Kim Riddlebarger asks, “What, then, should we take with us from this section of Mark?” [Chapter 3:20-35] 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 all of us that unless God … 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. Such was the case when I first read about the cities of refuge. But in … 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 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 Final Outcome: Fixed!
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 The cross comes before the empty tomb
Pastor Kim Riddlebarger on the Transfiguration in Mark 9: And so, while we look for God’s glory in Christ’s person and work (as Luther put it, in the cradle and on the cross), we also know that one day we will see the kingdom come in power. That will be the day when God raises the dead, … More Messianic Glory
Kim Riddlebarger concludes a sermon on the life of Samson, from Judges 15-16 As for application for us today, there is much to learn from the life of Samson. No question, his allegiance is to YHWH. No question, his sin–especially his dalliances with Philistine women–was his undoing. Like Israel during the time of the Judges, … More God chooses us and uses us…in spite of ourselves
Judges 10-12 is our Bible reading passage for today. In Judges 10:10-16 we read: And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you … More “Repentance,” exasperation and mercy
Pastor Kim Riddlebarger on Judges 8: In 1 Timothy 6, the apostle Paul warns us of many of the same things that Gideon brought upon Israel. He speaks of men who “teach a different doctrine[which]does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness.” Ironically, Gideon did this … More Gideon is the perfect example to us of how not to take for granted God’s work in our lives
