The Problem with Laziness Proverbs 24 Becoming a sluggard requires little effort Proverbs 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief. The “sluggard” is lazier than a pig on vacation. His only exercise is turningRead More …

Converted Coward: A radically changed man. 1 Peter 1 1 Peter 1:12 Even angels long to look into these things. The Peter portrayed in the Gospels and the Peter seen in this letter are hardly recognizable as the same person. The Gospels portray Peter urging Jesus to avoid pain, coweringRead More …

No Justice: Jesus faces judges and a furious mob Matthew 27 Matthew 27:22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. Because the Jews live under the occupying power of Rome, Jesus must go through several levels of justice. The Romans allow the JewsRead More …

Prison Letter: It’s time at last to tackle the grandest question of all Ephesians 2 Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Some of the world’s most famous literature originated in, of all places, aRead More …

The Secret to the Early Church Acts 4 The real power at work in Acts Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Author J.B. Phillips, after spending 14 years translating the NewRead More …

More than a Ghost Acts 3 The best proof that Jesus is alive Acts 3:15 “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” “He looks as if he’s seen a ghost!” What image comes to mind when you hear that?Read More …

Success Story: A community formed by remarkable differences Ephesians 3 Ephesians 3:17–18 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. The EphesusRead More …

Appointment with Destiny: Betrayal in a quiet garden Matthew 26 Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” In a stroke of bitter irony, the intimate scene of the Last Supper butts up againstRead More …

Legalism: Can we do anything to make God love us more? Galatians 3 Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? On his first missionary journey, Paul learns to his surprise that non-Jews seemRead More …

A Change of Heart and Mind John 21 Whatever happened to the “Son of Thunder”? John 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. The disciple John had been favored to share private moments with Jesus.Read More …