Category Archives: grace
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: sick and social outcasts
Mark 2–3 Jesus didn’t only call fishermen. He also called Levi, son of Alphaeus — the man we know as Matthew. A tax collector. A collaborator with Rome. A man the religious elite would have crossed the street to … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, evangelism, grace, Jesus Christ, witness
Tagged Mark 2, Mark 3
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only Jesus: access to God’s presence
Hebrews 8:1-9:10. God had revealed a pattern in the old Jerusalem temple that predicted what Jesus has now accomplished for us in the heavenly temple. Under the old covenant, access to the presence of God was restricted. Only the priests … Continue reading
Posted in atonement, confidence, deliverance, grace, Jesus Christ, prayer, redemption, worship
Tagged Hebrews 8, Hebrews 9
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only Jesus: guarantor of God’s better covenant
Hebrews 7. The new covenant put into effect by Jesus is so much better than the old instituted by Moses. The author of Hebrews proves this by showing why Jesus has “become a high priest forever after the order of … Continue reading
Posted in confidence, deliverance, forgiveness, grace, Jesus Christ, peace, redemption, relationship with God
Tagged Hebrews 7
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only Jesus: source of God’s grace
Hebrews 4:14-5:10. Jesus is one of us. He understands us. He knows what makes us tick. When we fail, he knows why. We can come to him, pleading for mercy and grace again, because he is able to sympathize with … Continue reading
Posted in church, confession, forgiveness, grace, Jesus Christ, mercy
Tagged Hebrews 4, Hebrews 5
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only Jesus: provider of God’s rest
Hebrews 3:7-4:13. Moses offered a promised land and took his people to a place of rest, but they were not able to enter God’s rest because of their disobedience. Now Jesus offers God’s Sabbath rest. This is the rest of … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, grace, Jesus Christ, obedience, works
Tagged Hebrews 3, Hebrews 4
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the innocence of heaven’s king
Matthew 27:1–26 Matthew slows the narrative so we cannot miss the central truth: Jesus is innocent, yet every human hand around Him participates in condemning Him. Judas, the very man who betrayed Him, suddenly feels the crushing weight of … Continue reading
the last supper of heaven’s king
Matthew 26:1-29. The officials in Jerusalem are even now plotting to have Jesus arrested and killed. A woman anoints him with expensive oil, and Jesus allows the extravagance because she is preparing him for burial. Judas conspires to betray him. … Continue reading
Posted in church, deliverance, grace, second coming, the cross, witness
Tagged Matthew 26
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grace, equality, and heaven’s king
Matthew 19:1-20:16. In each of the stories Matthew records here, there is someone who considers himself better than someone else. The lesson is about God’s grace – how it levels the playing field and makes us all equal. The Pharisees … Continue reading
Posted in discipleship, equality, eternal life, grace, judgment, second coming
Tagged Matthew 19, Matthew 20
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a day in the life of heaven’s king
Matthew 14. Herod celebrated his birthday by murdering John the Baptist. It was a tragedy for the kingdom of heaven brought about by the lust and fear of one of earth’s kings. Later, when Herod learned of the success … Continue reading
Posted in courage, deliverance, dependence upon God, discipleship, faith, grace, ministry
Tagged Matthew 14
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Devotions 