SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 11 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised…” (Hebrews 11:13) A reminder to those who say that faith is the key to getting what you hope for. Just believe… and you will be healed, blessed, find a job, find a partner, etc. Faith is…
Author: Norm
Defending God with love!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:23-31 “The temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” (Acts 19:27) How should we respond when God and Jesus are mocked, when Bibles are dishonoured, or churches desecrated? Or when Christians convert…
Is it evident I know Jesus?
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:13-22 “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:20) The ‘word of the Lord’ is not the bible, but the message about Jesus. The bible was not written yet; it was the testimony of Jesus that was spreading. And what inspired people to believe was the evidence…
Kingdom first!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:8-12 “Arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 19:8-12) The kingdom of God, we hardly ever talk about it as christians. We talk about church, worship, being saved, born again, missions, etc. But the heart of Paul’s message, and Jesus’ message, was the kingdom of God. “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news…
Reading the Bible with Jesus: Psalm 46
You can find more about my weekly Bible readings HERE. This week I am focusing on Psalm 46 (Monday, July 27 – Sunday August 2)
Pour out Your Spirit!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:1-7 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2) Were these disciples truly converted, or were they not yet born again? How could they be called ‘disciples’ if they had not received the Spirit yet? The point of these questions is to warn us against turning faith into a formula. The Spirit…
So others can see it!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 142 “Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” (Psalm 142:7) David is literally in a dark place (a cave), but also figuratively (desperate). He is feeling weak, vulnerable, overwhelmed, scared, doomed, trapped, defeated. I like how he…
No more bloody religion!
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 9-10 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God…
Truly meets our need!
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 6-8 “Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:26) Because creation fell victim to human rebellion, God had to intervene. The first stage was an arrangement (covenant) unveiled through Moses. He rescued an enslaved people and put them under a strict…
Beyond baptism
SCRIPTURE: Acts 18:18-28 “He spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.” (Acts 18:25) Apollos is a learned man, a bible scholar, and a gifted communicator. He vigorously defended Jesus as the Messiah, with great fervor and boldness. He seems to be anointed with the Spirit to witness…