This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. Remember how Paul first met the people in Thessalonica? In Acts chapter 17, we read the story. Paul went to Thessalonica after he got out of prison in Philippi. HeContinue reading “How to have the feeling of really living – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 4”
Tag Archives: faithfulness
Two words that transform our hopelessness – Advent Hope, Part 5
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 30 years who now works in international fair trade. Are you feeling any hopelessness about something in your life? Maybe you feel you’re losing hope within. If so, even if just a little bit, you might resonate with theContinue reading “Two words that transform our hopelessness – Advent Hope, Part 5”
The resolution of the crisis in David and Jonathan’s friendship – 1st Samuel 20, Part 4
David’s life hangs in the balance. But he has proposed an idea to his best friend, Prince Jonathan, in which Jonathan will try to discover if his father, King Saul, truly intends to kill David. Jonathan, though he doubts David’s interpretation of the situation, agrees to the idea. Jonathan will tell his father Saul that DavidContinue reading “The resolution of the crisis in David and Jonathan’s friendship – 1st Samuel 20, Part 4”
Is God concerned about how many people show up at worship services? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 3
King Saul is caught. He disobeyed God. But does he realize what he did? God asked Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites, but instead, Saul took the Amalekite king as a prisoner of war, and Saul allowed his men to keep a bunch of the Amalekite’s livestock. As we learned in the previous post, GodContinue reading “Is God concerned about how many people show up at worship services? – 1st Samuel 15, Part 3”
How to have hope amidst evil in the world – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 4
This week I welcome guest blogger, Jeff Byerly. Jeff is my pastoral colleague, friend, ThD classmate, and traveling partner! He and his wife Tasha have two daughters, a son-in-law and new grandbaby! As we continue studying the lament of Psalm 137, the psalmist recalls the vicious attack from Israel’s enemies that led to Israel’s captivity.Continue reading “How to have hope amidst evil in the world – Advent Psalms of Lament, Part 4”
How to use the… Shield of Faith, Part 5
I volunteer to help with CV SEEDS English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. During the current six-week session, I have been helping with childcare on Tuesday nights and teaching a Level 4 ESL class on Thursday nights. In the hours leading up to childcare or class, I can sometimes feel like I want aContinue reading “How to use the… Shield of Faith, Part 5”
How God is faithful when Jesus is on trial – John 18, Part 3
This week I welcome guest blogger, Emerald Scaffe. Emerald is married and together with her husband, has three children. She also serves on the teaching team at Faith Church. In spite of his life, Jesus was betrayed. As we continue studying John 18, we enter into a series of three trials, starting with verse 12,Continue reading “How God is faithful when Jesus is on trial – John 18, Part 3”
Four suggestions to grow faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 5
What can help us to grow faithfulness? In addition to removing the four roadblocks we talked about in the previous post, here are four suggestions that might help you grow faithfulness in your life. Serve people. Is there someone you have a bad relationship with? Serve them. Reach out in kindness to them. Sometimes itContinue reading “Four suggestions to grow faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 5”
Four roadblocks to faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 4
What causes people to not be faithful? See if any of these potential roadblocks resonate with you. Roadblock #1: Fear – If we have an opportunity to step out of our comfort zone, to step out in faith, we can be afraid that we can’t handle it. We hold back rather than trust God toContinue reading “Four roadblocks to faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 4”
The surprising definition of faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 3
In the previous post we learned that for faith to be true faith, it must lead to a life that is faithful. And that brings us to the surprising definition of the word Paul used in the Fruit of the Spirit passage. The word Paul used in Galatians 5:22, “faithfulness,” is defined as “the stateContinue reading “The surprising definition of faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 