Freedom in Christ.

July 4, 2019. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 July 4th is a day that we as Americans typically hold in high regard as we reflect on who we are as a nation and the quintessential American value of…

Followship.

September 11, 2016. This weekend I had the opportunity to plan a men’s retreat with a couple of my good friends from church. We decided on the theme of “Service” or being a servant, and there was a particular lesson that I wanted to teach about serving one another in the church. I will admit…

Paul’s thorn.

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…

Foolish wisdom.

February 8, 2016. Well, I have completed my journey through the bible which I set out to do last year where I took a daily reading plan and wrote about each chapter in that plan as my daily blog. I didn’t quite finish in a year, but I did finish before the end of January,…

Acts 27-28: The unfinished story.

January 24, 2016. Reading: Acts 27-28. Background: Acts 23-26. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 27 Shipwrecked on the way to Rome: After a long period of prison and trials, the time finally came for Paul to go to Rome just as the Lord had told him. His journey to Rome, however, had probably not gone the…

Acts 23-26: Paul’s trials and testimony.

January 20, 2015. Reading: Acts 23-26. Background: Acts 21-22. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 23 Paul’s defense and the people’s reaction: As Paul stands before the counsel, he goes to make his defense. However, he is almost immediately cut short when he tells his fellow Jews that he had lived in good conscience to that day….

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 15-18: The second missionary journey.

December 12, 2015. Daily reading: Acts 15-18. Background: Acts 13-14. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 15 1. The Jerusalem counsel: As Paul and Barnabas return from their first missionary journey and proceeded to tell the Jewish believers in Antioch all that God had done for the Gentiles through them, there were some men who were of…

Acts 13-14: The first missionary journey.

December 5, 2015. Daily reading: Acts 13-14. Background: Acts 10-12. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 13 The first missionary Journey, Paul and Barnabas: As Paul and Barnabas were staying in Antioch doing much teaching, the Holy Spirit called them out specifically to a work that He had appointed them to do. Notice that even after they were…

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…

Philemon: Four lessons from a runaway slave.

September 25, 2015. Note: I am switching today and Sunday’s reading because of time constraints. I appreciate your understanding. _______________________________________________________________________ Daily Reading: Philemon. Background: Philemon is a letter by the apostle Paul written to a man named Philemon who seems to have been a leader in the church at Colossi, having a church that met in his…