Genesis 21
Genesis 21 - In previous chapters, we may have been tempted to wonder, "Why has God stuck with Abraham for so long?" Commentators and scholars have wondered why the Bible is so brutally honest about the struggles ...
Genesis 20
Genesis 20 - Once again Abraham lied. Once again he told a foreign king his wife was his sister. And once again he was rebuked by a foreigner. It seems to me, in His grace, God withholds ...
Genesis 18
Genesis 18 - I have to admit, I'm not a great intercessor. I sometimes fall victim to the attitude that "the Lord will do what the Lord will do." But the Bible prescribes a persistent, faith-filled prayer ...
Genesis 17
Genesis 17 - The question we all ask ourselves at one point or another is, why circumcision? First, in the context of what God is speaking to Abraham, the covenant is dealing specifically with fathering nations. Circumcision ...
Genesis 15
Genesis 15 - God spoke, Abraham believed. Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 NASB I love that we see the first expression of the Gospel here between ...
Genesis 13
Genesis 13 - Between chapters 12 and 13, we see a spiritual maturity unfolding in Abram's life. His journey into Egypt illustrated his lack of trust in God's provision. Now, we read that he has decided to ...
Genesis 12
Genesis 12 - "Faith is not a mushroom that grows overnight in damp soil; it is an oak tree that grows for a thousand years under the blast of the wind and rain." Donald Grey Barnhouse None ...
Genesis 11
Genesis 11 - Josephus wrote of how the Tower of Babel originated from the heart and mind of Nimrod. "Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. ...
Genesis 9
Genesis 9 - Noah was unique in the sense that his life spanned two different worlds. He saw the corruption of the world before the flood and, unfortunately, he witnessed the corruption after as well. Overall, Noah's ...
Genesis 8
Genesis 8 - Mount Ararat and the Araratian plain, seen early morning from near the city of Artashat in Armenia. (Source: Wikipedia) The ark landed upon the mountains of Ararat (pictured) and the flood was finally over. ...
Genesis 7
Genesis 7 - The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding trough, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand." Isaiah 1:3 HCSB There are a lot of themes throughout the Bible ...
Genesis 6
Genesis 6 - What does the text mean when it says the "sons of God" saw the "daughters of men" were beautiful and took wives for themselves? The phrase "sons of God" is used in other places ...
Genesis 5
Genesis 5 - Genealogies are boring, but they are important. They provide historical context and fill in many of the factual details. It is assumed this is not a complete genealogy, because most Biblical genealogies aren't. With ...
Genesis 4
Genesis 4 - I'll be honest, this story has always confused me. Why was Abel's offering acceptable to God but Cain's was not? All we know from the story here in Genesis is that Abel offered the ...
Genesis 3
Genesis 3 - Blatant evil is not our greatest threat as believers; it is deceptive evil wrapped in a package of truth. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may ...
Genesis 1
Genesis 1 - In his book, The Good Book, author Deron Spoo gives us perspective on what we should treasure about Genesis 1. In his opinion, the primary purpose of this first chapter is to affirm that ...
James 5
James 5 - How should we respond to sickness and what is the church's responsibility? In Chapter 5, James gives practical advice with a balance between physical and spiritual. First, we read that anyone who is sick ...
James 3
James 3 - "Name-It Claim-It" Theology - believers have the power to speak anything into existence. You just have to have faith. Universalism - everyone is saved as long as they believe in some form of higher ...
James 2
James 2 - Not surprisingly, James fires out more questions for believers here in Chapter 2. Among them are several targeting unfair treatment based on stereotypes. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be ...
James 1
James 1 - There are so many believers I talk with who tell me that their favorite book is James. It makes sense. The book structure is written with direct language and plain explanations. James comes across ...
John 18
John 18 - "While human politics is based on the premise that society must be changed in order to change people, in the politics of the Kingdom it is people who must be changed in order to ...
John 17
John 17 - I cannot think of a more powerful prayer in all of Scripture. Through Jesus' words, much is revealed. Eternal life = knowing Jesus Christ and the one true God (John 17:3) Glorification on Earth ...
John 16
John 16 - They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they ...
John 9
John 9 - Jesus and the disciples are out for a stroll when suddenly they encounter a blind man. In the ancient world, blind people were especially helpless in many ways. They were easily manipulated and exploited. ...
John 6
John 6 - Jesus was not going to be defined by the people’s interpretation of who He should be. He came to do the Father’s will. Out of all the themes of this chapter, this one speaks ...
John 5
John 5 - Bearing witness to yourself is not reliable in court. Jesus didn't need to provide witnesses for His authority, but in His grace, He would. John the Baptist John's lamp testified to Jesus but he ...
