Category Archives: giving

after faith: body life

James 5:13-20.   James shows that faith in Christ is more than a personal conviction.  It leads to body life.  Genuine faith in a community means that the whole body of believers: prays for one another (14). confesses to one another … Continue reading

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evangelism: ministry and fellowship

Romans 15:14-33.   We have seen that the whole of Romans has to do with evangelism.  As Paul begins to conclude his letter, he describes that work using two metaphors.     Paul’s work of bringing the gospel to the Gentiles … Continue reading

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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

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religion and heaven’s king

Matthew 6:1-18.  Jesus did not oppose practicing acts of religious piety, but he warned his disciples not to practice them to gain a present “reward” (1,2,4,5,6,16,18).  There will be rewards in the future, but disciples should focus their attention on … Continue reading

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mission: send, support, serve

Titus 3:12-15.  Paul’s final instructions to Titus give a job description for the church and explain how each local church can continue to be involved in the mission of reaching the lost world for Jesus Christ. He instructs Titus that … Continue reading

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aiming at what is honorable

2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15.   Paul is sending two men to collect a contribution from the believers in Corinth.  He has been collecting funds from the Gentile churches to help those in Jerusalem who have been hard hit by famine.  He is … Continue reading

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