Category: Uncategorized
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Lessons from Galatians
There is only one gospel. Within the framework of salvation, the Bible story, and certainly any discussion of theology, we must hold the viewpoint of no compromise. The gospel is a singularity, just like God who orchestrated it, the Bible that reveals it, and the cross of Christ that initiates it. Paul admonished his readers…
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Thoughts from Mark
There is room in our study for rich contemplation about all the various doctrines of the Christian faith. We would fail abysmally if we did not give careful attention to the doctrines we teach and practice as individuals and as local churches (see II Jn. 9). But, all of that must be built out of…
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It Isn’t Just Stopping the Bad…
The Christian life is mistakenly simplified to mean, “stop doing bad things.” The truth, however, is much deeper and richer than this shallow view. Instead, the repeated admonitions in the NT are, “Stop doing bad and start doing good!” Paul admonishes such actions in plenty of places. Briefly consider Paul’s exhortations at the end of…
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James on Practical Christianity
The practical admonitions of the epistle of James have lost none of their potency over the last two thousand years. Perhaps the most intriguing one is the first one James mentions: “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials” (Jas. 1:2). While Paul nowhere states the truth as clearly…
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Roman World Politics
Our culture understands the pressures of living in a politically charged environment. But probably not to the same degree the first-century audience would have. It is hard to read Romans without considering its political challenges. Consider Romans 1:1-4: “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,…
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“Your Storage Is Almost Full”
My computer is constantly flashing across the screen, “Your storage is almost full.” The fact is, there is only so much room in your memory space for things. Your computer will eventually run out of room. But everything is like this. Your mind can only hold so much information. Your schedule can only allow for…
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Kindness & Compassion
“The Gospel of Luke can teach us to be kind to all just like Jesus…” I read this statement a few days after our family devotional took us through the story of the “sinful woman” (Lk. 7:36-50). Jesus consistently treated people in ways that were completely unexpected. I’m sure you already have a list of…
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“A Shield About Me”
“Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me. You’re my glory, You’re the lifter of my head. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, You’re the lifter of my head.” – Donn Thomas and Charles Williams, 1991. That’s all the words in the song, and it serves as a great example of why we should think deeply about the…
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“Teach Me Lord to Wait”
Simply singing a song doesn’t do anything if we do not know what we are singing. This is the truth expressed by Paul in I Cor. 14:15: “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will…
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Winning and Keeping
“What you win them with, is what you keep them with.” A dear widow-lady I worshipped with for a number of years told me that. It is a simple statement, but has profound meaning. What are we “winning” people with? If you win people with fleshly things, you have to keep satisfying their fleshly desires…
The Preacher's Desk 