So look for statements about God’s promises as we read these verses [2 Cor 1:17-22] Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been … More Better Promises
“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.” “Like a child.” What does Jesus mean? Coty Pinckney on Mark 10:13-16, “Childlike Faith, Childlike Giving” Does He mean: (1) Children are perfect? If you believe that, I welcome you to spend one … More How do we “receive the kingdom of God like a child”?
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness, tremble before him, all the earth! Psalm 96:9 Spurgeon, from the Treasury of David: Beauty of architecture and apparel he does not regard; moral and spiritual beauty is that in which his soul delighteth. Worship must not be rendered to God in a slovenly, sinful, superficial manner; … More Spurgeon: A sacred trembling which is quite consistent with joy
In 1 Samuel 5, we see an example of God’s sense of humor. The people of Israel were using the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm, taking it to battle with them. Their enemies, the Philistines, ended up slaughtering them and capturing the Ark. The Philistines placed it in their temple before … More God’s sense of humor?
1 Samuel 3-5 describes a very dark period in the history of Israel. In 1 Samuel 4:10-11 we read, “ So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. And the ark of God was … More Draw near in the dark days
In Him we have set our firm hope, that he will deliver us, as you join in working for us by prayer, so that the blessing that comes to us from the prayers of many persons might result in thanksgiving to God by many as they see our deliverance. —2 Corinthians 1 Pastor Coty Pinckney asks: … More What is prayer? Is prayer effective?
And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” —Mark 9:35 Pastor Kim Riddlebarger, at the Riddleblog: From these sayings of Jesus, three important themes emerge. First, membership in the kingdom of God is bestowed upon us, we don’t earn it. The very idea that membership … More As he denied himself, so must we.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.—Psalm 95:3 Charles Spurgeon, from the Treasury of David: No doubt the surrounding nations imagined Jehovah to be a merely local deity, the god of a small nation, and therefore one of the inferior deities; the psalmist utterly repudiates such an idea. Idolaters … More A great King above all gods
And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. As we begin our readings of 1 & 2 Samuel this month, … More Hannah’s Psalm
If you are following the read-through-the-Bible plan with us, you have come to the end of Romans today.(or you will finish in the next five days of catch up time) John Piper closed his sermon series on Romans with a prayer. Here is the conclusion of that prayer, Jesus Christ in the Book of Romans, But … More Embracing Christ and His work on the Cross
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 