Proverbs 7
Proverbs 7 - Verse 7 reads... "Once I was looking out the window of my house, 7 and I saw many inexperienced young men, but noticed one foolish fellow in particular." Proverbs 7:6-7 GNB The type of ...
2 Samuel 5
2 Samuel 5 - Every sports fan knows the term "bulletin board material." It occurs days or weeks before a big game when your opponent makes some kind of degrading or insulting comment against you. It's basically ...
1 Samuel 12
1 Samuel 12 - When our vision is blinded to reality, sometimes the most effective reminder comes from God flexing His muscles. It would be the power found in a storm that would shake the people's selfish ...
2 Timothy 1
2 Timothy 1 - The personal nature of 2 Timothy 1 really shines! Paul was such a gifted communicator and encourager. As he reflects back fondly on Timothy's faith and initial calling, he reminds him that God ...
1 Timothy 6
1 Timothy 6 - Paul bookends this letter by circling back to his thoughts from 1 Timothy 1. In that chapter, he introduced the problem Timothy was facing at Ephesus which was the deceptive doctrine of false ...
1 Timothy 2
1 Timothy 2 - As a child, I would sometimes hear my parents say, "As long as you are under this roof, you will live by our guidelines." Every parent must choose how they will govern their ...
Romans 16
Romans 16 - This is a phenomenal chapter that champions the role of women in the church. Romans 16 begins with an affirmation of a woman serving in a position of leadership. I commend to you our ...
Romans 15
Romans 15 - This week, I learned a very relevant historical fact that alters the way I read and understand the book of Romans. The very first house churches in Rome would have been comprised of mostly ...
Romans 8
Romans 8 - Christ lived a sinless life. He willingly gave Himself as a living sacrifice for our sin so that the judgment for sin would be satisfied. It would follow logically then, that if we are ...
Romans 7
Romans 7 - What is the purpose of the law? In Romans 6 we saw the law cannot make us righteous. In Romans 7, we read that the main concern of God is if we are bearing ...
2 Kings 2
2 Kings 2 - Discipleship 101 Elijah respectfully asked Elisha to stay and leave him alone, but Elisha refused to leave his mentor. After Elisha demonstrated such incredible loyalty and commitment to him, Elijah offers a special ...
1 Kings 22
1 Kings 22 - What's the deal with Ramoth-Gilead and why did they want it back? Ramoth was a Levitical city so it was considered important to the Jews. During King Solomon's reign, it was a key ...
1 Kings 14
1 Kings 14 - King Jeroboam decided it was time to seek the Lord, but only after his son was inflicted with sickness. In the past, the idol worship worked out just fine for him, but when ...
1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 - As we read in 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam’s kingdom was in a terrible state and God had a message for him. There are three different scenarios we see play out in this scene. ...
1 Kings 7
1 Kings 7 - Most commentators agree that it took longer than expected to complete Solomon's house simply because there was not an urgency to get it done, however, it is suspicious that more time was spent ...
Genesis 33
Genesis 33 - There are simple but profound lessons found in this story. How many times have we stressed over a situation that ended up going much better than we had anticipated? Jacob wrestled with God the ...
Genesis 27
Genesis 27 - What a story! As a Chicago fan, this is kind of like watching the Green Bay Packers play the Minnesota Vikings. There is no one to root for! First, we have Isaac. Though ...
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 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 ...
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 ...
John 13
John 13 - John would have known the story well. He (the disciple whom Jesus loved) was reclining against Jesus when it all unfolded, so this firsthand account is most likely as accurate a picture as we ...
John 3
John 3 - If we take a bird's eye view of chapter 3, we find that John is intentional about giving us stories that refute the familiar view of Salvation in ancient times. The Path To Salvation ...
Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah 13 - So, remember that guy Tobiah? Back in Nehemiah 6 he was one of Israel's enemies who formulated a smear campaign against Nehemiah to stop the construction of the walls. Now we read that while ...
Nehemiah 8
Nehemiah 8 - Why is it important to read and hear the Word of God? The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in ...
