Monthly Archives: August 2011
the living word
1 Peter 1:13-2:3. Peter encouraged the Christians reading his words to set their hope on something more substantial than human rulers or ancestors. God’s word alone substantiates the hope of the believer. God’s word explains how he ransomed us with … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, growth, holiness, scriptures, second coming, trust
Tagged 1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 2
Leave a comment
a living hope
1 Peter 1:1-12. Peter writes to Christians who are going through “various trials” which grieve them and threaten to steal their hope. He seeks to encourage them by reminding them of God’s sovereign plan. In the past, they were unsaved. … Continue reading
Posted in atonement, discipleship, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus Christ, suffering
Tagged 1 Peter 1
Leave a comment
disciples: appointment with Jesus
Mark 16. One must be cautious of commenting on the content of verses 9-20, since it is unclear whether these verses were part of what Mark originally wrote. If we regard verse 8 as the true ending of the Gospel, … Continue reading
Posted in church, discipleship, gospel, Jesus Christ, ministry, missions, witness
Tagged Mark 16
Leave a comment
disciples: absent
Mark 15. The disciples are conspicuously absent from the narrative in this chapter, although they have a prominent place everywhere else. They are not there in this chapter to speak up for Jesus when he is being accused and mocked … Continue reading
Posted in atonement, commitment, deliverance, gospel, Jesus Christ, obedience, plan of God, the cross
Tagged Mark 15
1 Comment
disciples: found napping
Mark 14. Mark highlights the irony in that Jesus had just warned his disciples to stay awake (13:35, 36) and then follows with several stories that show that they are found napping – literally and figuratively. Significant events are … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, discernment, evangelism, gospel, Jesus Christ, plan of God, witness
Tagged Mark 14
Leave a comment
disciples: questions about the future
Mark 13. Jesus and his disciples were on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple area – so vast that it covered 1/6th of the entire area of Jerusalem. Jesus had just “dropped the bomb,” indicating that it would be … Continue reading
Posted in discipleship, future, gospel, missions, second coming, witness
Tagged Mark 13
Leave a comment
disciples: contributions to the kingdom
Mark 12. Jesus continues to teach his disciples by drawing attention to spiritual realities they are observing in the physical Jerusalem. He points out a poor widow and her offering of two leptas – about 1/64th of a day’s … Continue reading
Posted in discernment, genuineness, giving, kingdom of God, love, money, works
Tagged Mark 12
Leave a comment
disciples: learning about faith
Mark 11. The disciples caught several visible demonstrations in this chapter, and learned about true and false faith from all of them. They saw Jesus curse a fig tree for looking like it might be fruitful, but not … Continue reading
disciples: fairness and the kingdom
Mark 10. The disciples learn a valuable lesson about the kingdom of God in this chapter: it’s not fair. It’s not fair that God intends marriage to last a lifetime. What if you find that you … Continue reading
Posted in destruction in hell, discipleship, grace, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, leadership, suffering
Tagged Mark 10
Leave a comment
disciples: no guts, no glory
Mark 8:27-9:50. The disciples learn something about Jesus in the events described in this section. They learn that Jesus is the Christ, and that he is going to come in glory, so people should listen to him above all others. … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, courage, discipleship, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, suffering, the cross
Tagged Mark 8, Mark 9
Leave a comment
Devotions 