'gospel' Tagged Posts (Page 3)
Daily Devotions: March 5, 2020
March 5, 2020 Romans 4:13-17 … For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us)…vs. 16 Paul was writing to a community in Rome that included both Gentile and Jewish followers of Jesus Christ, and he was thrilled to…
Daily Devotions: February 13, 2020
February 13, 2020 For full passage click: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 … “And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” vs. 1 When Paul came to Corinth, he did not bring Christ to the people–Christ was already there–the Divine Spark that resides in every human. But he did see them as infants in Christ, a people unfamiliar with matters of the Spirit and fully…
Daily Devotions: February 6, 2020
February 6, 2020 For full passage click: 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 … “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” vss. 1-2 For Paul, the whole Gospel revolves around Jesus Christ; beyond that central focus, everything else he expounds on in his letters is commentary. He really didn’t have to say…
Daily Devotions: December 15, 2019
December 15, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 11:6-11 … “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” vs. 11 In Matthew’s estimation, there is a great divide between John and Jesus. John was the best and the greatest of the prophets; he was articulate and spoke the truth to those in power. He announced that the kingdom…
Daily Devotions: November 8, 2019
November 8, 2019 For full passage click: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 … “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.” vss. 16-17 Paul has so much to say to this little congregation. He wishes he could be there to give them instruction and keep them connected to the true Gospel. Sometimes his letters…
Daily Devotions: October 18, 2019
October 18, 2019 For full passage click: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 … “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires…” vs. 3 Timothy, the young pastor, is advised in this letter to proclaim the Gospel with conviction in every season and to have patience in his teaching. He’s warned that there will be a time when his little flock would…
Daily Devotions: April1, 2019
April 1, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 43:16-21 …“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” vs. 19 Pessimists abound in the mainline denominations. They point to declining worship numbers, pastoral shortages and closing congregations as signs that the end of Christianity is at hand. They’re caught up in nostalgia and yearn for a return to the…
Daily Devotions: February 13, 2019
February 13, 2019 For full passage click: 1 Corinthians 15:12-15 …“and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.” vs. 14 Paul had had an encounter with the resurrected Christ. It was the realest thing he had ever experienced and he couldn’t believe that there were some who insisted that there was no such thing as resurrection! When he heard that some such folks were tickling the ears…
Daily Devotions: December 25, 2018
December 25, 2018 To read full passage click: Luke 2:8-20 …“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’” vs. 15 The shepherds in Luke’s story could have been content with hearing the good news from the angels and then going back to sleep. Instead, Luke reports that they decided…
Daily Devotions: December 12, 2018
December 12, 2018 To read full passage click: Isaiah 12:4-6 …“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.” vs. 5 During the weeks before Christmas we are subjected to a constant stream of holiday music nearly everywhere we turn. Every community chorus has a concert as do most schools and churches. Malls feature strolling singers and pipe in familiar carols to accentuate the shopping spirit and spur on the buying…
Daily Devotions: October 25, 2018
October 25, 2018 Romans 3:19-25 …“But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” vss. 21-22a For most of us, these words from Paul are familiar. This is the core of the gospel: we’ve heard the message in a variety of ways for our entire lives and we know it well. For that reason, it’s…
Daily Devotions: October 4, 2018
October 4, 2018 Hebrews 1:1-4 …“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son…” vss. 1-2a The early Christians treasured their scriptures and regarded them as authoritative guides for living. They particularly valued the words of the prophets and saw in them a reflection of God’s wisdom and judgement. But they also believed that God had brought a new word in…