Tag Archives: Paul

The Range of Redemption

The Corinthians understood they had been redeemed through Jesus, but like some disciples today, they didn’t grasp how wide-ranging their deliverance was. If you ask people today about their salvation many will tell you something to the effect of “my soul has been saved.” That’s gloriously true and worthy of the highest celebration—it just doesn’tContinue reading “The Range of Redemption”

Building on Jesus

The immaturity of the disciples at Corinth was anchored, to a large degree, by their infatuation with worldly wisdom (the words “wisdom” and “wise” appear 28 times in the first four chapters). Despite the eighteen months Paul had spent there and the letter he had written to them (5:9), they were stubbornly clinging to theirContinue reading “Building on Jesus”

Useful!

Based on data from people applying for Social Security cards for their children a few years ago, the most popular baby names for boys were: Liam, Noah, Oliver, Elijah, James, William, Benjamin, Lucas, Henry, and Theodore. But no Onesimus. That’s too bad. Although it’s a little long at four consonants (you’d probably have to comeContinue reading “Useful!”

How do we see Hardship? (2)

Treating hardships as one-dimensional, one-size-fits-all occurrences that need to be prayed away ASAP is neither healthy nor holy. The biblical witness encourages us to view them as unique, layered, and existing for reasons we are often unable to understand. Our assignment is to, by faith, respond to them in a way that brings glory andContinue reading “How do we see Hardship? (2)”

How do we see Hardship? (1)

The first land battle of the Civil War was the Battle of Bull Run in Manassas, Virginia. It’s sometimes referred to as the “Picnic Battle.” After the capture of Fort Sumter by Confederate forces in April, both the North and the South had been enlisting men and building their armies. Nonetheless, many thought the conflictContinue reading “How do we see Hardship? (1)”

A Kingdom Divided Against Itself

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2) Things had gotten sideways at Corinth. Not only had the disciples gone rogue in following different teachers, it appearsContinue reading “A Kingdom Divided Against Itself”

“What must I do to be saved?”

Most of us are familiar with the story of the three blind men who had an elephant brought to them. They were to tell everyone what the animal was like. One of the men was near the trunk of the elephant. He grabbed it and said, “An elephant is like a mighty snake—a great boaContinue reading ““What must I do to be saved?””

It Seemed Good to Me

When Luke was writing the introduction to his gospel, he noted two groups of people: The first group would be the apostles, and the other would be a second generation of disciples who came after them. Luke would be part of that group. So, he began his treatise to Theophilus by acknowledging the original communicatorsContinue reading “It Seemed Good to Me”

Blessed Are The Refreshers!

Paul’s second letter to Timothy was probably written no more than a couple of years after his first. While Timothy was still laboring away at Ephesus, Paul’s circumstances had changed quite dramatically. He was no longer in Macedonia, but in prison at Rome for a second time. And unlike his house-arrest at the end ofContinue reading “Blessed Are The Refreshers!”