah. After hearing God’s message through Jonah, the Ninevites repented and were not destroyed.
What is amazing [...]
When you feel discouraged about life, read Genesis 37-50, the life of Joseph.
When Joseph was merely 17, God told him he would rise to greatness. He was going to be big, a CEO, a huge success.
God could’ve taken Joseph from point A of his teenage life to point B to his ultimate position of power [...]
This thought challenged me:
Jesus lived a sinless life and condemned sin. He taught about living a holy life and he walked the talk.
Since he was so perfect, wouldn’t he be rather intimidating? Who can stand to be next to someone who is perfect? Wouldn’t you worry that he might point out one of your many [...]
Some people who are against capital punishment use this argument:
“People are created by God, so we should not kill them, even if they are hard criminals. After all, they are made in the image of God.”
Did you know that the Bible uses this same reasoning for capital punishment?
Take a look at Genesis 9:6 -
“Whoever [...]
God’s MO is always different from how we think He should act.
In Acts 18:9-10 in the Bible, Paul receives a vision from God saying to him:
“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many [...]
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”
What descriptions of Jesus are repeated in this [...]
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Esther.
There is some question of its place in the canon of Scriptures because the word “God” is not mentioned anywhere in the book. But you can easily see that throughout the story of Esther, the fingerprint of God is all over the pages.
What I like best [...]
Gary McIntosh, professor at Biola University, says in the Biola magazine, “I wish people understood that the heart of church growth is basic evangelism. It is not about marketing, business practices or a host of other mis-perceptions…Since all people are lost apart from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, every church must be concerned with [...]
In the sermon the past Sunday, our pastor preached on the conversions of the Ethiopian, Saul, and Cornelius in Acts, chapters 8,9, and 10. In each of those cases, God used a human agent to bring someone to salvation. I noticed that even though God set up the situation, and success was sure, He doesn’t [...]
Today’s sermon was on the feeding of the 5,000.
If you’ve been a Christian for about 30 years like I have, you would’ve heard a zillion sermons on the feeding of the 5,000 like I have. I’ve studied and taught it myself a zillion times.
Yet, each time I read the Word of God, it is living [...]
I attend a Bible Study on Tuesday mornings, studying the book of II Timothy this year.
I want to remember what I’ve learned by jotting down three major lessons that I learned:
1. Don’t expect the Christian life to be easy. Paul and Timothy and countless others suffered for the sake of the gospel. Paul says, “Endure [...]
In the book of Numbers, chapter 11, the Israelites were complaining that they didn’t have meat to eat. The Lord told Moses that he will indeed give the people meat to eat, not for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month. Moses was incredulous. Where [...]
On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. Now a man was there whose right hand was withered. The experts in the law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a reason to accuse him. Luke 6:6-7
The Pharisees probably had [...]
Today in my Precepts Bible study group, Hebrews 12:1 came up in our discussion: “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”
To be honest, I can think of many sins that entangle me in my Christian life. The writer of Hebrews says to throw off everything that hinders, which [...]
I started to teach the book of Luke in Sunday School yesterday.
My reasons for choosing to teach Luke are:
1. To get reacquainted with Jesus so as to live more like him.
2. The book of Luke seems to be less read than the other gospels.
3. I read that 50% of the materials in Luke are [...]
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, . . . Romans 4:18
God told Abraham clearly that he will be the father of many nations. God said, “I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come to you.” (Genesis 17:6) [...]
A sacrifice is not a sacrifice unless it is a sacrifice.
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16
I do good and I share with others, but not much of it is a sacrifice. Most of the time, I do good and [...]
The recorded history in Genesis 4 is a familiar one - Cain killed his brother Abel.
Abel was the righteous one. How could God allow such a evil deed done against such a good man? It seemed like he got a worst “punishment” than Cain.
My BSF notes says,
Do you worry if your choice to please [...]
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place…
- Psalm 8:3 NIV
All of creation were handmade by God.
It makes me feel special.