'the gospel' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” vs. 23 Matthew 13:18-23 Even though Jesus used parables to describe the Kingdom of God, most people did not understand what he was talking about… and the parable of the sower, as he explained it to his disciples, was a way to…
Daily Devotions
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…” vs. 16 Romans 4:13-17 As Paul searches the scriptures in his attempt to communicate the wonder of the gospel to the Romans, he decides to use Abraham and not Moses as the model for the new life in Christ.…
Daily Devotions
I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh.” vss. 2-3a 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 Dr. Paul has a dietary diagnosis for symptoms being experienced by the folks in Corinth–he says they’re not ready for the meat of the gospel. In fact, he’s not even sure they’ve been able to handle the pablum he’s been so carefully doling out. They’ve…
Daily Devotions
Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!” vs 9 James 5:9-10 When people are in a waiting mode it’s not unusual for them to become irritated with one another. Even when there are no overt expressions of hostility there is likely to be an undercurrent of grumbling, and that’s what James was facing in his little community. He wanted it to stop, and not surprisingly…
Daily Devotions
Just as (the gospel) is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.” vs. 6 Colossians 1:1-7 Things were happening in that little congregation in Colossae. The gospel was bearing fruit and growing and Paul was rejoicing. Life was good! We love to hear those kinds of reports in our congregations–they build enthusiasm and hope. But too often in…
Daily Devotions
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…” vss. 22-23 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Some of us spend a lot of time trying to make the gospel palatable to unbelievers and skeptics, and that’s really not anything new. For centuries Christian thinkers have tried to make sense of it through logic and systematic theologies. And sometimes those efforts have produced fruit–some people have found their work satisfying…
Daily Devotions
Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.” vs. 20 Mark 1:19-20 We can’t help but smile a bit as we imagine the scene on the beach outside of Capernaum that day. Zebedee stands with a couple of hired men in the boat, and his boys, the core of the family business, wander off down the beach in pursuit of an itinerant preacher. It’s not a pretty picture!…
Daily Devotions
Luke 1:46b-55 “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” vss. 52-53 Mary’s song, the Magnificat, has long been a favorite for Christians, particularly at this time of year. When the vocalist is skilled, the tune lifts our hearts, and we’re entranced by its beauty. What we miss though is that the song is about revolution, the total transformation of…
Daily Devotions
Romans 10:12-15 … “And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” vs. 15 Paul knew that salvation was for all without distinction. Both Jews and Gentiles were loved by God and lived under the umbrella of grace. For him this was incredible good news, and his biggest lament was that so many simply didn’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior. He believed…