Not so quick to dismiss
SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:1-13 “They have had too much wine.” (Acts 2:13) How to dismiss something you don’t like or believe. Trivialize it, explain it away, dismiss it as a human scam or weakness. There must be some natural, physical or psychological explanation. This bias towards disbelief is in all of us, when we don’t like something. When…
I’m selected too!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:12-26 “One of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1:22) Why could only one be chosen to witness to Jesus’ resurrection? It seems they are selecting a representative, to make the original ‘twelve’ complete. Like the twelve tribes of Israel, the NT community of faith also has twelve leaders. Matthias…
Jesus… as I know Him
SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:1-11 “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) I witnessed an accident in grade school, along with my friend. He saw something slightly different from me. We both gave our statements to the police, and never heard anything again. Maybe I was wrong, but I saw what I saw,…
Another book about Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: John 21:24-25 “The whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) How little we appreciate all that was accomplished through Jesus. Not enough room for all the books to be written? Like so many facets on a beautiful diamond, each reflecting the light of God’s love. Is it any…
If not for God…
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 124 “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8) As a God-seeker I am always looking for ways that God is at work in my life. The fingerprints of God, signs that God has been nearby. The psalmist thinks about all the times he was almost…
Who will be saved?
SCRIPTURE: Romans 10:1-11:36 Is Paul saying people are saved BECAUSE they were chosen (Romans 11:7)? And others are rejected BECAUSE God hardened their hearts? Do we have no choice, are we predetermined for eternal life or eternal death? “But they were broken off BECAUSE of unbelief, and you stand by faith.” (Romans 11:20) Through this whole passage it…
We depend on God for life!
We will look at Romans 10-11 tomorrow. SCRIPTURE: Romans 9 “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:16) The key to life is not independence but dependence on God. A fish may boldly declare ‘I’m free’ as it jumps from the water and flops on the beach. A plant may…
You must follow me!
SCRIPTURE: John 21:15-23 “What is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22) Three times Peter denies Jesus, three times Jesus recommissions Peter. Jesus is not rubbing it in, He is matching His grace to Peter’s failure. The Lord knows each one of us personally, our strengths and our weaknesses. He invites us all, just as…
Breaking fish together
SCRIPTURE: John 21:1-14 “Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” (John 21:13) To break bread together is to more than eating together. It is a covenant of two or more people who share one meal: intimate communion. Jesus does not just come to die, He comes to…