Hebrews 11:6 ESV “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” This word “faith,” in the original Greek, is “pistis.” It means belief, trust, confidence, fidelity and faithfulness. And, it means to be persuaded … Continue reading And Without Faith
Christian persecution
Great Persecution Against the Church
Acts 8:1a ESV “And Saul approved of his execution.” Saul, later called Paul, was a Pharisee. As a Pharisee, he was convinced that he should do many things to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth, our Messiah and Lord. So, he falsely imprisoned and persecuted many followers of Jesus Christ, and he cast his … Continue reading Great Persecution Against the Church
Full of Grace and Power
Acts 6:8-15 ESV And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with … Continue reading Full of Grace and Power
Enable Your Servants
Summary of Acts 4:1-22 Peter and John, apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, were publicly speaking to the people, proclaiming Jesus Christ crucified and having risen from the dead. But, the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the priests, and the captain of the temple were annoyed with the … Continue reading Enable Your Servants
His Glory and Praise
Matthew 20:17-19 ESV And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and … Continue reading His Glory and Praise
For He Freed You
Isaiah 53:1-3 ESV “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no … Continue reading For He Freed You
By Life or Death
Philippians 1:12-14 ESV “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord … Continue reading By Life or Death
Faith at Work
Galatians 5:1 ESV “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” As followers of Jesus Christ, what were we set free from? Certainly we are free from the punishment of sin, which is eternal death and eternal separation from God. We, too, are … Continue reading Faith at Work
A State of Emergency
Acts 4:1-4 ESV And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, … Continue reading A State of Emergency
Have Unity of Mind
1 Peter 3:8-9 ESV “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” We, as followers of Jesus, are … Continue reading Have Unity of Mind
Run With It 