For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  1 Corinthians 1:18, 25 As I was preparing to go...

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  Acts 2:42 Acts 2:42 includes the Greek word προσκαρτεροῦντες that is translated “devoted.”  Repeatedly in the Acts of the Apostles, this word is included to describe the life and the focus of the fledging Christian...

  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.  Isaiah 9:2   The German Lutheran pastor Hermann Dietzfelbinger wrote, “I have to preach and teach Bible classes, I am committed to proclaim the good news...

Be prepared!  The turning of the calendar from 2019 to 2020 will bring with it an endless amount of references to 20/20 vision.  From presidential candidates to fitness coaches, many will capitalize on the year by offering to fill what has been lacking in your lives.  They propose an alternate...

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Matthew...

Light for the Nations “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”  Luke 2:29-32 The season of Epiphany brings...

What’s in a name? “Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name...

Ponder Anew! But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  Luke 2:19  After the shepherds departed, the evangelist Luke notes that “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”  The referent of “these things” seems to be all the things associated with this particular...

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it.  It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.     Isaiah 35:8   For many people the...

“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.  For the...