Lamentations is a confronting book, showing us the seriousness of rebellion against God. It spares no detail in revealing the radical sinfulness of sin and its awful consequences. But it also points beyond itself to the mercy of the God of the new covenant in Christ who, despite everything, fulfills God’s covenant promises to His…
2nd Timothy 4:1-5
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will…
2nd Timothy 3:1-5
In 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 Paul gives a descriptive list of people that Timothy should avoid. These instructions were divinely inspired (2nd Timothy 3:16) and have been preserved for our guidance. The behaviors described in verses 2-4 are indicative of a lot of people in our society today and unfortunately a lot of these folks claim…
2nd Timothy 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a…
What’s Your Identity?
Followers of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26) because of what they believed, because of how they behaved, and to whom they belonged. Their identity was sure and strong. Forces at work in our culture want to rob the identity of Christians. Instead of a pure, peaceful identity as a child of…
2nd Timothy
2nd Timothy is believed to be the last New Testament letter written by Paul. He writes these divinely inspired words while awaiting execution by Rome. At this time, around AD 67, Timothy was still with the church in Ephesus. Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him. Paul is facing the worst of all…
The Lord’s Supper
I am out of town this weekend with my family and the elders have a special service planned that centers on the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a core teaching of our faith. It was instituted by Jesus on the night before his crucifixion (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-38). Acts 20:7 says “On…
1st Timothy 5:1-2
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. The advice to Timothy in 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,” appropriately prefaces Timothy’s role as…
Elders – 1st Timothy 3:1-7
1st Timothy 3:14-15 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Paul was hoping to come…
1st Timothy 3
Having defined the proper roles for men and women within the church in 1st Timothy 2:8-14, Paul, inspired by God, now turns to those who exercise the roles of overseeing the church. 1st Timothy 3:1–7 describes the requirements of church elders (1st Peter 5:1; Titus 1) also known as pastors (Ephesians 4:11), bishops (1st Timothy…