Matthew 7:15-23 contains a two-sided warning about false believers. There are those who appear respectable and wise, but you must look at their fruit to know if they are the real deal. In the same way, it’s possible for a person to claim to follow Jesus, referring to Him as “Lord,” when they are not…
The Narrow and the Wide
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. As Jesus nears the conclusion of the Sermon on…
Miracles of Jesus
On Wednesday evenings we are looking at the miracles of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. So far we have looked at three miracles of Jesus casting out demons, two of the three resurrection miracles, and the healing of a woman with a prolonged bleeding problem. This week we move into Luke 7 which records…
The Story of Lazarus
In our Wednesday evening Bible Study we have been looking at the account of the resurrection of Lazarus, found only in John 11:1-44. Here is a quick review of what we have looked at so far: Jesus has left the vicinity of Jerusalem to avoid hostile religious leaders (John 10:38-40). While gone, He receives word…
Matthew 7:9-11
This week we resume our series from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” recorded for us in Matthew 5-7. In Matthew 7:9-11 Jesus continues his teaching on prayer from the previous two verses. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus said we should ask, seek, and knock and those who do will receive, find, and have the door opened….
What About Easter?
Most congregations of the “church of Christ” do not formally recognize “Easter Sunday” as a religious holiday or special day to commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Most commemorate this event on the “first day of the week” following the example preserved for us in Acts 20:7 “On…
Preach the Word
2 Timothy 4:1-8 contains Paul’s last ministry instructions to Timothy. Paul knows that he will not survive his current imprisonment. So, he clearly and boldly charges Timothy—commands him—to hold to the faith he has seen and lived. Timothy can do this knowing that Paul has faithfully served God, expecting the heavenly rewards given to all…
John 11
In our Wednesday Bible Study we have been going through the miracles of Jesus. Over the past few weeks we have been looking at Jesus’ miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, recorded only in the gospel of John (John 11:1-44). Last week we focused on Jesus’ interaction with Lazarus’ sister Martha, recorded in verses…
Don’t be a Hypocrite
We have been working our way through Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” over the past several weeks. One of the things Jesus does in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is call out the hypocritical practices of some of Judea’s religious leaders. One thing that drives seekers away from the church is hypocrisy so…
Ask, Seek, and Knock
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus is calling us to a…