August 7, 2016. “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” (II Corinthians 12:7) Paul’s thorn in the flesh was mentioned, somewhat in passing, in a lesson…
Tag: grace
John 7-8: Words of the I AM.
September 19, 2015. Daily Reading: John 7-8. Background: John 5-6. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 7 Jesus at the feast of booths: After Jesus gives some pretty hard teachings in the last chapter, we pick up here as He avoids going to Judea because He perceived that they were seeking to kill Him. The feast of…
Colossians 3-4: A new life.
July 5, 2015. Daily Reading: Colossians 3-4. Background: Colossians 1-2. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 3 1. The new self: Continuing on from the discussion in the previous chapter about dying to our old selves, being buried with Christ in baptism and raising anew just as He did on the third day, Paul expounds on the…
Ephesians 1-3: Jews and Gentiles.
May 31, 2015. Daily Reading: Ephesians 1-3. Background: The book of Ephesians is a letter written by Paul to a church that was probably founded by his first journey there recorded in Acts 18, where he has a short visit; the work seems to be carried on by Priscilla and Aquila. At the time of his letter,…
II Corinthians 7-9: Paul’s commendation.
April 26, 2015. Daily Reading: II Corinthians 7-9. Background: II Corinthians 4-6. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 7 Godly sorrow: In this chapter, Paul really reveals the love he has for the church at Corinth, as he even says that they were his joy when he was going through various trials and persecutions. Though he loved this…
Psalm 39-41: Cries to the Lord.
April 8, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 39-41. Background: Psalm 36-38. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 39 Life is short: In this psalm, David beings with a held tongue and a muzzled spirit, not asking the Lord how many were the number of his days on the earth. But when he could not hold his peace for any…
I Corinthians 9-10: Reality check.
March 15, 2015. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 9-10. Background: I Corinthians 7-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1. Paul’s defense to the Corinthians: In this chapter, Paul defends his apostleship and talks about his and Barnabas’ rights in the Lord in comparison to the rest of the body of Christ. Two things may have been at…
Isaiah 29-33: Downfall, complacency and hope.
February 13, 2015. Daily Reading: Isaiah 29-33. Background: Isaiah 23-28. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 29 1. A spirit of deep sleep from the Lord: As with times before, this is yet another prophecy against Jerusalem for their disobedience and apostasy, foretelling of the calamity that was in store for them if they would not repent and…
Romans 5-6: Justification and baptism.
January 18, 2014. Daily Reading: Romans 5-6. Background: Romans 3-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. Christian peace: Continuing on with his dialog of the differences between justification by faith and justification by works, Paul explains how the paradigm shift that the Jews needed would bring the peace of Christ. Under the idea that there…
Romans 3-4: Justification through faith.
January 11, 2014. Just as a heads up, the readings in Genesis over the next few weeks are going to be slightly different than the plan that was given at the beginning because of the chapters that I would like to group together. The changed readings will be posted the day before in the “Tomorrow’s…
The same God, Old and New.
December 29, 2014. Sometimes when we look at the allegedly striking differences between the Old Testament and the New Testament we can almost get two different pictures of God. We see His character in the Old Testament and usually focus on His righteous and wrathful side and then we flip over to the New Testament…
Choices.
December 27, 2014. Choices. We all are given choices, and we make decisions on a daily basis. Some choices decide major things in our lives and steer us down a path that would never have happened had we not made one simple choice. Others have little to do with our future selves and satisfy our…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 