Nehemiah 6
Nehemiah 6 - Nehemiah is determined to fulfill the Lord's work and rebuild the walls despite facing every obstacle imaginable thus far. He has persevered during the mockery from his enemies and the turmoil from his own ...
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 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 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 ...
Malachi 2
Malachi 2 - God starts with the priests and then works His way down to marriage and divorce in this heavy-handed chapter. Rather than speak to the details, I want to look at the bigger picture. We ...
Zechariah 11
Zechariah 11 - The LORD my God said to me, "Act the part of the shepherd of a flock of sheep that are going to be butchered. Zechariah 11:4 GNB Zechariah was called to "act the part" ...
Amos 4
Amos 4 - My most interesting takeaway from this passage is simply the accountability to which God claims full responsibility for. Many times, we are quick to try and cover up the characteristics of God that don't ...
Amos 3
Amos 3 - How can two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going in the same direction? "They do not need to be agreed about everything. They must, however, wish to keep each others company, ...
Amos 2
Amos 2 - Amos 1 and 2 are really meant to be read and analyzed together as they are a review of the judgements from God. In Amos 2, however, we see God turn his attention away ...
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 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 ...
Hosea 3
Hosea 3 - What impacts me the most about this short chapter in Hosea 3 is the fact that God makes the first move. Scripture tells us in Romans 5... "But God demonstrates his own love for ...
Daniel 10
Daniel 10 - Today, prayer is endorsed as a personal remedy. Although this is true to an extent, it doesn't capture the big picture. A common misconception about prayer is that it's only for us. Daniel was ...
Daniel 8
Daniel 8 - This chapter is one of the most controversial and heavily debated chapters in all the Bible. However, there is still solid truth we can take away. First, we must realize that even the interpreter ...
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 2
Daniel 2 - What does Daniel's interpretation mean? He tells us that the gold represents King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian Empire. Three greater kingdoms would come after the reign of Babylon (silver, bronze, and iron). With each level, there ...
2 Corinthians 13
2 Corinthians 13 - When Paul first visited Corinth and established the church, he stayed a year and six months. Most scholars believe his second visit was between the two letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians and ...
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 ...
2 Corinthians 7
2 Corinthians 7 - "If one gives up easily, they can never walk in repentance, though they may perform acts of repentance." David Guzik On the surface, this may sound like a works-based mentality. But consider that ...
1 Corinthians 16
1 Corinthians 16 - Paul begins with a collection for the saints. The Nelson's New Illustrated Commentary provides a solid summary of what this means for Jesus followers today. "Paul once again addressed a question asked by ...
1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 11 - 1 Corinthians 11 opens up a can of worms in our culture today. At the very least, many of Paul's words here have been challenged. In some cases, they have been called sexist ...
1 Corinthians 9
1 Corinthians 9 - Paul was a man with his priorities straight. He was a man who had given up all his rights for the sake of Jesus. His life's mission was to preach the Gospel and ...
Psalm 149
Psalm 149 - Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones. Psalms 149:1 NASB What does it mean to sing to God a new song? ...
Psalm 148
Psalm 148 - It is a word that has become obsolete in many Christian circles. Sin. The rebellion of man that separates us from God is our primary issue in life. The Bible opens in Genesis with ...
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 138
Psalm 138 - The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalms 138:8 NASB David knew and believed that the Lord was working in ...
Psalm 127
Psalm 127 - According to J. Vernon McGee, this psalm has been used on several important occasions. It was used at the inauguration of President Eisenhower. Two Bibles were used. One of them was George Washington's Bible, ...
Psalm 122
Psalm 122 - In the Christian Jewish Bible, verse 4 speaks to two reasons for going to the house of the Lord. The tribes have gone up there, the tribes of Adonai, as a witness to Isra'el, ...
Psalm 119
Psalm 119 - The original Hebrew version of this psalm is a complex acrostic. Each verse in a particular section begins with the same letter. Doing the math, this means that every 8 verses would begin with ...
Psalm 115
Psalm 115 - Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. 11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the ...
