Category Archives: Opening the Bible

Living in the Light

John assures the disciples he is writing in 1:1-4 of his first letter that the message they had shared with them about Christ was rooted in historical reality. There were Gnostic influencers who were spreading the heresy that Christ had not come in the flesh (see this in 2 John v. 7). John wants themContinue reading “Living in the Light”

For the Bible Tells Me So

Back when peoplewrote letters, they did so for lots of reasons. They wanted to stay in contact with a loved one from whom they were separated (this was especially true in the days before there were phones and later when people had phones but long-distance calls were expensive). They also wrote to share news (thisContinue reading “For the Bible Tells Me So”

Getting Started in Proverbs

Our church went through the book of Proverbs this summer. I put together an acrostic as kind of a review, but I think it works equally well as an introduction to the book—if you don’t take it as any sort of final word but use it as a starting point for stepping into this wonderfulContinue reading “Getting Started in Proverbs”

Baptism And Wedding Vows

If you listen closely to the vows couples exchange during a wedding ceremony (whether they are traditional or ones they have written), they all have the same intent and purpose and say the same thing. They are promises that each will commit themselves to the attitudes and actions conducive to happy, healthy marriage. No oneContinue reading “Baptism And Wedding Vows”

The Disciple and Opportunity

A man had fallen into an old, dry well and was stuck at the bottom. He called out for help and finally someone came by. The person lowered a rope down to the man. The man grabbed the rope, looked at it, and asked, “What happens if this rope breaks?” Fortunately, the person on topContinue reading “The Disciple and Opportunity”

Proverbs and Love

The word “love” occurs 31 times in Proverbs—that’s once for every chapter. And why not? Love is a basic human need. You can own the world but if you don’t have love—it’s all kind of meaningless, isn’t it? On the other hand, if you have love, it changes everything. It was Victor Hugo who wrote,Continue reading “Proverbs and Love”

Seven Miles From Jerusalem

Two disciples are headed to Emmaus (a village about seven miles from Jerusalem) where presumably they have been attending the Passover Feast. But that’s not what is on their hearts and minds. They are thinking about Jesus and how He had been turned over to the Romans for crucifixion by the Jewish leaders. As ifContinue reading “Seven Miles From Jerusalem”

Our Decisions And God’s Will

God is not micromanaging things in Acts. While there are certainly times when He steps in, intervenes, and overrules (i.e., the call to Macedonia – 16:9-10), most of the time it is His will that His people choose, trusting that He will help them make the best out of their choices (note word “decide” inContinue reading “Our Decisions And God’s Will”

A Sandcastle Faith

There will be storms for the disciple.  When Jesus speaks of them in Matthew 7:24ff, it is a when rather than an if type of statement that He makes.  This shouldn’t surprise us, the Scripture promises believers will have their share of difficulties and hardships (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12, etc.).  They are part of the tapestry of our faith. Continue reading “A Sandcastle Faith”