Imagine for a moment that there was a person living in the city of Philippi in the first century who decided to visit the church one Sunday. This person walked in and asked, “What kind of church is this?” If you were there in the first century and heard that question asked, would it strike you odd? Think about it. In the first century, there was…

The apostle John wrote a short note to a good friend of his named Gaius. In some of our notes today, we might say something like, “I hope you are doing well.” John sort of said that, but he placed a pretty heavy qualifier on it. John said to his friend, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health,…

For many people, it’s their favorite day of the year because it’s “their day.” Some people will take off of work. Some will treat themselves to something special. Afterall, it only comes around once a year. Celebrate it. It’s “my birthday”! You know what day is better than your date of birth? Your date of new birth! Your spiritual birthday! Do you know what day you were baptized? That was (and…

Maybe you’ve experienced something like this with your kids (and maybe your spouse, but we’ll just go with your kids for this one). Your kid is in the back seat of the car talking to you but has been talking for so long about so many random (non-sensical, sometimes) things that you’ve just zoned out. They’re talking but you’re not really paying attention. Then comes…

There is an interesting statement in 1 John 3:9 that has confused some folks. Some translations read that the one who “has been born of God does not sin” and “he cannot sin.” What does that mean that “he cannot sin”? It cannot mean that a Christian does not actually sin and that he is unable to sin, because in the first chapter, John said,…

A friend of mine was in a car accident recently. It was his fault. The couple in the other car was a bit shaken up, so after the police wrote up the report, he gave the couple a ride to the place they were going. Before they got out of the car, he said a prayer with them. Over the next few weeks, he interacted with…

While Moses was with God on Mount Sinai, the Lord told Moses that the people had “corrupted themselves,” in that they “made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it” (Ex. 32:7-8). Moses descended to deal with the people, meeting Joshua who had gone up with him (24:13). Joshua heard noise that he thought was the “noise of war in the…

At what point do you pay someone else to do something for you? At what point do you pay someone else to…change your vehicle’s oil for you…paint your house for you…mow your grass for you…do your taxes for you…walk your dog for you? The list of questions seems endless. But when faced with the cost factor, the convenience factor, the time factor, the personal preference…