church

  • 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 4

In 1 Samuel 4, Israel went to battle against the Philistines. They were defeated, losing about 4,000 men (1 Samuel…

3 days ago
  • Judges

Judges 20

In Judges 20, the 11 tribes of Israel gather at Mizpeh to address the murder of the Levite’s wife by…

2 weeks ago
  • Judges

Judges 18

In Judges 18, the Danite tribe was looking for land to settle in and sent five men to scout the…

3 weeks ago
  • Judges

Judges 17

In Judges 17, Micah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim, returns 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother…

3 weeks ago
  • Judges

Judges 16

In Judges 16, Samson visits Gaza and sleeps with a prostitute. The Philistines plan to ambush him, but Samson escapes…

3 weeks ago
  • Judges

Judges 15

In Judges 15, Samson visited his wife (from Judges 14) but found that her father had given her to another…

3 weeks ago
  • Judges

Judges 7

In Judges 7, Gideon gathers his troops near the spring of Harod to face the Midianites. However, God instructs him…

1 month ago
  • Judges

Judges 5

Judges 5 is the Song of Deborah, a victory hymn sung by Deborah and Barak after Israel’s triumph over King…

1 month ago
  • Joshua

Joshua 19

Joshua 19 - When the people of Israel finished dividing up the land, they gave Joshua son of Nun a…

2 months ago
  • Joshua

Joshua 15

Joshua 15 - Joshua 15 details the land allocation for the tribe of Judah, highlighting Caleb's victories in Hebron and…

2 months ago
  • Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 34

Deuteronomy 34 - So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the…

2 months ago
  • Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 28

Deuteronomy 28 - "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They…

3 months ago
  • Ezekiel

Ezekiel 15

Ezekiel 15 - The grapevine was of utmost importance to the agriculture of ancient Israel. Coming off the heels of…

3 months ago
  • Ezekiel

Ezekiel 13

Ezekiel 13 - Wow! What a relevant topic! For years, false prophets have been stirring up dissension in order to…

3 months ago
  • Ezekiel

Ezekiel 8

Ezekiel 8 - The people thought that because the temple was located in Jerusalem, their shameful acts of sin were…

3 months ago
  • Ezekiel

Ezekiel 5

Ezekiel 5 - Each person in Jerusalem was predicted by God to suffer one of three fates. Each of these…

3 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 24

Acts 24 - Paul now finds himself in limbo and at the mercy of the political system. He continues to…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 23

Acts 23 - "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 18

Acts 18 - Corinth had a bad reputation for being a city chock full of immorality. It was known as…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 15

Acts 15 - The first question we want to know is, who was right and who was wrong between Paul…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 13

Acts 13 - Paul and Barnabas visit multiple synagogues and work there way across the island of Cyprus from east…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 12

Acts 12 - King Herod never saw it coming. The grandson of the infamous Herod the Great was part of…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 11

Acts 11 - Unfortunately, the attitude that Peter experiences here in Acts 11 is all too common in our church…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 8

Acts 8 - It's an awesome thing when the Holy Spirit begins to transform lives and show himself in amazing…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 7

Acts 7 - I can vividly remember the old seat belt PSA that was shown on TV all the time…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 6

Acts 6 - We really have two storylines going on here. We have a great leadership move and a great…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 5

Acts 5 - The early church faced persecution from both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. After hearing the testimony of…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 4

Acts 4 - As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 2

Acts 2 - At the end of Acts 2, we read the three essentials that contributed to a fruitful body.…

4 months ago
  • Acts

Acts 1

Acts 1 - At the end of Chapter 1, the apostles have just witnessed the ascension of Jesus and are…

4 months ago
  • Leviticus

Leviticus 26

Leviticus 26 - First off, this is a crazy awesome chapter that raises many significant questions. In the most direct…

5 months ago
  • Leviticus

Leviticus 23

Leviticus 23 - There are several of these celebrations that were brought into modern-day by Christianity.  Passover = Good Friday.…

5 months ago
  • Leviticus

Leviticus 21

Leviticus 21 - This chapter primarily deals with the holiness of the religious leaders. We read that higher standards were…

