When you are driving and get lost, what do you do? I used to pull over and walk in to a local gas station and ask for directions. However, with my smart phone and its map app, I do not need to “ask” but will figure it out with technology. Either way, I can search … More The ultimate map app
Kim Riddlebarger comments in a sermon on James 1:1-18, in our reading plan today. James makes very critical two points in these verses. The first is that God does indeed allow trials to come our way. The second is that sin arises in us (because we have a sinful nature), not because God somehow tempts … More Trials and temptations
John 1:19-28 is our passage to read today. Here are helpful insights from John Piper’s series on the Gospel of John: John the Baptist is a root partly under ground in the Old Testament and partly exposed in the New Testament. He has a foot in both worlds—a prophet something like Elijah (but not Elijah … More A root, a foot in both worlds
Ecclesiastes 2:1 (part of our reading plan today) I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. Solomon was searching. Searching for lasting satisfaction but pursuing it in all the wrong places. He became like a new freshman on a college campus, trying … More The Pleasure Test
Today we read Jeremiah 3-4 in our Bible reading plan. Here is Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. This is one of my favorite word pictures in the Bible: God is our Shepherd (Psalm 23) and Jesus, our Good Shepherd. (John … More The Good Shepherd promises shepherds after His own heart
Pastor Kim Riddlebarger on James 1 as we embark on reading James over the next two weeks: Joy is simply the knowledge that it is well with our souls, despite our present circumstances. It may not be well with our bodies. It may not be well with our job, or with our particular circumstances. But … More Even in trials, it is well with my soul
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. —John 1:1-3 As we begin our reading of the gospel of John, Pastor … More Treasure Jesus in His Infinite Majesty
And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a … More Unsatisfied until we find our satisfaction in God alone
Today we begin reading the book of Jeremiah. (chapters 1-2) Here is John Piper, in a conference message: “Passion for the Supremacy of God, Part 2” Sin is the insanity of forsaking the pursuit of your pleasure in God. Here’s the text: Jeremiah 2:12-13: “Be appalled O heavens, be shocked. Be utterly desolate, says the … More All heaven is appalled. Why?
Today we finish reading 1 Peter in our Bible reading plan. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. … More The God of All Grace
