Miscellaneous


1 ~ Far-Reaching Words - The Value of Writing Ministries
2 - Unexpected Developments - an example showing the biggest problem with deciding right and wrong for ourselves
3 - A Story Worth Reading - revisiting a classic short story calling us to think about the true meaning of Christmas gift-giving.
4 - Where Love Is - a classic story, appropriate for Christmas or any time, that reminds  us that to help those we meet who are in need is to help Jesus.
5 - Christmas - A brief consideration of history regarding the birth of Jesus, and some observations on believers can do about Christmas.
6 - Jesus Is the Reason - "Jesus is the reason for the season" is seen often in the weeks before the Christmas holiday. In truth, the slogan understates the point.

Faith Meets Culture

1 ~ Living without Constantine - being the church in a non-supportive culture
2 ~ Apollos Meets Athens - Reaching out to all our culture, not just those most like us.
3 ~ When Jonah Spoke the Word - God's word is powerful; we must share it
4 - Where the War Was Won - For 2,000 years, believers facing hostile cultures have outlasted powers that suppressed them.
5 - Is It Really Possible? - Can Christians really live faithfully in a  depraved culture?
6 - Changing Times - Or Not - Consider a New Testament book that helps equip us to meet the current challenge from our current pluralistic setting.
7 - Where God Is Not - A brief consideration of some consequences of the worldview of atheism.

Being Disciples

1 ~ Give Us More Andrews - Quiet, yet active service
2 ~ What If We Try This? - Taking our discipleship seriously
3 ~ Learning (and Showing) Jesus - the power of conversion is in the everyday lives of Jesus' followers
4 ~ A Real Optimist - while life lasts, we must keep moving forward
5 ~ "Hallelujah! Christ Arose!" - Let us appreciate the meaning of the resurrection and be grateful for every opportunity to share the news about it
6 - Simply Amazing - For those who know it well, Jesus' story can become old hat. Let's stop and think about it again.
7 -  Better to  Serve the Egyptians?  - We're tempted to criticize the Israelites who received their freedom and then hesitated. But our obstacles often seem too large, too.
8 - An Observation on Forgiveness -  A comparison of Paul's word for forgiveness with the word  used more often in the New Testament
9 - Who Are They To Ask? - Our commitment to Christ also entails a commitment to one another, a truth we need to remember when we are called to account for our actions.
10 - Motivated by Grace - Meeting the demands of discipleship does not diminish grace, but is where grace leads.
11 - They Said I Was Special! - A child's reaction to the reception he received in Vacation Bible School reminds us of an important truth.
12 - Look for God - Jesus said that the Scriptures were about God and eternal life is about knowing him and the Father. in our study, we must look for God.
13 - "Lord and Christ" - Beginning with Peter's thesis on Pentecost and illustrated in Paul's counsel to the Philippians, the key to life and resolution of any problem rests in our practical acknowledgement that Jesus is both Lord and Christ.
14 - An Overlooked Side of Jesus - A reflection on the value of studying Jesus' controversies.
15 - Discovering the Wheel - To gain perspective and wisdom for the present, we are wise to learn about the past.
16 - How's Your Health? - The expression of John's concern for Gaius should prompt an important question about our well-being.
17 - Aware Of Our Surroundings - As participants in the spiritual war in which we are engaged, we must always be aware of our surroundings, conscious of the potential danger posed by a determined and deceitful enemy.

When Trouble Comes

1 - "When There Are No Words" - Just Be There - Often, our presence is more important to the hurting people we seek to comfort than any words could be, especially if those words go beyond what any of us can know.
2 - Putting Praise In Perspective - Considering the text of the song, "The Steadfast Love of the Lord" (Lamentations 3:22-24) in light of its context of trouble and despair.
3 - Faith Freed from the Hedges - Satan alleged that the strength of Job's faith was due to the protective hedge around him. How does our faith compare?
4 - Endure and Press On - 2 Timothy shows that Paul's motivation to endure suffering and even shame for Christ was rooted in knowing Jesus and what he had done.
5 - Thank God for Hope - The stories of those who survived disasters against incredible odds invariably have in common that they were able to retain their hope. We are not surprised, therefore, that hope is an important feature of the biblical story.
6 - "In Heart and Conscience Free" - Words from a favorite hymn prompted this reflection on conditions that are and are not necessary for God's will to be done.

Glorifying the Father and Son

1 - God Is Relevant - In seeking for applications of Bible teaching, are we seeing the greatness and glory of God?
2 - James: Practical Teaching About God - Teaching about God is an important theme in James, evidenced by more than twenty direct references to him.
3 - The Cross, Resurrection, and Enthronement - The cross of Jesus was rendered powerless by his resurrection and subsequent enthronement.

Devoted To Teaching

1 - The "Anti-Sunday School" Group - Some thoughts on the seriousness with which we approach the study of God's word.
2 - Can It Be That Simple? - We can learn from the practice of Paul who, for two years,  taught daily in the the hall of Tyrannus.
3 - "Let Me Repeat That" - Good teachers know that we need to press on to things not yet learned. But they also know that we need to hear important things again and again so we will really grasp and act on them.

Regarding Worship

1 - Worship Together - In a society where so much attention and focus is on the individual, we need to think about the implications of the Bible's emphasis - in both testaments - on  community worship.