Inscription at ancient Corinth quoting 2 Corinthians 4:17 (author’s photo)             In the week prior to publishing this article, I received at least three e-mails that deal with “the future of Christianity.” One suggested that the question primarily comes from those who want to see the Church die. At the very least, they want to see it transformed into something completely different. Another promoted a book to help us return to the early days of the Church. Apparently they believe... Read more

Scripture:        Job, chapter 16; Acts, chapters 21-23 Acts 21:1-14 (NASB):  Now when we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara; and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Trye; for the ship was... Read more

Scripture:        Job, chapter 15; Acts, chapters 19-20 Acts 19:23-31 (NASB): About that time a major disturbance occurred in regard to the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing considerable business to the craftsmen; he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia,... Read more

Scripture:        Job, chapter 5; Psalm 108; Acts, chapters 10-11 Acts 10:1-8 (NASB) – Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and... Read more

Scripture:        Job, chapters 3-4; Acts, chapters 8-9 Job 4:1-9 (NASB) – Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded, “If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking? Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have helped the stumbling to stand, and you have strengthened feeble knees. But now it comes to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are horrified. Is your fear of God... Read more

Scripture:        Job, chapters 1-2; Acts, chapters 6-7 Job 1:13-22 (NASB) – Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  While he was still speaking,... Read more

Scripture:        Nehemiah, chapters 5-6; Psalm 146; Luke, chapter 24 Psalm 146 (NASB) – Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, my soul! I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not trust in noblemen, in mortal men, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,... Read more

Scripture:        Nehemiah, chapters 3-4; Luke, chapter 23 Nehemiah 4:9-15 (NASB):  But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. And so in Judah it was said: “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, yet there is much rubble; and we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop... Read more

Scripture:        Ezra, chapters 7-8; Luke, chapter 20 Ezra 8:21-23, 31-32 (NASB):  Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, to humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of God is favorably disposed to... Read more

Scripture:        Esther, chapters 9-10; Luke, chapter 19 Luke 19:41-44 (NASB) – When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known on this day, even you, the conditions for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will put up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the... Read more