Shame is an interesting emotion. Sometimes shame and embarrassment are terms that are used synonymously. What causes this emotion? Perhaps if I’ve done something that I should not have done. Or perhaps when others make fun of me. Or perhaps when I feel self-conscious about something from my past or an uneasiness about a current situation. There are, obviously, myriads of things…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 21)
As a quick and fun exercise, take a moment and turn in your Bible and read Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4 and Philemon 3. Essentially what you will find in each of these Pauline letters is that common…
Winter days up north can be kind of dreary, when you don’t see the sun for days and days. In many parts of the country, some storm clouds can be so dark that it can make the middle of the day feel like it’s nighttime. Where’s the SUN? We face similar affects in our hearts and our own personal lives. Some days can be rather…
Have you ever been in a worship service and all of a sudden you’re thinking about a Honda Accord? Perhaps you’ve experienced this brain tease, when a verse is read from the book of Acts about the Christians being gathered together in “one accord.” One accord? What does that mean? The expression “one accord” is used 11 times in the book of…
Following years of separation after his brother stole his birthright, Esau made his way to meet Jacob in Genesis 32. Jacob “was greatly afraid and distressed,” thinking that Esau may be coming to “attack” him (32:7-8). He made strategic preparations for the saving of his family, and he sent a “present” ahead of him to Esau, hoping to “appease him” (32:20). Note what Jacob said…
Jesus entered the city of Capernaum in Luke 7, and he was greeted by some “elders of the Jews,” who had been sent by a centurion to plead with Jesus to “come and heal his servant” (7:1-3). As they “begged” Jesus on behalf of this centurion, the elders exclaimed how “deserving” this man was (7:4). So Jesus made His way to the centurion’s house,…
In Luke 7, Jesus was invited by a Pharisee named Simon to eat in his home. While Jesus sat at the table, “a woman in the city” entered the scene. If it were not for this woman, we may not even have the record of this dinner, for the woman and Simon’s response to her are the whole focus. First of all,…
You know the song and will sing this in your head, “We represent the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop Guild. And in the name of the Lollypop Guild, we wish to welcome you to Munchkin Land.” Who did these Munchkins represent? You know it! You know because they told you, but you also know because they looked, sounded and acted the part of the…