Pop quizzes in school are dreaded because they reveal whether you’re prepared. Similarly, the Bible tells us an ultimate “pop quiz” is coming: the return of Jesus, the King of kings. We can’t afford to be unprepared. Luke 12:35-59 outlines how to be ready for His return: Be Alert: Like servants waiting for their … [Read More…] The Once and Future King
What exactly is the promise of Romans 8:28 (the translation question)? Romans 8:28 promises that God works all things together for the good of His people. Different translations emphasize either “all things work together for good” or “God causes all things to work together for good,” but both affirm that God is actively involved. He … [Read More…] All Things Together for Good
Everyone needs a “why”—a reason to get up, a purpose for life. It leads to big questions: What is life all about? Why are we here? How do we live meaningfully? For followers of Jesus, these questions are central to the journey of discipleship. In Luke 12, Jesus tackles these existential questions through parables … [Read More…] Money-Grubbers, Worry-Warts, and Treasure-Seekers
A lot of us are disenchanted with religion. There’s so much hypocrisy and abuse and scandal. No wonder so many people are checking out of organized religion, even if they still find Jesus to be compelling. Here at the end of Luke 11 and into 12 Jesus himself railed against the dangers of religion. It … [Read More…] Dangerous Religion
Who is Jesus? This is the most important question anyone can ask. Is He a deceiver, a lunatic, a prophet, a teacher, or the Son of God? These questions have been asked for centuries. In the Gospels, people wrestled with who Jesus was—healing the sick, calming storms, and teaching with authority. Yet, they reached … [Read More…] Mistaking Jesus
Matthew 4:1–11 is a foundation to illustrate how Jesus prepared for his mission through fasting and resisting temptation. Context of Matthew 4: The passage follows Jesus’ baptism, where He identifies with humanity despite having no need for repentance. Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted, which demonstrates both His … [Read More…] Preparation: Four Lessons We Learn About Fasting
The Ends God’s Justice Will Cover the Earth: Christ’s reign extends justice across the earth. Brings fairness and righteousness to all creation. God’s People Will Be Liberated: Christ liberates God’s people from spiritual blindness and bondage. God’s Glory Will Be Celebrated: Christ’s reign leads to the celebration of God’s glory. The renewed creation worships and … [Read More…] Behold Christ
Now, in life, hard things will happen. We live in a fallen world marked by sin and selfishness. When you are on the ropes, God is faithful and His heart cares for people dealing with the consequences of their own sin and rebellion. When things go from bad to worse, how should we respond? … [Read More…] God’s Promises For Bruised People
The Symptoms A world under wrath (Romans 1:18) A people in chaos and pain (1:24, 1:26, 1:28-31) A world condemned to die (1:32) The Illness and Its Progression Rejection of the Truth and the darkens of hearts (Romans 1:21-23) Embracing of the Lie and the worship creation (Romans 1:25) The Cure A timely provision (Romans … [Read More…] The Best Bad News You Have Ever Received
