Here is a summary of the main point of Acts 12, the passage in our read-through-the-Bible plan today. It is taken from the introduction of a sermon by John Piper, “Execution, Escape and Eaten by Worms”: The chapter begins with Herod killing James the apostle of the Lord Jesus (v. 2), and ends with the … More Acts 12: If You Oppose Jesus, You Lose
A few comments on Matthew 8:18-20 “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go”: After witnessing the miracles of Jesus, many folks thought following Him might be more “glamorous” than it really was. I imagine that Jesus may have received many spontaneous offers like this. We, too, tend to buy in to the prosperity gospel … More Prosperity Gospel?
Acts 8:1-4 And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off … More Spreading through persecution
Matthew 5:43–48 You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on … More Treasuring the reward of heaven empowers you to love your enemy.
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2 ESV) C. … More Psalm 13: “How long?” or “Howling?”
Here are encouraging words from D. Martin Lloyd-Jones in “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount”– He [Jesus] came, I say, and lived and died and rose again and sent the Holy Spirit in order that you and I might live the Sermon on the Mount. Do not say it has nothing to do with us. … More God give us grace to face the Sermon on the Mount
God is sovereign and His Spirit leads us to the right opportunities for ministry. We see this in Acts 16:6-10…. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared … More “…concluding that God had called us”
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the … More Five Reasons This Prayer Is Relevant for Us
J.C. Ryle begins his commentary on Matthew 1: 1-17 this way- The Gospel of Matthew begins with a long list of names. Sixteen verses are taken up with tracing a pedigree from Abraham to David, and from David to the family in which Jesus was born. Let no one think that these verses are useless. … More Ryle: Nothing is useless in the Bible.
The opening words of the Bible: “In the beginning, God…” and then repeatedly, “And God said….” Here we are at the beginning of another year….. We are blessed with another year of God’s grace! God is at the beginning of it all. He is at the beginning of this year, too. And He speaks! He is a God … More Learning about a God who speaks
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 