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
Having just celebrated Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is exciting to have passages of Scripture that point us to Christ. Sometimes verses jump right off the page at us, even though we have read it before and didn’t see it. Did you notice the cities of refuge in today’s reading in Joshua 20-21? Here is … More Cities of Refuge Point to Christ, Our Great High Priest
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great … More The Lord uses panic and hail for His purposes
The next two months we will be reading through the Gospel of Mark. “Why study Mark? What is here for us?” This is a question asked and then answered by Kim Riddlebarger in a sermon on Mark 1:1-8, our passage for today: First and foremost, the Gospel of Mark is vital for us to study because in … More Riddlebarger: Good News in Mark
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger: It should be perfectly clear that all those whose names are not written in the book of life and have been judged according to their deeds, failed to stand in that judgment, and are, therefore, cast into the lake of fire, which is an apocalyptic symbol for unending, conscious torment in the … More Is your name written in the book of life?
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments on Job 40: Throughout the opening verses of chapter 40, the focus is on God’s sovereign work in redemption, often depicted throughout the Old Testament as YHWH’s outstretched hand. Job has no reason whatsoever to complain about how God does things. Yet in an eery way Job’s increasingly self-centered demand to be vindicated amounts … More Think your own right hand can save you?
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger gives us an important reminder: There is also an important pastoral emphasis in the Book of Revelation as well. John is seeking to offer hope and comfort to the persecuted Christians to whom he is writing. This becomes especially clear as we draw closer to the end of the book. Beginning with … More Jesus Christ wins in the end!
Revelation 17:1-2 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers … More Persecution, prostitution and the great pimp
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger, with some comments to help us as we read Job 37 today: Having considered the greatness of God’s purposes, throughout the balance of chapters 36 and 37, Elihu is moved to praise God for all his goodness, seen throughout the glories of creation. “God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher … More The greatness of God is beyond our understanding
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the … More They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