5 months ago
  • Leviticus

Leviticus 19

Leviticus 19 - We read some strange laws in this chapter that are not easily understood by our culture. Skeptics…

5 months ago
  • Leviticus

Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11 - In Leviticus 11, God outlines both the clean and unclean animals. A general rule which was given…

5 months ago
  • Leviticus

Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1 - The book of Leviticus picks up right where Exodus left off. The opening verse begins with "Then…

5 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 22

Revelation 22 - Tree of Life The final chapter of the Bible bookends the story that God started in the…

5 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 21

Revelation 21 - There is a lot of crossover between what Isaiah writes in chapter 65 and the 21st chapter…

5 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 20

Revelation 20 - If someone comes up and asks you, "How do you interpret Revelation?" most likely, they are referring…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 19

Revelation 19 - After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven,…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 18

Revelation 18 - Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 17

Revelation 17 - We have already reiterated it over many chapters, but Rome stood proudly as a pagan symbol against…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 15

Revelation 15 - The divine judgment which was revealed by the seals and proclaimed by the trumpets will now be…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 14

Revelation 14 - First question I asked myself... who is Babylon? John, again, is writing symbolically here. Literal Babylon was…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 13

Revelation 13 - The First Beast At the end of Revelation 12, we read of Satan's rage. He sets out…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 12

Revelation 12 - The Woman It is out of Israel that the Messiah will come, therefore, it makes sense that…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 11

Revelation 11 - I think a major issue with Revelation 11 is the fact that it relies heavily on Revelation…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 10

Revelation 10 - This vision differs from the others for the simple fact that John is engaged in the action…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 7

Revelation 7 - God’s primary motive in our hearts has always been this: transformation. I think it's important to understand…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 4

Revelation 4 - The Throne We just recently studied the book of Ezekiel and Leviticus which have some strong ties…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 3

Revelation 3 - Lukewarm I remember several years ago going to a music festival in Kentucky called Ichthus. It was…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 2

Revelation 2 - Although these letters are addressed to specific congregations in the first century, I believe they are representative…

6 months ago
  • Revelation

Revelation 1

Revelation 1 - The comparison game. We all do it. When life throws us unpredictable storms, (and especially when we…

6 months ago
  • 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 35

2 Chronicles 35 - Armchair Quarterback (noun) a person who offers advice or an opinion on something in which they…

8 months ago
  • 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 30

2 Chronicles 30 - Hezekiah wanted to do the right thing. He believed that Israel and Judah should come back…

8 months ago
  • 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 25

2 Chronicles 25 - Amaziah is another example of someone who followed the Lord nominally but did not fully commit…

8 months ago
  • 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 7

2 Chronicles 7 - The temptation of reading this promise from God is to universally apply it to national and…

9 months ago
  • 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 22

1 Chronicles 22 - Though David served Israel in many ways, his primary role was as a military leader. He…

10 months ago
  • 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 9

1 Chronicles 9 - Psalms 99:5-6 ESV Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! 6…

10 months ago
  • 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 6

1 Chronicles 6 - One particular name that sticks out in this chapter is Hilkiah. An unknown to most people,…

10 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 62

Isaiah 62 - *If you haven't read the Isaiah 61 blog entry, it would be helpful for context. Isaiah 62…

11 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61 - Isaiah 61 is such an interesting chapter. In Luke 4, Jesus reads the first two verses of…

11 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 52

Isaiah 52 - God's people will be redeemed. They were sold for nothing but they will be bought back without…

11 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 47

Isaiah 47 - God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. You were secure in your wickedness; you…

11 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 34

Isaiah 34 - The idea of this chapter is that the Lord will conquer all who oppose Him. There is…

12 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 33

Isaiah 33 - The book of Isaiah is very clear. Trust in nations; destruction. Trust in God alone; deliverance. The…

12 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 20

Isaiah 20 - Let's first set the stage. Coming on the heels of Isaiah 19 and the oracle concerning Egypt,…

12 months ago
  • Isaiah

Isaiah 3

Isaiah 3 - Strong Christian leadership is important. Most likely during the time that Isaiah was writing this, the readers…

1 year ago
  • Colossians

Colossians 4

Colossians 4 - A very practical and important set of instructions are given here by Paul on how we should…