John 4
John 4 - Jesus told him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe." John 4:48 HCSB Jesus used signs and wonders as a tool to lead people into faith. Later in His ministry, ...
Esther 10
Esther 10 - As Chapter 10 winds down, I can't help but reflect on the sovereignty of God. First and foremost, God had a plan. He knew exactly how this entire situation would bring glory to Himself. ...
Esther 9
Esther 9 - Historians have long criticized Esther for her decision to eradicate all those who stood against the Jews. Herodotus, a Greek historian, wrote that Esther was a cold and vindictive woman. To outsiders, justice can ...
Esther 5
Esther 5 - This is an interesting chapter. Many commentators and scholars will be quick to point out the timing was not right for Esther to make her ask. It's hard to know. Did God prevent Esther ...
Esther 3
Esther 3 - Haman was a descendant of Agag, the mortal enemies of the Jews. So, of course, when Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew it only compounded the issue at hand. Mordecai's choice not ...
Esther 2
Esther 2 - A little over 6 years ago, I was given a front-row seat to a miraculous event that I had never seen before. My wife and I had been unable to conceive for many years, ...
Nehemiah 7
Nehemiah 7 - After the walls had been built, Nehemiah continued to beef up security to ward off the hostile enemies. It was normal to open the gates at sunrise, however, Nehemiah determined they should wait until ...
Nehemiah 5
Nehemiah 5 - In Nehemiah 4, we looked at how the enemy engages us when we step out in faith to do the Lord's work. Satan and the world work externally to derail our progress, however, the ...
Nehemiah 4
Nehemiah 4 - This chapter is a case study for how the enemy works when you decide to follow through with God's calling. In Nehemiah 3, Nehemiah planned a strategy to get the walls up all at ...
Hebrews 13
Hebrews 13 - Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as ...
Hebrews 12
Hebrews 12 - Dear Weary Christ-Follower, Read Hebrews 12:3-17 Which is worse, the weight of sin or the discipline of Jesus? It's an interesting question to ponder considering we often complain about our lot in life. The ...
Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11 - The Hall of Faith. It is by far the most popular and most quoted chapter of Hebrews. Beautifully, the author articulates the power of faith and how it can completely change both our attitude ...
Hebrews 10
Hebrews 10 - If you are tracking with the author of Hebrews thus far, it may seem overwhelmingly theological. The second half of Hebrews 10 is a practical response to the foundation that has been established thus ...
Hebrews 5
Hebrews 5 - First, let's just point out that this chapter is deep! Here in Hebrews 5, we see two distinctive attributes of Christ's character. It was by humility He was given (by God) the title of ...
Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4 - The Law demanded perfection. This was the standard accomplished by Jesus. Despite our best efforts, we don't even come close. However, we continue to live in a society built upon works. Nearly everything we ...
Hebrews 3
Hebrews 3 - At one point in the '90s, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, and Andre Agassi all had an Official Fan Club, and I was a proud card-carrying member. I loved watching Andre Agassi when I was ...
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 2 - For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 HCSB It was ...
Hebrews 1
Hebrews 1 - We do not know the writer of Hebrews and honestly, it doesn't matter. The book is absolutely beautiful. Written with a unique elegance, this Holy Spirit-inspired author had mastered the principles of rhetoric and ...
Malachi 3
Malachi 3 - "Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. Malachi 3:6 HCSB Picking up on the truth of God's refining process, we read in verse 6 that He is ...
Malachi 1
Malachi 1 - Malachi's ministry would have overlapped with Nehemiah. The temple had been rebuilt (v. 13), and there was a presiding governor over the nation (v. 8), but the people were struggling with the same sins ...
Zechariah 12
Zechariah 12 - Zechariah's name means "The Lord Remembers" and in this chapter, we get a striking image of God remembering His Jewish people. Theology is not the most important thing here, but it does determine what ...
Zechariah 10
Zechariah 10 - What happens when we don't receive an answer from God as soon as we like? We turn to false gods and idols. We want to feel comfort, so instead of waiting on God we ...
Zechariah 8
Zechariah 8 - Oh my! There are few verses more worthy of our desperate pursuit than Zechariah 8:6. The verse illustrates a life of faith, trust, and perseverance. The LORD of Hosts says this: "Though it may ...
Zechariah 6
Zechariah 6 - The scene here is connected, though it might not seem like it on the surface. In the Bible, divine warfare follows a pattern that was common in the Near East: War-Victory-Kingship-Building-Celebration. Zechariah 6 shows ...
Zechariah 5
Zechariah 5 - Even though the Jewish people were brought back to their land, were forgiven of their sins, and were inspired by the Holy Spirit to complete the temple, God still had standards for them. What ...
