SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:26-37 The last days before Jesus’ return are not going to be easy. No one knows the exact day but there will be clues. If we pay attention to the signs, we will be able to figure out where (or when) to look. Like finding a dead body by looking for the circling vultures…
Author: Norm
When it seems God does NOT reign!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 94 In Psalm 93 we reflected on how the Lord reigns, and the world is established, firm and secure. But lets be honest, life in this world does not seem established, firm and secure. People are crushed and the evildoers boast; it seems as if God does not see or care. I have lived an…
Putting the service back into worship!
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 53-59 Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you…
Kingdom working, not waiting!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:20-25 The kingdom of God is in your midst. It is not something that comes to us, but comes through us. We do not sit by passively and wait for God’s kingdom to come. It is in our hearts, our hands, our lives – as we live by God’s power, as God’s servants. Jesus…
Paul’s words re. women and Eve in 1 Timothy 2:13-14
Source: Biblical Hermeneutics Although there are differing views on what follows, the most convincing explanation I’ve heard regarding this reference centers around the nature of the culture Timothy was contending with at Ephesus. For many years, Ephesus had been an entrenched and powerful centre of the cult ofEphesian Artemis – her temple was one of the…
An attitude of gratitude
SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:11-19 Entitlement can breed ingratitude. We live in a country where rights matter more than responsibilities. We expect that we are owed some things, and are grumpy when we don’t get them. When we do, we assume that’s just the way it’s supposed to be, and are not grateful. The Jews were a chosen…
The delight of our duty
SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:7-10 Jesus is reminding us where we stand in relation to God. God is God, and it is not special for Him that we love and serve Him. It is His due, as our creator and sustainer and father and forgiver. When we love God, serve God, obey God, depend on God… we have…
Increase Your grace!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:3-6 This is the first time I have ever noticed this line: ‘rebuke them’. I can think of someone from my church past who would have loved this verse. He had the rebuke thing down pat, and would not forgive until they repented. We should not read this verse without grace in mind. We…
The Lord reigns, and so do we!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 93 Think of the biggest or strongest thing you know of… other than God. How vast the universe is, how broad and deep the ocean is? The devastating power of a tornado, or the unstoppable force of a tsunami? How hot (massive understatement) the sun or a star is? The crashing of the waves…
Why I am drawn to Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 48-53 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) There are debates about whether Isaiah wrote this part of the book. Whether it was written 500 or 700 years before Jesus. Either…