As far as New Testament letters go, first and second Timothy and Titus have probably dominated more of my time and study than any other books. To be perfectly honest, I’m not entirely certain why I’ve had such a fascination with these letters. Perhaps it’s because they were written to young preachers struggling to adapt to new towns, churches, and still faithfully deal with the struggles and challenges associated with ministry. To that I can relate. Not that I haven’t loved it with my whole life and heart, but it has been challenging to say the least.
Continue reading “An introduction to the letters to Timothy and Titus.”An introduction to John’s Gospel.
There was a time when I didn’t appreciate the Gospel of John as much as say, Matthew, but that has changed. All the gospels are unique and that’s part of the beauty, but John just seemed, well, odd. John presents Jesus in beautifully articulate words and ideas that require more effort. The gospel of John soars to the highest peaks in the New Testament. From antiquity, it was known as “the spiritual gospel” because of its focus.
Continue reading “An introduction to the gospel of John.”Easter is an important day for all Christians. It’s important because Jesus rose from the grave, victorious over death and sin, and promises the same to us. Numerous passages in Scripture equate that truth.
Continue reading “A lesson on Easter”This gospel account is the second book of the New Testament that was probably written by John Mark of Jerusalem sometime between 60-68 A.D. Tradition states that John Mark recorded the words of Peter, who recounted the teachings and events of Jesus Christ to Mark and then organized them into the second gospel account.
Continue reading “An introduction to Mark.”I read a story about a young girl who loved playing skeet-ball at the local arcade. The story talks about how the little girl loved the arcade and an exciting trip to the arcade. Once they arrived, the little girl asked her dad for some money. Not having anything smaller, dad hands her a twenty-dollar bill with instructions to get change in the amount of two fives and a ten. It wasn’t long before dad went searching for her, and as you can imagine, found her playing the skeet-ball game and having the time of her life.
Continue reading “Keeping it clear“I was recently studying the book of Romans and came across something extraordinary. As I prayed and reflected on Romans 8:26, 35, a completely new and encouraging truth came to my heart and mind.
We are never alone in this journey we call Christianity. We are surrounded by brothers and sisters, but sometimes that can seem distant and aloof. Occasionally, our struggles happen in the middle of the night when no one else is awake or available to help. Yet, we are never alone. We are never alone because we have two wonderfully loving, kind, and powerful intercessors.
Continue reading “Two Intercessors”The book of Galatians is a challenging and powerful book. Written by the apostle Paul early in his ministry (around 49-50 AD), it reveals one of the first serious doctrinal struggles in the church. The main issue at stake was legalism vs. grace. Continue reading “An introduction to Galatians.”
The book of Acts is a favorite of many in the church. It is perhaps the most widely taught and read book in the churches of Christ. Continue reading “An introduction to the book of Acts.”
For weeks, I have struggled to write this introduction. Most of my adult life, I did not really appreciate the gospel of John but with age and experience, things change. Continue reading “An introduction to John’s gospel.”
In Matthew 12:1-8, we have an interesting story of Jesus and his disciples walking through grain fields. As they walked through the field, the disciples were hungry and began to pick some grain to eat. Continue reading “I Desire Mercy and Not Sacrifice.”
Church, this time of year should be a time filled with joy. Our great God and Savior came to earth and was born. Continue reading “A Time to Rejoice.”
John is the author of the Gospel according to John and the three epistles bearing his name. As such, he is an important and interesting character to study. Continue reading “The Apostle John.”
Most scholars will agree that Luke’s gospel account and the book of Acts were written by a disciple named Luke. The Luke found in the New Testament is an interesting character. Continue reading “An Introduction to Luke’s Gospel.”
This gospel account is the second book of the New Testament that was probably written by John Mark of Jerusalem sometime between 60-68 A.D. Tradition states that John Mark recorded the words of Peter, who recounted the teachings and events of Jesus Christ to Mark and then organized them into the second gospel account. Continue reading “An introduction to Mark.”
One of the first things I want you to notice about Matthew’s gospel is the fact that it’s anonymous. Nowhere in the text does it clearly say who wrote it, but there is no need to worry about the authorship of the first gospel since the early church and scholars all agree that it was Matthew, the apostle. Continue reading “The Gospel of Matthew.”
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