Christians should love the world of people and be concerned for their eternal welfare (John 3:16). This means to have compassionate heart. The command not to love the world in 1 John 2:15 has to do with the world of sin, the universal system organized by Satan against God and His rule. We must never become attached and devoted to the ways of the world. This is what is meant by worldliness.
Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY “HEBREWS 12:1-7” (LET GOD TRIAN YOU)
SPIRITUAL BATTLE GEAR: Paul told the Ephesian believers they needed to equip themselves for spiritual battle, just as the Roman soldiers of his day put on their battle gear to get ready for war.
Perhaps you have wanted to pray for a friend and didn’t know what to say. When a friend is sick or in trouble, what to pray for is usually obvious. But what about the so-called normal times? What do we say to God after “Please bless my friend”? Paul and Timothy’s travel took them to many cities. They met dozens of people, yet they were concerned about each young church and each young believer. They had heard good things about the
The Good News is powerful and life changing. It’s the true story of Jesus Christ coming to earth as a human to give His life as a sacrifice and payment for our sins. Through Jesus we have an open door to God’s forgiveness and eternal life. The Good News is full of hope, and responding to Jesus is the start of a new life. God’s Holy Spirit makes us a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5: 17). We’re not just turning over a new leaf; we are starting a new life and putting Jesus in charge.
Continue reading HOW DOES THE “GOOD NEWS” ACTUALLY CHANGE A PERSON’S LIFE?
“No,” I said to myself, “I won’t do it. I’ll not make them unhappy with another painful visit.” For if I make you sad, who is going to make me happy? You are the ones to do it, and how can you if I cause you pain? That is why I wrote as I did in my letter, so that you will get things straightened out before I come. Then, when I do come, I will not be made sad by the very ones who ought to give me greatest joy. I felt sure that your happiness was so bound up in mine that you would not be happy either unless I came with joy.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY 2 CORINTHIANS 2: 1-11(FORGIVENESS AND ACCEPTANCE)
The Bible sets forth the fundamental teachings of the Christian faith. The early church lived according to these doctrines and preserved them for us today. Let us focus our attention on how the New Testament present Christianity.
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (NEW TESTAMENT DOCTRINES)
JESUS’ USE OF LANGUAGE
(Matthew 7: 3-5).
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother. Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye: and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Because of Rebekah’s kindness to him, Abraham’s servants presented her with gifts of jewelry. The “earring” was actually a nose ring. The servant said later that he had put this piece of jewelry “upon her face” (Gen 24:47).
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (JEWELRY FOR THE NOSE AND ARM)
Matthew and Luke include the phrase in their reports of John the Baptist’s announcement concerning the baptism that Jesus will bring. Mark and John do not report it. What did John the Baptist mean?
Continue reading WHAT IS BAPTISM “WITH FIRE”? (MATTHEW 3:11)