December 23, 2015 Year C When one is really impressed with the works of a person, one usually gives that person high praise. It is not just praise, but high praise. It is a degree of praise that shows that the person who receives the praise is worthy of the attention of other people. It tells others: “Hey look at this person. This person is worth your time, and attention.” Mary gave God high praise. She explains in this brief... Read more
Titus 3:12-15 The Ministry of Hospitality In the previous verses, we have learned that we have to avoid difficult and divisive people. In this last section, Paul reminds Titus of people whom he can trust. These people are a blessing to the church. Paul was sending these people to Titus and the church. As such, Paul encouraged the church to help them. The first lesson we learn from this list is the fact that we should be building relationships with... Read more
December 22, 2015 Year C Ephesians 2:11-22 Today is the first day of winter. The Winter Solstice is a time when people focus on the change of the season. We move from the longest night to the begin the journey to the longest day. It is a journey from darkness to light. The Bible acknowledges this dimension salvation – we move from darkness to light when we come to Christ. But we also come together. We go from a separated... Read more
December 21, 2015 Year C Colossians 1:15-20 Christ is central to everything that matters. Jesus is central to seeing and knowing God. He is mirror image of God to people who seek God (Colossians 1:15). Jesus Christ is central to the creative process of God. He is the first Person who has priority (or preeminent) over creation (Colossians 1:15). He co-created with God the Father (Colossians 1:16). Jesus holds everything together (Colossians 1:17). Jesus Christ is also central to the... Read more
Revelation 12:1-12 Seeing Christmas From A Heavenly Perspective We have all heard the nativity story, whether it was from the Bible or recited by Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas, the story of Christ’s birth as witnessed by people on earth. When you read Revelation 12, however, you get a glimpse of the unseen battle that was happening at that very same time.1 This weekend, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the long-awaited sequel, opened in theaters. This film was a... Read more
Titus 1:1-4 Preach the Word As we look in this first chapter, we see that Paul has written to a young man named Titus. Paul sent Titus to Crete to establish the church there. It was after he had been released from his first imprisonment in Rome that Paul most likely traveled to Crete and left Titus there to establish a work on the island.1 In the first couple of verses, we have an introduction to this letter. From one... Read more
December 18, 2015 Year C Some things are great when they are done only once. Taking tests are great when you can pass them once and not have to redo them. Jesus had the opportunity to pay for people’s sin debts. He passed the test and paid the sin debt once (Hebrews 10:10). In the Old Testament, priests had to make sacrifices all the time because sinned all the time (Hebrews 10:11). The payment was life for life. So priests... Read more
December 17, 2015 Year C Jeremiah 31:31-34 Forgiveness has eternal rewards. When someone forgives another person, the forgiver releases the forgiven of all responsibility. At the same time, the obligation which the forgiven needed to pay back a debt is eliminated. Forgiveness truly means to forget. God had made a first covenant with His people. In that agreement, He chose to lead them out of slavery (Jeremiah 31:32). The problem was that although He physically delivered them out of... Read more
Isaiah 12:1-6 Celebrating Christ This Christmas Many people are going to celebrate during this Christmas season. The Jews will celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Others will celebrate Kwanzaa. Even Muslims will celebrate the birth of their prophet Mohammed on December 24, 2015. (Because they follow the lunar calendar, his birthday falls on Christmas Eve.) But as a Christian, how should I celebrate Christmas? From this passage in Isaiah, we can see different ways to celebrate and focus on God’s... Read more
December 16, 2015 Year C Isaiah 11:1-9 In this passage, we see a future. A future in which Jesus (David’s great descendent – also known as the “stump of Jesse.”) will reign supreme over all of the world. Yet, before Jesus reigns over the world, He will rule over my life. Jesus has already shown us what He will use to lead my life. Jesus will rule using: 1. The Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2) Jesus left us the Holy Spirit... Read more
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