Mark chapter four begins with Jesus addressing a “great multitude” of people. One of the lessons he taught them was the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:2-9). In the parable, a sower (farmer) sows a parcel of seeds. Different things happen to the seeds. [...]
Our world rewards self-confidence. The pervasive belief is that we should rely on ourselves at all times—we should be strong, aggressive, go after what we want. Our needs and our wants are our most important consideration. We should be able to handle our lives [...]
When Paul was converted to Christianity, he was given the commission by Jesus to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). To fulfill this calling, Paul journeyed to many areas of Asia Minor and Greece, including through the Roman province of Galatia in [...]
Paul was aware that some members of the early Christian church had begun to regard him, the other Apostles, and other early Christians such as Apollos and Cephas as “spectacles” (“spectacle…to men” in 1 Corinthians 4:9), but unlike the angels, they had begun to [...]
The Apostle Paul uses the illustration of an athlete’s training to illustrate the lifestyle of a faithful Christian. Several Bible commentaries make reference to the Isthmain games, named because they took place in the isthmus where Corinth stood. For example, Ellicott’s Commentary for English [...]
1 Thessalonians consists of a letter from the Apostle Paul to the early Christian church at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1). In chapter 1, Paul issues greetings to the church members. Chapters 2 and 3 continue his greetings and also offer an explanation for his [...]
There has always been one main criteria for those who seek membership in Christ’s church after being called by God – to love God with all one’s mind and heart and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:37-40). Those who truly understand this [...]
Jesus was a masterful teacher. He often used stories, known as parables, to convey concepts and lessons in a way that his audience could relate to and apply to their lives. Some parables have multiple levels of meaning depending on the listener’s level of [...]
James 5:1-6: (KJV) “5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall [...]
Jesus used this opportunity to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan.One of the traditional ways to communicate with the learned men of Israel was by asking questions. First, one would ask a question, and then the other man would respond to the question [...]
The Bible teaches that in the future, mankind will be resurrected to a state of human perfection, as was experienced by Adam and Eve before their sin. This is part of the “restitution” spoken of in Acts 3:21. Restitution refers to a restoration to a [...]
(Excerpted from the Herald Magazine)The Vine and Branches (John 15:1-11)The lesson of faith taught by the Apostle Paul (Hebrews 11:1) was to make the invisible things more tangible with their eye of faith. Jesus accomplished this with the Parable of the Vine and Branches. He [...]
Sin is, by definition, something that “misses the mark” and is displeasing to God. Sin usually comes down to a choice. The first man Adam was presented with a choice. God told him he could eat from any tree in the Garden of Eden [...]
As recorded in Genesis 12:1-4, God commanded Abraham (who at that time was known by the name Abram) to move his household to a different land (Genesis 12:5). In return, God promised to give Abraham and his descendants a great blessing. During their travels, [...]
God gave Moses specific rules the Jewish nation was to follow regarding the practice of lending. God said, “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.” (Exodus 22:25) [...]
In Old Testament times, the man, or father, was considered the head of the household. He had the responsibility for ensuring all within his care were provided for, including his wife and all of his children. The head of the household was meant to [...]
Christians should treat all according to the “Golden Rule,” that is, they should treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves. In the case of an employer, this would imply respect for the skills of the employee and fair payment for work [...]
This incident, recorded both in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4, is an example in practical terms of the way Jesus (and God) looks at giving. The world tends to be impressed with large gifts and grand gestures; the Lord looks at the heart. When [...]
Humans have one BIG thing in common: we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 NLT: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:10 NASB: “There is none righteous, not even one" which is quoting from Psalm 14:3 and Psalm 51:3.Sin always [...]
Romans 8:6: NASB “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”A true follower of Christ is one that surrenders all the mind, heart and energy to do the will of the heavenly [...]
