All Scripture references are quoted from the Christian Standard Bible (unless otherwise noted).
February 28, 2018 “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’… After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.” – Mark...
February 21, 2018 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 Have you ever been in a situation that, for whatever reason, is very scary for...
February 14, 2018 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31 I want to begin with a little Bible trivia today: Do you know the first man in the Bible who is said to be...
February 7, 2018 “‘Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus...
January 31, 2018 “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” – Psalm 118:8-9 Last night our current president gave his State of the Union Address. This morning, social media...
January 24, 2018 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” – Matthew 16:24 It’s hard, I get it. Discipleship is difficult, I understand. To follow Jesus means to go against everything the world, and...
January 17, 2018 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 “Stress” is a word that is...
January 10, 2018 “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured...
January 3, 2018 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the...
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” – Psalm 77:11-12 One of the more common commands that appears throughout the Old Testament is the command to “remember.” Over and...
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 Christmas has become a very convoluted holiday that is “about” a whole variety of things depending on who you ask. Some say...
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 Christmas is an exciting time of year. We celebrate the incredible stories of Jesus’ birth, we sing songs about the Messiah...
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31 If you are feeling afraid or discouraged today, one of two things has probably happened; you have either forgotten God’s promises, or you have forgotten God’s...
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” – “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,...
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 If you were walking along, doing just fine, and someone put out their hand and offered to...
“For the Grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” – Titus 2:11-12 I have often heard people say that the message of...
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 It is common for a Christian to desire and seek God’s will in their life. We set...
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” – Psalm 139:11-12 I have a good friend who, because of...
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 Proverbs 27:17 is a much loved verse and often quoted as a way of explaining how close friendships make us better. However, I was recently reading an article by Biblical scholars which made the case that this is...
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” – 1 Timothy 1:15 One of the biggest obstacles that prevents unbelievers from coming to accept Christ is that they believe they are too bad of a...
“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” – Philippians 2:17 In the New Testament, the church of Antioch holds a very special place. It was the first...
“The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” – John 10:10 When we see something blatantly and unthinkably evil, our first inclination is to try to make sense of it. We look at...
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1 There have been many athletes in the news lately making headlines for a position that they have decided to take on certain political issues. And though the issues themselves can often be complicated and even convoluted,...
“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” – 1 Samuel 16:7 Many people who...
“And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” – Isaiah 6:3 The overarching theme of the Old Testament is God’s holiness. Holiness refers to that fact that God is completely set apart from His creation. The...
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” – Genesis 2:15 On Monday of this week, our family dog, Dinah, passed away. Dinah was 17 years old, so none of my five children have ever known...
“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”...
“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.” –...
“A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” – Luke 6:45 (HCSB) As a child, did you ever say, “Sticks and stones may break...
“Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” – Proverbs 9:8-9 Proverbs chapter 9 holds great truth for...