Would you be surprised to learn that some people weren’t buying what Jesus was selling? I’m not talking about the religious leaders who often confronted him. I’m talking about the crowds of people who followed him. As we continue studying John 6, the people who just the day before wanted to make him king, nowContinue reading “Selfish Christian views about Jesus, worship and church – John 6:22-51, Part 3”
Tag Archives: abundant life
How to know if you are a true believer – John 5:16-30, Part 5
How do you know if you are a true believer? Many people have wondered, and sometimes their wondering has caused anxiety. Some of have said, “Well, we won’t know until we get heaven.” But is that true? Thankfully, no. Jesus says there is a way to know now if a person is a true believer.Continue reading “How to know if you are a true believer – John 5:16-30, Part 5”
How Jesus brings us life – John 5:16-30, Part 4
As we learned in the previous post, Jesus not only disobeyed the law, he said that could do so because he is God. Thus he put himself in a very precarious position. Some of the most powerful leaders in the land want to kill him on what they believe are justifiable grounds. What will JesusContinue reading “How Jesus brings us life – John 5:16-30, Part 4”
What I learned about God’s wrath – John 3:22-36, Part 5
If you’ve been a Christian for a few months, and during that time you’ve attended worship services at a church, my guess is that you’ve heard songs that mention God’s wrath. The song, “In Christ Alone,” says “the wrath of God was satisfied” when Jesus died on the cross. And “The Battle Hymn of theContinue reading “What I learned about God’s wrath – John 3:22-36, Part 5”
What do kindness and heaven have to do with one another? – Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness, Part 3
In the previous post, we read Paul’s words in Galatians 5 where he writes that if you are regularly demonstrating hatred, discord, and fits of rage, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Is Paul saying that if we are not kind, we cannot go to heaven? “Paul,” you might say, “I thought you wroteContinue reading “What do kindness and heaven have to do with one another? – Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness, Part 3”
James Dean, long strides and the Holy Spirit? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Part 1
One of my parents’ neighbors is quite a character. He’s lived on their street before my parents moved there in the mid-1980s, and he is probably about 5 years older than me. He has classic car hot rods, and during his late teens and 20s he would rev the engine every morning before going toContinue reading “James Dean, long strides and the Holy Spirit? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Part 1”
How to enter the Kingdom of God – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 5
After illustrating the acts of the sinful nature, as we learned in the previous post on Galatians 5:16-26, Paul has a clear warning for the people. Look at the end of verse 21, “If we live according the desires and indulgences of the sinful nature, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” That’s aContinue reading “How to enter the Kingdom of God – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 5”
The Kingdom of God is within you – Mark 11, Part 4
What is the Kingdom of God? Jesus himself taught about it, almost from the very beginning of his ministry. As we continue studying the events of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry on the very first Palm Sunday, we’ve been following Mark’s account in Mark 11. Mark tells us that the people in the crowd, as Jesus rodeContinue reading “The Kingdom of God is within you – Mark 11, Part 4”
An answer to “Does God Keep His Promises?” – Ezekiel 34, Part 5
In the previous post, we read God’s description of human flourishing in Ezekiel 34. Some might say, “But wasn’t that a promise to the people of Israel?” Yes…and no. A case could be made that what God is saying is applicable to all people. But what about Christians? Doesn’t the New Testament only talk aboutContinue reading “An answer to “Does God Keep His Promises?” – Ezekiel 34, Part 5″
The answer to the meaning of life – Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26, Part 5
At the beginning of this five-part blog series on Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26, I showed you Ed Ames’ song, “Who Will Answer?”, a song that is really asking, who brings meaning to life? As we have seen all week long, while humanity tries to answer that question many way, it is only God who has the answer. Continue reading “The answer to the meaning of life – Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26, Part 5”
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