Let’s take a deeper look at the women found in the genealogies of Christ
Thursday, March 22, 2012
“Me First”
A man once asked me, “What is your biggest problem?” I replied, “I see my biggest problem every day in the mirror.” I am referring to those “me first” desires that lurk in my heart.
In James 4:1 we read: “Where do wars and fights come from among you?
There’s a lot more to the story of Zacchaeus than meets the eye!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Your Bio Here
While searching for an interesting way to instruct my college writing class about the concept of writing a biographical sketch, I found this idea: Write a biography in six words. When asked to do this, Pulitzer Prize winner Ernest Hemingway wrote this poignant bio: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.” Imagine the sad story behind those six words.
Discover the culture Jesus lived in
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Long-Awaited Reunion
As a boy, I had a collie named Prince Boy, a great dog that I really loved. One day, he disappeared. I didn’t know if he had been stolen or if he had simply run away—but I was devastated. I searched everywhere. In fact, one of my earliest childhood memories is of climbing a tall tree from which I could scan our neighborhood in hopes of spotting him.
Let’s look at Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Wonder Of Wilderness
The psalmists had an advantage in praise because of their closer tie to the natural world. David began life outdoors as a shepherd, then spent years hiding in the rocky terrain of Israel. Not surprisingly, a great love, even reverence, for the natural world shines through many of his poems.
The Slippery Slope Of Success
Among the more than 19,000 original epigrams penned by chemist and writer Dr. O. A. Battista is this wise observation: “You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments, or publicity.” Unfortunately, just the opposite often happens when something we have done is praised and rewarded.
A Word To The Weary
The people of Israel were struggling. They had been taken captive by the Assyrians and forced to live in a country far from home. What could the prophet Isaiah give these weary people to help them?
He gave them a prophecy of hope. It was a message from God relating to the promised Messiah.
The way God faithfully works in our lives
Friday, March 16, 2012
“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. . . . Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!’ ” (Exodus 14:14; 15:1).
Idea: How we interpret the events lies not in the events themselves but in the interpreter.
Purpose: To help listeners see that we believe in order to know, rather than know in order to believe.
Understanding the relationship between faith and works
Thursday, March 15, 2012
“By faith [the Israelites] passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned” (Hebrews 11:29).
Idea: When two do the same thing, it is not always the same thing.
Purpose: To help listeners understand that the same acts can come from different motives.
You Fool!
It seems to me rather contradictory that Jesus, who was so gentle at times (Matt. 19:13-15), would call some people fools. Yet, as recorded in the Gospels a number of times, our Lord used this derogatory term to describe those He spoke about—especially the Pharisees
Three ways God keeps His promises
Wednesday, March 14, 2012, Part 6
“By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned” (Hebrews 11:29).
Idea: The crossing of the Red Sea was an act of faith on the part of the Hebrew people.
Purpose: To help listeners appreciate why crossing the Red Sea was a great test of faith for the Hebrew people.
