Category Archives: witness
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
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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
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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: 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: way to God’s coming city
Hebrews 13:1-19. Jesus is the only one who has finished the race. He now stands at the finish line, encouraging us to endure the race, so that we can get to the goal: the city that is to come (14). … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, perseverance, witness, works
Tagged Hebrews 13
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only Jesus: rewarder of God’s faithful
Hebrews 10:19-39. Jesus is Lord of our future. What he has done for us only makes sense in the light of what he will do. As we see the day of his coming drawing near, it only … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, confession, destruction in hell, faithfulness, Jesus Christ, judgment, kingdom of God, missions, perseverance, preparation, second coming, suffering, will of God, witness
Tagged Hebrews 10
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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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responding to heaven’s king
Matthew 28 Matthew does not describe the resurrection itself. He assumes it. To him, it is the most certain reality in the world. Instead, he turns our attention to the responses that first Easter morning—responses that still echo in … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, courage, kingdom of God, obedience, witness, worship
Tagged Matthew 28
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the death of heaven’s king
Matthew 27:27–66 Matthew wants us to feel the weight of what Jesus endured—not only the physical agony, but the profound abandonment that surrounded His death. The One who deserved honor received mockery. The One who deserved worship received scorn. … 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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Devotions 