In our study this week through 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Paul writes that God desires to thoroughly our whole being: spirit, soul, and body. God wants all of it to be blameless. There have long been debates among Christian theologians about what the writers of Scripture meant by spirit and soul. Body we get. We engageContinue reading “How thoroughly God wants us to be changed – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 3”
Tag Archives: change
I wish there was a medication that would make us more like Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 2
A few months ago at a community event, a person waved to me smiling, and I waved back with one of those looks on my face that likely said what I was thinking, “I don’t know who you are, but you sure seem to know me, so…Hi!” I hoped they didn’t see my lost look.Continue reading “I wish there was a medication that would make us more like Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 2”
Be content, but don’t be – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Preview
Is there anything about yourself that you wish you could change? For as long as time, humans have tried to lose weight, get in shape, alter their bodies, learn new skills, and drop bad habits. We try to change jobs, change homes, and change relationships. Some of us are very dissatisfied with aspects of ourContinue reading “Be content, but don’t be – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Preview”
Evaluating placing our hopes in a political candidate – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 3
In the previous post, we learned that after the Israelite elders ask Samuel to give them a king, God warns them that while having a king might sound effective or powerful like the nations around them, it could easily backfire. That warning didn’t make a dent in the elders’ desire for a king. In 1stContinue reading “Evaluating placing our hopes in a political candidate – 1st Samuel 8-10, Part 3”
How to change your life – John 15:1-10, Part 3
Change comes in all shapes and sizes. If you want to lose weight and build muscle, lifting weights regularly can help. But how do we change our emotions, our struggles? Paul writes in Romans 8:29 that we are to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. Sanctification is the process whereby Christians, disciples of Jesus,Continue reading “How to change your life – John 15:1-10, Part 3”
How to change – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 4
How do people change? How do people who are following Jesus become more like Jesus? An extremely important way to begin is to humbly and teachably read his word and ask the Spirit of God to convict you of any sin in your life that needs to be changed. The next step is to shareContinue reading “How to change – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 4”
The all-important Step 4 of how God changes us – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 4
We learned so far in this week’s five-part blog series on Ezekiel 35-36 that God says that he will give us a new heart of flesh, and a new spirit. What Spirit? That’s the next step in the transformation process. Learn about steps 1-3 here. Now we learn about the all-important Step Four in verseContinue reading “The all-important Step 4 of how God changes us – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 4”
Steps 1-3 of how God changes people – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 3
How does God describe the process of human transformation, so that we are becoming the kind of people he wants us to be? We find out in Ezekiel 36, verses 24-32. Go ahead and read those verses and see if you can discern the steps of how God changes the human heart? Do you seeContinue reading “Steps 1-3 of how God changes people – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 3”
The critical first step to having a change of heart – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 2
This week on the blog we are seeking to learn if and how a cold heart can be transformed into a warm heart. In other words, can people change? If so, how? After learning about the prophecy against Edom in chapter 35, in the previous post, we now begin chapter 36, and God asks EzekielContinue reading “The critical first step to having a change of heart – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 2”
When a heart grows cold – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 1
Many years ago, my wife Michelle and I sat in the living room of a young couple listening, somewhat shocked, as only one year after having done their pre-marital counseling and wedding ceremony, one of them said to the other, “I don’t feel love for you anymore.” The other spouse burst into tears. How isContinue reading “When a heart grows cold – Ezekiel 35-36, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 