Zechariah 4
Zechariah 4 - Verse 6 is the key to unlocking the truth of Zechariah 4. So he answered me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by strength or by might, but by My ...
Zechariah 2
Zechariah 2 - There is so much we could unpack in this short chapter of only 13 verses. It is rich with symbolism and prophecy. But I want to draw your focus to one section that stuck ...
Zephaniah 1
Zephaniah 1 - The twelve minor prophets are divided into two categories based on the time period of their ministry. Either they came before the Babylonian exile (pre-exilic) or after it (post-exilic). "Zephaniah is the last of ...
Nahum 3
Nahum 3 - God has declared the condition of Nineveh unrepairable. They have gone too far. There is no chance for restoration. Is this how you feel currently in a relationship or situation? There is no remedy ...
Nahum 1
Nahum 1 - The book of Jonah was God's grace to Ninevah, and Nahum is His truth. God would judge Nineveh. For some, the thought of His judgment invokes imagery of an all-powerful Being looking down on ...
Haggai 2
Haggai 2 - The main event of Haggai is the rebuilding of the temple, however, there are other several other storylines that run alongside this narrative. One such example is verse 13 where Haggai offers two opposing ...
Haggai 1
Haggai 1 - We just finished studying Zephaniah who warned of God's future judgment on Judah, and as predicted, they were carried off to captivity by Babylon. That bondage lasted 70 years until Babylon was conquered by ...
Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk 3 - O LORD, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Now do again in our times the great deeds you used to do. Be merciful, even when you ...
Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk 2 - What's the use of an idol? It is only something that a human being has made, and it tells you nothing but lies. What good does it do for its maker to trust it---a ...
Micah 7
Micah 7 - Consider the similarities of Micah's world and our world today... There is undesirable fruit all around Everyone is scheming, waiting for a chance to do evil People in authority take bribes as money trumps ...
Micah 4
Micah 4 - Micah's Messianic kingdom is nearly identical to Isaiah's in chapter 2. It will be greater than all the earthly kingdoms with many different people from many different nations. It will grow by teaching the ...
Jonah 4
Jonah 4 - Jonah 4 exposes a horrendous sin that all of us have been guilty of at one time or another. Judgment. Jonah loathed Nineveh. Actually, he hated the people of this city. He had decided ...
Jonah 3
Jonah 3 - God's mercy is on full display here. God showed mercy to Jonah and called him to deliver the message a second time. God was under no obligation to use Jonah a second time. However, ...
Jonah 1
Jonah 1 - Nineveh was both a great and wicked city. It was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and the Assyrians had a reputation for being extremely cruel. It was quite possibly the largest city in ...
Amos 1
Amos 1 - Nelson's Commentary gives an informative but concise background on the book of Amos. "The Lord sent Amos, a Judean, to Bethel to prophesy of coming judgment on Israel. But in Bethel, Amos faced a ...
Joel 2
Joel 2 - The plague of locusts would be devastating and overpowering. Their appearance would be like horses as they scaled walls like men and dodged arrows with speed and agility. The scene is poetic and reads ...
Hosea 13
Hosea 13 - Chapter 13 of Hosea brings much of the same for the people of Israel. How bad has it gotten? They are in the business of sacrificing babies to their false gods. And let's just ...
Hosea 10
Hosea 10 - Their hearts were faithless, devious, and deceitful. The KJV and Jewish Bible translate verse 2 using a different word. Their heart is divided; now they will bear their guilt. He will break down their ...
Hosea 7
Hosea 7 - "Two-faced and double-tongued,they steal you blind, pick you clean.It never crosses their mindthat I keep account of their every crime" Hosea 7:2 God exposes Israel's two-sided nature in this chapter. He compares them to ...
Hosea 5
Hosea 5 - "I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me." Hosea 5:15 It is such a strong statement. You know, this phrase is ...
Daniel 12
Daniel 12 - The prophetic events that Daniel witnesses are most likely referring to the end times. Here is what we know so far over the past several chapters... There will be a ruler who is over ...
Daniel 7
Daniel 7 - The prophetic part of Daniel starts here with Chapter 7. It is unlikely that we can know exactly what is being talked about here, or even the timing of these events. Scholars have differed ...
Daniel 6
Daniel 6 - I am simply in awe when I read these passages about Daniel. It is inspiring to think about what this mentality would look like in our current culture. I am so intrigued by it. ...
Daniel 5
Daniel 5 - "Though you knew all this..." It's a frightening statement. Consider the fact that Belshazzar didn't grow up in a "Christian home." His father, King Nebuchadnezzar, had humbled himself to the Lord at one time ...
