At a recent church retreat I was approached by an older lady selling CDs of her folk music. She said she was from Bolivia, and I invited her to stay and be a part of our study that was about to start. She stayed, but she asked a lot of good questions, all of which were directed at finding out what kind…

The song “Will Your Anchor Hold?” is asking the question of your resolve. It also points to the anchor that has been afforded to us as servants of God. We have a confidence that none other can possess. However, it is conditional. The reason for our confidence is mentioned in Hebrews 6:13-20. This passage begins by examining the example of Abraham (Heb.…

I am amazed at the people the Bible doesn’t mention. There were untold thousands of people serving God with great zeal in the first century, doing amazing things and going to great lengths to spread the gospel. From my perspective that makes the ones that were mentioned all the more important to study. It is one thing to read about what the…

The Bible is full of examples of the faithfulness of man. We have some examples that are more prominent and famous. There are also examples that are more obscure. These seem to represent more of the common godly person. Epaphras is one that was faithful and fierce in his service but was not prominent in the pages of the New Testament. Epaphras…

It is within the realm of possibilities for Christians to get discouraged. Godly people throughout the Bible have struggled with living in a corrupt world. As we seek to live in accordance with a standard that elevates our living and raises our spiritual focus heavenward, there will be conflict. In that conflict, the fervor of our resolve is tested. Conflicts come through…

What many don’t fully understand was that God truly wanted to rescue them.   He sympathized with their fear of the future.   He really wanted to help them, but they kept getting in the way. He told them. “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is…

Jesus set us free from the shadows.   “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His Son” (Col. 1:13).  We have escaped into the kingdom, but a “domain of darkness” waits for those who want to go back. It isn’t that people want to be slaves. Most will deceive themselves into thinking they’re returning…

God rescued His people from Egypt.  When Pharaoh refused to let them go, God delivered a series of disasters to loosen his grip. When Pharaoh sent soldiers to recapture the people, God tore a sea in half to provide a way of escape. When these soldiers pursued the people through this same passage, God covered Pharaoh’s army with water. The Red Sea…