Godly Talk – Words Matter. Thoughts on Taming the Tongue, from James 3:1-12. “If we are able to bridle the words we say, we are powerful enough to control ourselves in every way, and that means our character is mature and fully developed.” (James 3:2, Passion Translation). Small things can wield amazing power. If you want to …
Abba, Father – ‘Perfect’ Children. “Perfect” in Matthew 5:48 – whole, complete, fully mature, lacking nothing, well-rounded; in the context, “perfect” means completely moral; fully mature in character; well-rounded in virtue; lacking nothing in godliness. “Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, you are to be perfect like Him. Live out your God-created …
Beware: Don’t Corrupt the Children. “He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, Jesus said, ‘Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embrace me, and far more than me – God who sent me… Woe to anyone who is the downfall of one …
The Healing of the Young Demoniac. Please read Mark 9:14-29; (compare with Matthew 17:14-20 and Luke 9:37-43). CONTEXT. a. Peter, James, John (and Jesus) were coming down the mountain immediately after the momentous Transfiguration. The hearts of the disciples were on fire after this once in a lifetime experience. They were eyewitnesses to the uncreated …
The Beatitudes: 1. Poverty. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3). You will shout for joy when you are spiritually helpless like a bankrupt beggar knocking at the gate of the King, hat in hand. Congratulations! When your spirit is poverty-stricken and you have no option but …
Song to the Colossians. Please read Colossians 1:15-20. “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. For through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see …
Song to the Ephesians. Please read Ephesians 5:14. “Arise, O sleeper! Rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine into you and upon you!” THE CONTEXT. Ephesus was the center of just about everything deemed important in that region of western Turkey. It was the political capital; the converging point of all the trade …
The Fruit of Gentleness. “The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23). ASPECTS OF GENTLENESS (a.) Definition: kind and humble disposition; calm and even-tempered; not needing to force one’s way; peaceable; considerate; reasonable; tender. (b.) The Fruit is Love. The “fruit” of the Spirit in …
The Healing of the Paralytic in Capernaum. Please Read Mark 2:1-12. Capernaum. This flourishing city on the Sea of Galilee was Jesus’ adopted hometown. Because of its thriving businesses, especially in fishing and many different trades, it was densely populated and wealthy. Several major highways intersected in Capernaum, which brought people from as far away …
The Healing of the Deaf and Mute Man. Please read Mark 7:31-37. A Healing Tour. After touring the region around Tyre and Sidon, Jesus returned to his adopted ministry headquarters around the Sea of Galilee. In the parallel passage in Matthew 15:29-31, Jesus sits on a hill and gathers many people in dire physical need… …
The Healing of the Lame Man at Bethesda. Please read John 5:1-15 Jewish to the Core. All Jewish men, usually accompanied by their families, were required to go to Jerusalem each year to celebrate 3 holy days: Passover, Pentecost, and Shelters. Jesus was merely being faithful to His Jewish faith by being in Jerusalem at …
The Healing of the Crippled Woman Please read Luke 13:10-17 The Synagogue. Jesus was an orthodox Jew in good standing, spreading the Word in the presence of other orthodox Jews, in the local meeting place for such things, the synagogue. He was teaching Scripture, reading from Torah, leading discussion, answering questions. Jesus did this virtually …