I memorized 1 Peter decades ago and recently reread chapter 1 during my 5:30 a.m. Bible reading time. Below are some notes I made… Note #1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1, ESV, emphasis added). Peter mentions […]
Notes from Reading 1 Peter 1:1-9 Read More »
John to the seven churches that are in Asia… (Revelation 1:4, NASB). John begins his revelation to the “seven churches” in Asia as the originally intended recipients. Then the book ends with this statement, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people” (Revelation 22:21, NLT). The beginning of the book was written to
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The prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up (James 5:15, NASB1995). In chapter 5 of the Epistle of James (the last chapter of the book), reading verses 13 through 18, note that prayer is mentioned in every verse, and the focus is powerful praying. These verses provide a
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Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:24, ESV). The Barna Organization® researches all things Christianity — youth in church, adults in church, whether youth are leaving or coming back to church, pastors doing well or poorly, finances, theological
Resilient Families Read More »
It’s over. My wife and I, on a “traveling” whirlwind, have been out of town conducting conferences (and enjoying vacation) seven of the last 11 weekends. We’ve been to Oklahoma, Virginia Beach, Cincinnati, Dayton, Springfield, and Panama City, Panama. Whereas the Apostle Paul writes about his travels, “Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV). Easter focuses on the resurrection of Jesus, as it should. He has risen, and you should be thinking, “He has risen, indeed!” But let’s not forget the cross; without it,
The Crucifixion Rethought Read More »
One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (Mark 12:28, NLT) At the time of Jesus, scholastic consensus held that the Law and the Prophets (the Jewish term for our
Integrity Relationships Read More »
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3, NASB1995). When reading the Book of Revelation, most don’t notice Revelation 1:3 — unfortunate because of its message: Blessed is he who reads, hears, and heeds the
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A billionaire inventor sold his business and went to work with the poor in another country. While there, he was accused of subverting peace, seeking to overthrow the government, and was arrested. During his trial, he was spat on by soldiers, mocked by a large crowd, beaten, and finally executed (Philippians 2:6-8, OGV [Old Guy
Servant Leadership Read More »
And he (Jesus) sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he
Seating Arrangements at the Last Supper Read More »