John 3:3-8 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, … More Unsettling words of Jesus
Our passage for today, Jeremiah 13:23 says, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.” In the same way, the nature of a tree determines or defines the kind of fruit it produces. Jesus said in Matt 12:33 that the tree is known by its fruit. Apple … More Spot-changing and other impossibilities
Solomon now turns from a beautiful section (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15) about God making everything beautiful in its time, taking pleasure in God’s gifts to us, thanking and fearing our sovereign God… to the section which is our focus for today, verses 16-22. Solomon’s brief interlude into a vertical perspective quickly ends and he turns his attention back to … More Don’t forget the vertical perspective
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, … More What are you boasting about?
Bethlehem North Women studied the Gospel of John together in Fall 2018-Spring 2019. Teaching is available via podcast here. What did John mean when he referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God? In Genesis…. When Abraham was told to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, God provided a substitute sacrifice. a ram Before … More Behold, the Lamb of God
When you are driving and get lost, what do you do? I used to pull over and walk in to a local gas station and ask for directions. However, with my smart phone and its map app, I do not need to “ask” but will figure it out with technology. Either way, I can search … More The ultimate map app
Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. This is one of my favorite word pictures in the Bible: God is our Shepherd (Psalm 23) and Jesus, our Good Shepherd. (John 10:1-14) In Jeremiah we see MANY references to shepherds, both good and bad. … More The Good Shepherd promises shepherds after His own heart
Proverbs 30:8-9 …give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. Three life-saving requests: Don’t give me poverty: I might steal, dishonor … More Give me neither poverty nor riches…
From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.—Isaiah 64:4 No one has ever heard or seen this God. Our Bible reading for today suggests that in working for those who wait for him, God does … More Never seen a God like ours!
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Prov. 29:25 “Fear” in the biblical sense is a much broader word. It includes being afraid of someone, but it extends to holding someone in awe, being controlled or mastered by people, worshipping other people, putting your trust in people, … More Beware the snare
