Salvation as a process.

November 2, 2016. “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.” (I Corinthians 1:18) Today I would like to take a few minutes to dwell on the topic of salvation, and perhaps shed light on a biblical…

A plea for unity.

September 18, 2016. Ramifications of the reformation. It is an understatement to say that there is a lot of division in the church today. Though it seems that people have been divisive from the beginning (see I Corinthians 1-3), today the amount of separation in the entirety of Christendom is both disheartening and damaging to…

Acts 21-22: Paul in Jerusalem.

December 26, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 21-22. Background: Acts 19-20. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 21 Paul in Jerusalem: As Paul set fourth to Jerusalem, he and his company made several stops along the way. Notice the bond of the brethren here as they stop and find disciples in various cities, prolonging their stay a bit…

Acts 10-12: The gospel goes to the Gentiles.

November 28, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 10-12. Background: Acts 9. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 10 The gospel given to the Gentiles: Up until this point in the book of acts, the good news about Christ really had only gone to the Jews. Even when the believers were scattered abroad after the stoning of Stephen spoke…

I Peter 4-5: Suffering and transformation.

November 22, 2015. Daily Reading: I Peter 4-5. Background: I Peter 1-3. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 4 1. Being transformed: As Peter gave the example of Christ’s suffering for righteousness sake in the previous chapter, he builds off the symbolism of the rebirth of baptism to show how we as Christians are to be dead…

Acts 9: Saul’s conversion.

November 21, 2015. Note that I have decided to only do Acts 9 today, as chapters 10 and 11 shouldn’t be split up in my opinion. Thus, next week we will do Acts 10-12. Thank you for following along with me. ___________________________________ Daily Reading: Acts 9. Background: Acts 7-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1….

Acts 7-8: Stephen and the spread of the gospel.

November 14, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 7-8. Background: Acts 5-6. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 7 Stephen: The previous chapter left of with the arrest of Stephen on the basis of false witnesses, being brought before the council of Jewish leaders. This chapter pics up here and records Stephen’s defense and message to the high priest…

Acts 1-4: Witnesses.

October 31, 2015. Daily Reading: Acts 1-4. Background: The book of Acts is Luke’s second writing to Theophilus (see background to Luke), who was probably a Roman, perhaps even a high ranking Roman, which continues the story of the unfolding of the gospel. His first book detailed the life and ministry of Jesus Christ through eye…

John 3-4: A new birth and living water.

September 5, 2015. Daily Reading: John 3-4. Background: John 1-2. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 3 1. The man who came to Jesus by night: Chapter 3 of the book of John contains one of, if not the most quoted bible verse amongst Christians today, however the context of John 3:16 is often not highlighted as…

Colossians 1-2: The preeminent Christ.

June 28, 2015. Daily Reading: Colossians 1-2. Background: Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae is unique in the sense that this was not a church that had been originally founded on one of his missionary journeys, nor was it one to which he had personally visited (see 1:7, 2:1). It could have been founded…

I Corinthians 14-16: Worship, the resurrection and salutations.

April 5, 2015. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 14-16. Background: I Corinthians 12-13. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 14 1. Prophecy verses speaking in tongues: The church in Corinth was a church in which many of the members were blessed with spiritual gifts. It seems that this blessing had lead to dispute and chaos in the assembly, which…

Mark 1-2: The early ministry of Jesus.

March 20, 2015. Just as a heads up, I have switched the order of reading for today and tomorrow. Today we will look at Mark 1-2, and tomorrow we will look at Isaiah 56-61. _________________________________________________________ Daily Reading: Mark 1-2. Background: Mark is the beginning of the testament of Christ, a recording of His ministry. Many…