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Encountering the resurrected Christ
Before his name was changed to Paul, Saul was a religious zealot bent on protecting Jewish law from the heretical influence of Christianity by persecuting—and even killing—Christians. Today on “Discover the Word,” we contrast the “before” and “after” of the apostle Paul. How exactly did his life change after encountering the resurrected Christ?
Only by God’s grace
What or who are you dependent on? Today on “Discover the Word,” we discuss what Paul meant when he said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” The grace that rescued him from his former life as the chief persecutor of Christians was the same grace that he depended on each day. And that same grace is available to us! Join the discussion today on “Discover the Word”!
When Jesus appeared to Saul
For the apostle Paul, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was personal and humbling. Today on “Discover the Word,” we will discuss when Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, and how it was more like Jesus appearing to Osama bin Laden rather than Billy Graham! Exaggeration? Well, be part of an insightful conversation today on “Discover the Word”!
How has the resurrection changed your story?
Imagine if God had given us a theological textbook instead of relatable stories on how people interact with God. Today on “Discover the Word,” we begin a study called, “The Impact of the Resurrection.” The resurrection of Jesus changed the stories of so many people we read about in Scripture, including the apostle Paul. Join the study today on “Discover the Word”!
“Lord have mercy” should be our daily request!
What is the one thing you ask God for the most? Protection for your family? Food on the table? Well, today on “Discover the Word,” we along with our special guest Robert Gelinas explain why “Lord, have mercy” should be our daily request! Making the Bible’s most prayed prayer our most prayed prayer. It’s the conclusion of a study on “The Mercy Prayer” today on “Discover the Word”!
Receiving mercy turns to bestowing mercy
Pastor and author Robert Gelinas says that “receiving mercy is meant to transform us into dispensers of mercy.” And today on “Discover the Word,” we explain why God’s mercy is meant to flow out of our lives and into the lives of others. We’re talking about “The Mercy Prayer” today on “Discover the Word”!
King David and the “Mercy Prayer”
Today on “Discover the Word,” we, along with our special guest, pastor and author Robert Gelinas talk about how King David was the most frequent pray-er of the “Mercy Prayer.” Find out if this contributed to David being a person who God called “a man after my own heart.” Finish up week one of a series on “The Mercy Prayer,” today on “Discover the Word”!
Leaning into the Light
One day I received a bouquet of pink tulips. Their heads bobbed on thick stems as I settled them into a vase, which I placed at the center of our kitchen table. The next day, I noticed that the flowers were facing a different direction. The blossoms that once faced upward were now leaning to the side, opening and reaching toward sunlight that streamed in through a nearby window.
In one sense, we all were made to be like those flowers. God has called us to turn to the light of His love. Peter writes of the wonder of being called…
Turn Off the Scoreboard
At his son’s wedding reception, my friend Bob offered advice and encouragement to the newlyweds. In his speech he told of a football coach in a nearby town who, when his team lost a game, kept the losing score on the scoreboard all week to remind the team of their failure. While that may be a good football strategy, Bob wisely advised, it’s a terrible strategy in marriage. When your spouse upsets you or fails you in some way, don’t keep drawing attention to the failure. Turn off the scoreboard.
What great advice! Scripture is full of commands for us to…
Our need for God’s love and forgiveness
Although God called David “a man after his own heart,” David still messed up, royally! But he also knew how to repent. Is having a heart after God about perfection or is it about understanding our need for God’s love and forgiveness? Today, we conclude our discussion with “Our Daily Bread for Kids” author Crystal Bowman, on how David learned to know God as a child. It’s a valuable discussion for any parent who wants to teach their child God’s ways.
The childhood faith of David
King David was a mighty man of faith, but he wasn’t an overnight success, he learned God’s ways throughout his youth. Today on “Discover the Word” we begin our discussion with special guest, “Our Daily Bread for Kids” author Crystal Bowman on the childhood faith of David. What did David mean when he said, “Since my youth, God, you have taught me”? Join the study today on “Discover the Word”!
Diamond Dust
During a bitterly frigid winter in our part of Michigan, there were many mixed emotions about the weather. As the snowy winter season pressed on into March, most people had long before fallen out of love with snow and were bemoaning long-range forecasts of low temperatures.
Yet the majestic beauty of the snow continued to amaze me. Even as I threw endless shovelsful of it from my driveway onto the over-my-head snowbanks, I was enthralled with the white stuff. One particular day, ice crystals filtered down from the sky to fall atop old snow. As my wife and I took a…
Poem: After You Have Sinned
What did you do?
You know you cannot undo.
What can you do?
You know you cannot run.
Better Than Waking Up
Have you ever felt that your life was ruined as a result of having done something embarrassing, shameful, or even criminal—only to wake up and realize it was just a dream? But what if it wasn’t just a nightmare? What if the situation was all too real—either for yourself or someone you love?
This is the situation confronted in George MacDonald’s 19th-century novel The Curate’s Awakening. It’s the story of a parish minister who discovers that he’s been speaking for a God he’s not even sure he believes in. Later, he is called to the bedside of a young man who…
