Read Matthew 14:22-33. A metaphor is like a gas tank full of alcohol. It’ll get you going, but you don’t want to drive it too far or your vehicle will cough and choke. [How’s that for a meta metaphor?] And if you do manage to keep it going, the engine Read more…
Read Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44) There was a time when I found this parable dispiriting. You mean Read more…
Read Romans 8:12-25. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the Read more…
Read Romans 7:15-25 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I Read more…
Read Romans 6:12-23. Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. (Romans 6:12) After saying in chapter five that salvation is a free gift of grace through faith, Paul warns us in the first half of chapter six not to take Read more…
Read Romans 6:1-11 How can you who have died to sin go on living in it? (Romans 6:2) “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God.” “We boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God.” “Much more surely then, now that we have Read more…
Read Romans 4:1-5:8. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2) I believe Read more…
Read Acts 2:1-21 and 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13. And then keep going into chapter 13. A rushing wind. Tongues of fire. Tongues of other peoples. I’ve always had a fascination with spiritual gifts such as healing or prophecy or speaking in tongues. Paul names nine such gifts and seems to imply Read more…
Read John 17:1-11. I once heard the complaint that we don’t really get to know much about Jesus in the gospels. We see his activities, we hear his sermons, but who was the man? What did he love? What were his hopes and plans? What kinds of thoughts ran through Read more…
Read 1 Peter 3:13-22. A. The country is being torn into pieces. How then should we live? B. Unity is the most important thing. You are to be one in spirit. You are to love each other, have sympathy for each other, repay evil with good. This is your calling, Read more…