Psalm 113
Psalm 113 - Music connects with every person on the planet. More than likely, all of us can identify with a song or artist that inspires us in a personal way. Songs are easy to remember, well-situated ...
Psalm 112
Psalm 112 - In my opinion, verse 7 defines the context for this entire psalm. Psalms 112:7 HCSB He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the LORD. “His heart is fixed,” or ...
Psalm 109
Psalm 109 - What do we make of this prayer? On the surface, it appears to be vindictive, hateful, and even potentially sinful! Look at the Good News Translation of the psalmist's emotions. Psa 109:7 May he ...
Psalm 101
Psalm 101 - "I will pay attention to the way of integrity. When will You come to me? I will live with a heart of integrity in my house." Psalms 101:2 HCSB Christians are often singled out ...
Psalm 96
Psalm 96 - "Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell ...
Psalm 95
Psalm 95 - All worship is not equal. There are many today who bring false worship before the Father. Coming before Him with selfish ambition or prideful arrogance, they are no different than the Pharisees of Jesus' ...
Psalm 94
Psalm 94 - O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud. Psalms 94:1-2 NASB The appeal to God to exercise His vengeance ...
Psalm 83
Psalm 83 - Psalm 83 is speaking directly to those of us who deal with arrogant and stubborn people. Some would be quick to point out that all people are arrogant and stubborn which is true to ...
Psalm 78
Psalm 78 - Coming off the heels of Psalm 77 where we are to remember God's faithfulness, we now move into the action steps behind those memories. At the end of Psalm 77, I wrote that we ...
Psalm 75
Psalm 75 - Psalm 75 is a plea for justice. The dilemma with justice is that many of us want it to reign down on those around us but fail to take a look in the mirror. ...
Psalm 50
Psalm 50 - What does our praise look like when we face trouble and adversity? Or, do we praise at all? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 15 ...
Psalm 49
Psalm 49 - Death. No one can escape it. It is a certainty that all of humanity agrees upon regardless of what they believe about God or the afterlife. You and I will die one day, and ...
Psalm 44
Psalm 44 - Following God wholeheartedly is a practical act of cooperation (our response) and faith (assurance of God's love). When we teeter too far to one side or the other, we fall short and end up ...
Psalm 32
Psalm 32 - 8 years ago, I was headed back from work driving north. My windshield wipers were frantically trying to keep pace with the torrential downpour of a typical Midwestern summer thunderstorm. As I turned to ...
Psalm 24
Psalm 24 - Psalm 24 was written to be chanted/recited and comes with two choruses. It would have been sung during Jewish worship on the first day of the week (Sunday). It was followed by Psalm 48 ...
Psalm 1
Psalm 1 - Regarded as the Psalm of Psalms, this opening chapter sets the table for the entire book. Psalms seeks to encourage us in the ways of the Lord and discourage us from the wickedness of ...
Mark 15
Mark 15 - More than 1/3 of Mark's narrative is focused on passion week. He includes many details that other Gospel accounts do not. For instance, Matthew's Gospel reveals that Barabbas is a "notorious" criminal but Mark ...
Mark 12
Mark 12 - Total sacrifice. Do we understand it? Do we live it? Jesus pulls his disciples aside to highlight the faith of the poor widow. In this story, the NASB translation reads... A poor widow came ...
Mark 11
Mark 11 - The Pharisees were reeling. Jesus had just cleansed the Temple and done it with supreme authority. Aside from that one event, however, they were most likely trying to figure out who this man really ...
Mark 10
Mark 10 - Bartimaeus called Jesus the “son of David” which was a prophetic title. It revealed a spiritual depth of both trust and faith. He believed in the sovereign power of the Messiah. What's interesting about ...
Mark 9
Mark 9 - We all know the greatest commandment according to Jesus. Here's a refresher... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ...
Mark 4
Mark 4 - The Purpose of the Parables By utilizing parables as His primary vehicle for delivering "the secrets of the kingdom," Jesus was assured more time to invest in those who were seeking. There's no doubt ...
