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…
Author: Norm
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…
Beyond the Law
SCRIPTURE: Acts 18:9-17 “Persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” (Acts 18:13) The message of Jesus is that we are justified before God by faith, not the Law. The Law can only show us how we fail, it cannot make us right or help us change. Jesus fulfills the Law for us,…
It’s your decision
SCRIPTURE: Acts 18:1-8 “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6) Paul is referring to the ‘watchman’ task found in Ezekiel 3, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and…
Reading the Bible with Jesus: Psalm 32
You can find more about my weekly Bible readings HERE. This week I am focusing on Psalm 32 (Monday, July 20 – Sunday July 26)
Always tugging at my heart
SCRIPTURE: Acts 17:24-34 “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:27) God works behind the scenes, directing circumstances to get our attention. He cannot force us to respond, but neither can He leave us to…
Sincerely serving God?
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 141 “But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord.” (Psalm 141:8) David is in a deadly conflict with ‘the wicked’. A neighbouring nation attacking, or a rebellious leader in the land. He contrasts himself with ‘the wicked’, showing God his commitment to doing good. He prays, he is careful how he speaks, he avoids…