December 2025 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Category Archives: genuineness
the Holy Spirit and real disciples
Luke 9:51-10:24. In this series of stories, Jesus and his disciples begin their journey toward Jerusalem. Along the way, readers learn how the Holy Spirit works in the lives of real disciples. Real disciples are not surprised when their master … Continue reading
Posted in discipleship, evangelism, faith, faithfulness, genuineness, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, missions, witness
Tagged Luke 10, Luke 9
Leave a comment
the Holy Spirit–exposed
Luke 8:4-21. How can we know that the Holy Spirit is actually at work in our lives, and that we are not simply deluding ourselves by religious talk and good wishes? Jesus taught that a true Christian is not going … Continue reading
Posted in discipleship, genuineness, gospel, Holy Spirit, patience, perseverance, submission
Tagged Luke 8
Leave a comment
The Holy Spirit loves much
Luke 7:36-8:3. Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus into his house. He respected Jesus as a teacher, and was curious to know what he had to say. He had problems with the people that Jesus hung around with. He probably tolerated … Continue reading
Posted in church, discipleship, genuineness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, love
Tagged Luke 7, Luke 8
Leave a comment
living examples
1 Peter 2:11-3:12. Peter encourages believers to demonstrate their faith in Christ by good deeds, through which they show the world around them that Christ can change lives. They must keep their conduct honorable. They must submit to every human … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, genuineness, holiness, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, witness
Tagged 1 Peter 2, 1 Peter 3
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: 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
Leave a comment
children of hell and heaven’s king
Matthew 23. Jesus pronounces judgment upon the religious professionals in Jerusalem and warns his disciples not to follow their hypocrisy. With seven prophetic woes, he condemns them for seven sins: They shut the kingdom of heaven in … Continue reading
Posted in courage, destruction in hell, discernment, future, genuineness, hypocrisy, kingdom of God
Tagged Matthew 23
Leave a comment
death, taxes, and heaven’s king
Matthew 17. A few disciples got a preview of Christ in his coming glory on the mount of transfiguration. They heard the voice of the Father himself say “this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, discipleship, faithfulness, genuineness, gospel, integrity, witness
Tagged Matthew 17
Leave a comment
Israel and heaven’s king
Matthew 15. Jesus and his disciples were in the middle of a concerted campaign to reach “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” with the gospel. They are proclaiming his message, and he is backing up their words with … Continue reading
Posted in discernment, ethnic Israel, faith, genuineness, integrity
Tagged Matthew 15
Leave a comment
Devotions 