Daniel 4
Daniel 4 - What do we make of these 7 years when King Neb lost his mind? "There is, understandably, no preserved secular record of this; but Abydenus, a Greek historian, wrote in 268 BC that Nebuchadnezzar ...
Daniel 3
Daniel 3 - I want to present three challenging points to consider within the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Would we really do what they did? Be honest. Most (or all) of us have never really ...
Daniel 1
Daniel 1 - There is some speculation (as there is with many books of the Bible) as to who actually wrote the book of Daniel. So, let's first dispel this myth that Daniel might not have written ...
2 Corinthians 12
2 Corinthians 12 - Paul's patience is evident in this chapter. The super apostles of Corinth could not stop talking about themselves. It is likely they boasted about their dreams and visions which they used to add ...
2 Corinthians 10
2 Corinthians 10 - Most likely, Paul was dealing with a false teacher or many false teachers who had infiltrated the Corinthian church and discredited his ministry and teaching. He pivots here in chapter 10 to bring ...
2 Corinthians 9
2 Corinthians 9 - Paul sarcastically (playfully) urges the Corinthians toward giving in verses 1-5. He mentions that they will be put to shame if he sends someone to collect their offering and they are unprepared. Paul ...
2 Corinthians 8
2 Corinthians 8 - Christians who believe the New Testament has little to say about financial giving have not really studied the Bible intently. Paul refers to giving money as 'charis' (or, grace) four times in this ...
1 Corinthians 14
1 Corinthians 14 - Gifts that are meant to edify the body, share with the body. Gifts that are meant to edify you personally, keep them personal. Paul's stance on tongues is clear. If there is no ...
1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 13 - The Greeks had four different words to describe love. 'Eros' described erotic love. It was the word used to describe sexual love. 'Storge' referred to family love. It described the love between father ...
1 Corinthians 8
1 Corinthians 8 - Knowledge can be like a puffer fish. It puffs us up into a state where our thorny exterior rips the flesh of others. Using food as an example, Paul illustrates that Christians who ...
1 Corinthians 6
1 Corinthians 6 - Paul's had some specific issues with the Corinthians in regard to legal matters. First and foremost, the disputes in question were between two believers. Paul is working under the assumption that Jesus has ...
1 Corinthians 3
1 Corinthians 3 - I want to focus on the beginning of this chapter where Paul addresses his brethren as being carnal. This term really just means someone who is dominated by the flesh. There is a ...
1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 2 - Imagine what it would have been like to be Paul. After conversion, he compared his Gospel to the disciples in order to validate his beliefs and share his experiences. Now, as he has ...
Psalm 147
Psalm 147 - Many scholars believe this psalm was prepared for use when the new city walls were completed by Nehemiah. What I find most fascinating is that the psalmist never grows weary of praising God. The ...
Psalm 146
Psalm 146 - Psalms 146:3 NASB Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. Dr. A.C. Gaebelein describes his conversation with an Orthodox Jew who interpreted this passage incorrectly. “He stated ...
Psalm 144
Psalm 144 - David is physically and emotionally spent. He pleads with God to be rescued. This is a common and consistent theme in the Psalms. However, it's also very relevant because we also struggle physically and ...
Psalm 143
Psalm 143 - Depression. An estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression characterized as a persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. As F.B. Meyer writes, ...
Psalm 139
Psalm 139 - Consider the fruit of knowing God and acknowledging that He knows us. Before pursuing God, we pursued our own ways. Selfish ambition forms a mirage as we fool ourselves into thinking God is not ...
Psalm 135
Psalm 135 - Our God is praise worthy in every age and season. No matter the circumstances, God is with us and for us. Often, it is hard to understand and believe this when we look around ...
Psalm 131
Psalm 131 - “Here we find the description of a humble, a broken and contrite spirit. It has well been said, 'All virtues together are a body of which humility is the head.’ How many Scriptures teach ...
Psalm 129
Psalm 129 - The enemies of God will not prevail. Even though it seems like they are winning, God promises to make right what is wrong. In our country, we don't really know what it is like ...
Psalm 125
Psalm 125 - It is a bold declaration, especially within the turmoil of our world today. Those who trust in the Lord will never be moved. Never. Think about that for a moment. Those who trust can ...
Psalm 124
Psalm 124 - The storms that God allows only further serves to reveal His power and glory within. When we are faced with opposition, we clench tightly to the anchor that we know and trust. In those ...
Psalm 121
Psalm 121 - The Lord is our protector. He is our strength and our refuge. He fights our battles. He does not sleep or slumber. He sees and knows all. He will protect His children now and ...
Psalm 117
Psalm 117 - Although short, this psalm packs a heavy punch. God calls all people to worship Him. The calling of the Gentiles (all people other than Jews) was in the plan of God from the beginning. ...