Category Archives: discipleship
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
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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
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disciples: holiness and defilement
Mark 7:1-8:26. Disciples of Christ must seek for true holiness, and not settle for the mere appearance of holiness. Those who were considered super-spiritual in 1st century Judaism were those whose religion was based on ritual, taboos, or ancestral lineage. … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, discipleship, genuineness, holiness, humility, integrity
Tagged Mark 7, Mark 8
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disciples: preaching and hardened hearts
Mark 6. One of the facts of discipleship that we must be aware of is that our ministry will not always be accepted and appreciated. Many hearts are hardened to God’s truth. Even Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, courage, discipleship, evangelism, faithfulness, ministry, missions, obedience, suffering, witness
Tagged Mark 6
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disciples: privy to the secret
Mark 4:1-34. The outsiders who criticized Jesus and his ministry could not understand what he was preaching. They heard him talk about seeds and soils and wondered why he was giving agricultural advice. They heard him talk about lamps, baskets, … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, discipleship, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, preparation, truth
Tagged Mark 4
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disciples: fishers of men
Mark 1. Jesus chose four fishermen to be his disciples. He told them to follow him, and he promised to make them fishers of men. He was planning a great catch, and he invited these men to assist in bringing … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, discipleship, evangelism, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, missions
Tagged Mark 1
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only Jesus: great shepherd of God’s flock
Hebrews 13:20-25. In his benediction, the author of Hebrews asks his readers to bear with his word of exhortation. He hopes to be able to visit those to whom he has written, but if not, trusts that God would use … Continue reading
Posted in atonement, church, confidence, discipleship, Jesus Christ, new covenant, resurrection
Tagged Hebrews 13
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only Jesus: first to finish God’s race
Hebrews 11:1-12:2. The hall of faith contains a great cloud of witnesses. The typical understanding of this idea – mentioned in 12:1 – is that these witnesses are now in heaven looking down at the rest of us as we … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, discipleship, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, perseverance, sleep of death
Tagged Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12
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only Jesus: assurance of God’s hope
Hebrews 5:11-6:20. The author of Hebrews challenged his readers to live up to their profession. To him, it was not enough for a person to claim to be a Christian, then live a life of arrested development. The Christian life … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, discipleship, faith, forgiveness, growth, Jesus Christ, judgment, perseverance, scriptures, witness
Tagged Hebrews 5, Hebrews 6
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three questions for heaven’s king
Matthew 24. In verse 3, the disciples asked Jesus three questions about the future. Each section of the eschatological discourse answers one of those questions. Matthew 24:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him … Continue reading
Posted in discipleship, faithfulness, perseverance, preparation, second coming
Tagged Matthew 24
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Devotions 