Deuteronomy 31
Deuteronomy 31 - “But was his momentary failure not far too severely punished?" Alexander MacLaren We tend to look at old man Moses and feel sorry for him. The fiery temper that ended the life of an ...
Deuteronomy 30
Deuteronomy 30 - I was drawn specifically to verse 6 of this chapter because it relates closely to the process a believer undergoes within the New Covenant. "Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and ...
Deuteronomy 19
Deuteronomy 19 - We find the familiar "eye for an eye" passage in Deuteronomy 19. In such cases show no mercy; the punishment is to be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a ...
Deuteronomy 17
Deuteronomy 17 - There are many times that the Old Testament rituals and rules can seem odd and misplaced under our New Covenant relationship with Jesus. It is imperative that when we go back through the Old ...
Deuteronomy 15
Deuteronomy 15 - A few years ago my wife and I had the opportunity to provide respite care to three little boys. Respite care is when current foster parents need to go away for a short time ...
Deuteronomy 14
Deuteronomy 14 - Holiness and practicality are two thoughts that are sometimes difficult to reconcile. Why did God not allow certain animals to be eaten? Why did the people have to tithe from their agriculture? The laws ...
Deuteronomy 12
Deuteronomy 12 - What separated the people of God from the pagans around them was their total allegiance to the One True God. He gave them commands to follow which centered around every facet of life. They ...
Deuteronomy 10
Deuteronomy 10 - "Now, people of Israel, listen to what the LORD your God demands of you: Worship the LORD and do all that he commands. Love him, serve him with all your heart, 13 and obey ...
Deuteronomy 1
Deuteronomy 1 - What should have taken 11 days took 40 years. If you have read the book of Numbers, you already have a good understanding of these events. Deuteronomy opens by ...
Ecclesiastes 9
Ecclesiastes 9 - My wife and I were out to eat with another couple. We were enjoying the food and conversation when suddenly my wife interrupts. "I need to get out." She elbows me mid-sentence frantic to ...
Numbers 29
Numbers 29 - The feasts we read here are the fall feasts. Many people believe that these speak toward prophecies yet to be fulfilled by Jesus. Feast of the Trumpets - This is the first of the ...
Numbers 27
Numbers 27 - Don't gloss over this chapter too quickly or you will miss a moment that is very rare in our current society today. As we know, Moses was not going to be allowed to enter ...
Numbers 21
Numbers 21 - Take a moment and think about the times in your life that you've been sorry about something. What was it that ultimately brought you to that moment of humility? Was it just because you ...
Numbers 18
Numbers 18 - As mentioned in previous chapters, the Levites were given special authority and privileges among the spiritual duties assigned by God. However, they were not given the same authority as priests. This is the main ...
Numbers 6
Numbers 6 - People are probably surprised to learn that this famous prayer of blessing comes from the book of Numbers. The LORD bless you, and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine on you, ...
Numbers 4
Numbers 4 - Numbers 1 dealt with numbering the tribes. Numbers 2 was all about the ordering of the camps. Numbers 3 introduced us to the duties of the priests and Levites. Now, in Numbers 4, it ...
Luke 17
Luke 17 Commentary by Brad Boyles It is a common occurrence for people to be tripped up in this life. The word Jesus uses in verse 1 to describe a “stumbling block” is also used in many other places in ...
Luke 14
Luke 14 Commentary by Brad Boyles In Luke 14, Jesus visits a house of a chief Pharisee on the Sabbath. The text tells us that there is bread served. This could have meant there was actual bread there to be ...
Luke 13
Luke 13 - Jewish belief at the time would have proclaimed that all Jews, except notorious sinners like tax collectors and prostitutes, would inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, the message that Jesus consistently articulated was offensive ...
Luke 2
Luke 2 - Luke narrates the routine events that surrounded the arrival of Jesus in a way that presents the ordinary with the extraordinary. God is present in seemingly insignificant events. We see this when we read ...
Ezekiel 46
Ezekiel 46 - First, this is a tough chapter to reconcile with our modernized Christian worldview. Second, there are many details that paint a clouded picture of what a fulfillment would look like. We can rest assured ...