Most every Christian is familiar with Jesus’ declaration that whoever would come after Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. But what does that mean? We have all likely heard the statement that ‘Everyone has his own cross to bear.’ And we’ve also likely heard everything from difficult marriages, stressful jobs, […]
Matthew 16:20-23 The Unexpected Follow-Up to Peter’s Great Confession
Peter boldly proclaims Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. What happens next is shockingly unexpected. Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone who He is? And then, even more shockingly He begins to show them that He must go to Jerusalem, & suffer many things from the elders & chief […]
Matthew 15:7-9 The Damnable Religion of the Pharisees and Scribes
People today think taking a firm stand on issues of right and wrong is Pharisaical. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Jesus actually rebuked the Pharisees for ignoring God’s Law not for upholding it. Jesus corrected the Pharisees for teaching their almost universally held tradition as if it was God’s Law, when they ignored […]
Matthew 10:34 Not Peace but a Sword
Matthew 5:14-16 A City on a Hill and a Lamp on a Lamp Stand
II Timothy 4:1-11 Five Things You Need to Know About Preaching
Paul writes II Timothy as a prisoner in a dungeon; the culmination of a life of suffering that he experienced for the sake of the Gospel. Soon he will be executed as a criminal for his Gospel work. In the last chapter Paul ever wrote would he warn Timothy to be less bold, and less […]