Summary: As we look at Paul’s first and second letters to the Corinthians, we can gain much from his answers to the Corinthians’ questions and how he talks about his life as a minister of the Lord and apostle. Introduction In my last post, we began tracking with Paul on…
Summary: Paul describes God’s expectations for disciples of Jesus to grow in Christ in Romans. Through quick commands and slowed down exposition, Paul encourages us to live out Christian character in our everyday lives. Introduction In my last post, I talked about the character chains in the New Testament and…
Summary: In the character chains from Peter and James, we learn how God strengthens our faith with adversity, like weights on our muscles. They challenge us to grow in the pains of trials and struggles of this life. Introduction In my last post, I talked about the first two character…
Summary: No one likes to go through trials, suffering, and pain. But God can use these trials to strengthen the faith and character of Jesus’s disciples, and make us more like Jesus. Introduction In my last post, I talked about God’s goals in our spiritual formation. In this post, I…
Summary: I look at some of God’s goals and making us spiritually formed to look like Christ. Every disciple of Jesus learns God's goals through a lifetime how to grow closer to the image and example of Jesus. Introduction In my last post, I concluded my teaching on the Sermon…
Summary: Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with three illustrations of two ways. One way leads to eternal destruction while the other way leads to eternal life. Jesus describes the disciples who have an eternal destiny with Him, the ones He knows by name. Introduction In my last post,…
Summary: Jesus teaches the golden rule in a different way than anyone before Him. It sounds like it appeals to our selfishness, but it spurs us on to treat one another better, to consider another person’s needs before our own and fulfill them. Introduction In my last post, I finished…
Summary: We have already looked at Jesus’s open invitation to increase our faith and pray for anything. But in this second part of Jesus’s teaching, we learn that there are criterion for how to pray for any request and see God answer that prayer. Introduction In my last post, I…
Summary: Jesus’s teaching on asking, seeking, and knocking for our prayer requests challenges our faith, and gives us an open door to ask for more than we can imagine. Introduction In my last post, I talked about what Jesus really means when he says we shouldn’t judge others. In this…
Summary: Jesus tells us not to judge others, but other places in Scripture talk about judging others. What’s the difference, and how does the disciple of Jesus know when and how to judge others? Introduction In my last post, I talked about how Jesus’s disciples handle worry and anxiety. In…