While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. —Ezra 10:1 Steven J. Cole comments: Ezra was prostrating himself and praying “before the house of God” (10:1). Shecaniah … More Repenting and Confessing
Steven J. Cole comments on Ezra 9: Because we are so desensitized toward sin, we fail to have the proper response toward it, whether it is our own sin, or sin in others. We minimize it, justify it, or ignore it and go on our way unaffected by it. If we see someone reacting in … More What is the godly reaction to sin?
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery … More “Proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world”
In our Bible reading for today, Acts 23:1-11, we read that Jesus stands by the side of the apostle Paul in his prison cell and says, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” Wow! Jesus is the great ENCOURAGER. Steven Cole, in … More The great ENCOURAGER
Pastor Steven Cole of Flagstaff, AZ preached a sermon on our Bible reading passage for today. Here is an excerpt from “God’s Mighty Power to Save” If I had just gotten beaten up by an angry mob that was trying to kill me, but I got rescued, I don’t think that the first thought on … More Addressing the mob that tried to kill him
When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he … More How do we discern God’s will?
Steven Cole, in a sermon from Acts 20:1-16, “HOW ONE MAN CHANGED THE WORLD” The apostle Paul changed the world as few other men have ever done. He lived in a day before jet airplanes or cars and paved highways. He had to go everywhere by foot, on donkeys, or by sailing vessel, none of … More Paul: How did he do it?
And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”—Acts 19:27 ESV Steven Cole comments on Acts … More Ask the eternal question
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began … More God’s work and God’s workers in process
Pastor Steven Cole of Flagstaff, AZ concludes a sermon on our passage from Acts 15:22-41 with these comments. You may click this link to read the entire sermon. During 1977, millions of people lined up at museums across the United States to view the treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamen of Egypt. It is … More We need God’s wisdom and discernment to know essential truth
