I imagine that most of us who love Jesus and wholeheartedly seek to obey and follow Him, would find it strange if Jesus told us, “You have a hard heart.” And probably the truth is that, for those of us who genuinely love Jesus Christ,...
In Mark chapter 10, James and John approached Jesus, asking for the honor of sitting at His right hand and left hand in His kingdom. Like most people, they wanted to be close to the center of power, expecting that Jesus, the Messiah, would soon...
For many years, I have taught the Bible to small groups as a way to disciple them in understanding God’s ways and living as Jesus taught. Typically, I would communicate something like this to those groups: “If you want to remain immature as a Christian,...
When we take things personally, we open ourselves up to the spirit of offense. Offense prevents us from responding to situations from God’s perspective. Whether it comes from someone speaking the truth in love or from someone mistreating us, offense leads to the same negative...
“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18 On the surface, these words of Jesus can sound unfair and even...
Repenting from sin can uniquely position us to strengthen others in ways that those who have not battled for righteousness cannot. This is exactly what Peter faced when Jesus said to him in Luke 22:31-34: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like...
I have heard some Christians say, “All truth is God’s truth.” While it may be true to say that God’s truth can come through various sources and take different forms, it is not accurate to assert that all truth is God’s truth. As committed Christian believers...
Mark 9:14-29 recounts a story in which Jesus’ disciples could not cast out a demon from a young boy. When the boy's father approached Jesus and asked Him to cast it out, “… Jesus answered and said, ‘You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall...
None of the four soils addressed in Jesus’ parable of the Sower and the Seed bore abundant and lasting fruit, except the good soil. (Luke 8:11-15) In this article, I want to address the problem and the solution for the rocky soil. “Those on the...
Just as God is love and the only source of love, our God is also the one perfect source of humility. We must learn and receive humility from the Creator of the universe, the all-sovereign, all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal and completely humble One. For several months...