April 11 Joshua 24

April 11 Joshua 24 (ESV) The Covenant Renewal at Shechem 24:1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers … More April 11 Joshua 24

Where’s the fruit?

J. C. Ryle on Mark 4:1-20 These verses contain the parable of the sower. Of all the parables spoken by our Lord, none is probably so well-known as this. There is none which is so easily understood by all, from the gracious familiarity of the figures which it contains. There is none which is of … More Where’s the fruit?

Restore us, O God

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! —Psalm 80: 3, 7, 19 Restore us, O God. Turn us back to You.  Change us.  Change our character, if not our circumstances.  We need YOU, O God. Let Your face shine… we want to see You.  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine … More Restore us, O God

A warning not to turn away

We are nearing the end of Joshua this week, by reading Joshua 22-23 today. Kim Riddlebarger, Senior Pastor at Christ Reformed Church, opened and closed his sermon on Joshua 23 with these comments: When Moses died, the people of Israel surely thought he could never be replaced. Years later when Joshua says farewell to his people, there can … More A warning not to turn away

April 10 Mark 4:1-20

April 10 Mark 4:1-20 (ESV) The Parable of the Sower 4:1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them … More April 10 Mark 4:1-20

April 10 Psalm 80

April 10 Psalm 80 (ESV) Restore Us, O God To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm. 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come … More April 10 Psalm 80

April 10 Joshua 22-23

April 10 Joshua 22-23 (ESV) The Eastern Tribes Return Home 22:1 At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. 3 You have not forsaken your … More April 10 Joshua 22-23

Stepping on a few toes…

Paul steps on a few Corinthian toes in today’s reading in 1 Corinthians 7:17-40. John Piper comments: [1 Corinthians 7] Verse 19 says literally, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God (is everything).” That was about the most offensive thing Paul could say to a Jew: Circumcision is nothing. … More Stepping on a few toes…

Grant us eyes to see

Kim Riddlebarger asks, “What, then, should we take with us from this section of Mark?” [Mark 3:20-35, from our Bible reading plan today.] The very fact that so many different and diverse people witnessed the miracles of Jesus with their own eyes and yet did not understand his mission or understand who he was, should remind … More Grant us eyes to see