1 year ago
  • Colossians

Colossians 3

Colossians 3 - Ironically, the ethics listed here in Colossians 3 are not foreign to the Jewish law. No one…

1 year ago
  • Colossians

Colossians 2

Colossians 2 - Think of it in these terms. Any philosopher, theologian, scientist, professor or quantum physicist, whether Christian or…

1 year ago
  • Colossians

Colossians 1

Colossians 1 - Who has ever seen God? Jesus answered this question. "Lord," said Philip, "show us the Father, and…

1 year ago
  • Philippians

Philippians 4

Philippians 4 - As I introduced in my commentary on Philippians 1, we read in Chapter 4 that this church…

1 year ago
  • Philippians

Philippians 3

Philippians 3 - Have you ever met someone who always tries to one-up you? No matter how the story goes,…

1 year ago
  • Philippians

Philippians 1

Philippians 1 - He who began a good work... Paul qualifies the promise of God completing a good work with…

1 year ago
  • Ephesians

Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5 - For this reason, it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on…

1 year ago
  • Ephesians

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4 - And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as…

1 year ago
  • Ephesians

Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3 - It's one of my favorite prayers in Scripture. Ephesians 3:14-21. Once you really see and experience how…

1 year ago
  • Ephesians

Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2 - Many of us today live under the illusion that we simply can’t change. Hidden deep under a…

1 year ago
  • Ephesians

Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1 - The readers of this letter in Paul's day would have received a rolled up scroll that required…

1 year ago
  • Galatians

Galatians 6

Galatians 6 - The problem in the Galatian church was two-fold.  As we've already outlined, the Jewish Christians were loading…

1 year ago
  • Galatians

Galatians 5

Galatians 5 - The fruit of keeping the law is exposed here in Galatians 5. According to Paul, the devotion…

1 year ago
  • Galatians

Galatians 4

Galatians 4 - I admit that sometimes I get so caught up in my own wants and needs that I…

1 year ago
  • Galatians

Galatians 2

Galatians 2 - As we read in Chapter 1 of Galatians, Paul's message that he was delivering to the Gentiles…

1 year ago
  • Galatians

Galatians 1

Galatians 1 - Just like we see today in the political sphere, Paul was battling against two extreme views within…

1 year ago
  • Exodus

Exodus 38

Exodus 38 - The values are given here for the exact weight of the gold, silver and bronze used in…

1 year ago
  • Exodus

Exodus 35

Exodus 35 - Think upon the skills that were required of a master craftsman. Obviously, the person would be gifted…

1 year ago
  • Exodus

Exodus 29

Exodus 29 - From the beginning we get a glimpse of God's design for sacrifice. Consecration. This word was translated…

1 year ago
  • Exodus

Exodus 27

Exodus 27 - "You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for…

1 year ago
  • Exodus

Exodus 17

Exodus 17 - The team was assembled and ready to go! Joshua would lead the army into battle. This is…

1 year ago
  • Exodus

Exodus 4

Exodus 4 - Moses was uncertain about serving God, and his fears represent the same struggles many of us have…

1 year ago
  • 2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3 - In his final letter, Paul encourages the believers of the Thessalonian church to remain true and…

1 year ago
  • 2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2 - In case you haven't grasped by now, the Thessalonians were deeply concerned with future events. It's…

1 year ago
  • 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4 - What do we know about the coming of the Lord? Paul gives us a clue at…

1 year ago
  • 2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1 - Paul knew that the Thessalonian church was enduring suffering, and he wanted to continue to encourage…

1 year ago
  • 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3 - Dear Thessalonica, I'm burdened for you. Love, Paul In this chapter, we get a glimpse into…

1 year ago
  • 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2 - Paul covers a broad range of topics in this chapter. He starts with defending, and moves…

1 year ago
  • 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 1 - In the opening verses of this letter, we read Paul's words which seem to indicate he…

1 year ago
  • Jude

Jude 1

Jude 1 - Jude was one of four half-brothers of Jesus. In the Greek, the name Jude was synonymous with…

1 year ago
  • 3 John

3 John 1

3 John 1 - Gaius was the Greek way of writing the Roman name Caius. Believe it or not, there…

1 year ago