April 9, 2015. Daily Reading: Job 27-28. Background: Job 25-26. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 25 “I have held my integrity”: Time and again Job has heard from his friends, “You must have transgressed the Lord somewhere, just repent of your sin and everything will be alright.” He has told them multiple times that he has not…
Tag: wisdom
I Corinthians 1-3: A call for unity.
February 22, 2014. Daily Reading: I Corinthians 1-3. Background: The church in Corinth was founded on Paul’s second missionary journey, as he traveled to the city of Corinth and stayed with them for a year and six months (see Acts 18:1-16). Paul had a deep connection and love for the church in Corinth, as we…
Our opinion versus the word of the Lord.
December 12, 2014. “A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:29-31) There is a way that seems right to man, but in…
When worship and prayer are abominations.
November 18, 2014. As I read through the wisdom literature in the Old Testament, there is a concept that keeps coming up that is a bit concerning me when I read it. This concept is not one that we usually talk about, nor is it one that would probably be acceptable to teach in larger…
What sermons have you been preaching lately?
November 16, 2014. I read a short article this morning (I know, surprise surprise) that put something in perspective for me. The article was about reasons we don’t do all that well retaining visitors when they give Christianity a chance. The author made some valid points, but the one that stood out to me the…
There is a way that seems right to man.
November 10, 2014. There is a way that seems right to man, but at its end is death, Death that lures even the best of men to take their final breath. Oh Lord protect us now, keep our souls from seductive sin, Help us now, by your strong hand, for alone we will meet our…
4 Introductory lessons on wisdom from Proverbs.
November 5, 2014. I think I have decided that I want to write a book on the concepts laid out in the book of Proverbs. Of course, I say this about a lot of biblical topics and I think this is probably the five or six book that I have planned to write without follow…
Is drinking a sin?
October 31, 2014. When it comes to issues that drive huge wedges between Christians, the discussion over alcohol and whether or not it is sinful for a Christian to drink in moderation is probably one of the biggest wedges you can find. Some will say that any form of alcohol is bad in consumption while others…
The Christian Virtues, Part 3: Knowledge.
October 7, 2014. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus…
Speak simply, yet with deep understanding.
October 4, 2014. Perhaps one of the things I miss most about being in Chattanooga surrounded by people of a like faith basically at all times is the deep theological conversations that would spontaneously erupt. With ease one of us could say something like “What is grace?” or “Why do we have free will?” and…
Who is man, that can before thee stand?
September 26, 2014. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I…
Knowing what is in the word of God.
August 13, 2014. “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (Ephesians 6:16-17) This is a very familiar passage with many commonly known…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 