From the Beginning Acts 1:21-23 Jesus chose twelve disciples to follow him, a number that echoes the twelve tribes of Israel. The number twelve, in Scripture, points to the people of God, called and saved by Him. But after Judas’ betrayal and…
Read more
Conquering Hate with Love John 17:14-17 Hate is a strong word. Every marriage counselor is trained to help couples avoid it altogether. If you “hate” your husband or wife, your marriage is over. Better to say that you “don’t like” some…
Read more
That They May be One John 17:11 Jesus met with his disciples one last time before his arrest and crucifixion. He talked to them about loving one another as he has loved them. He pointed out that they did not choose…
Read more
Can We Get a Witness? 1 John 5:1-7 The apostle John, author of three New Testament letters, a Gospel, and the great Revelation from Christ, is often called the “apostle of love.” He refers to himself as “the disciple whom…
Read more
The Ascension of Christ Acts 1:9-11 “What goes up still goes down / Where is heaven if the world is round? / The cosmonauts were first in space / to look for God, and find no trace” (Children of Time).…
Read more
Spirit Gives Birth to Spirit Acts 10:44-48 in Jesus’ famous discourse with Nicodemus (John 3:1-15), he tells the great teacher of Israel that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born from above, born “again.” “That…
Read more
Friends of God John 15:15-17 Remember what finally forced Pontius Pilate’s hand, and brought him to the decision to allow Jesus’ crucifixion? It was the Jewish leaders’ accusation that, if Pilate let him go, he would no longer be Caesar’s…
Read more
Keep My Commandments John 15:9-11 “If you don’t do what I want, I won’t be your friend anymore.” Variations on that line have been heard, I imagine, on playgrounds all around the world. I’ve certainly heard the line in my house. The…
Read more
Praise, Musically Speaking Psalm 150 During the time of the Reformation there arose the question of how to offer worship to God. Some Protestant Reformers believed that only psalms should be used in worship, and that even these should only…
Read more
God is Love 1 John 4:7-10 To say that something is something else is to make an “identity statement.” There are actually very few “identity statements” make in the Bible regarding God. We know that God is spirit (John 4:24) for example,…
Read more