Are Debates and Arguments Hindering Your Spiritual Growth?

Last updated on: June 24, 2024 at 11:22 am By Rick Rice

Our culture is driven by conflict. The Apostle Paul warns against “a sick obsession with debates and arguments.” Can debates and arguments hinder our spiritual growth? Scripture: 2 Kings, chapters 11-12; 2 Chronicles, chapter 24; 1 Timothy, chapter 6 1 Timothy 6:3-10 (CEB): If anyone teaches anything different and doesn’t agree with sound teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ and teaching that is consistent with godliness, that person is conceited. They don’t understand anything but have a sick obsession with... Read more

“Distracted by Talk”: How to Recognize False Teaching

Last updated on: June 19, 2024 at 10:36 am By Rick Rice

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Not everything that sounds biblical is biblically sound. How can we avoid being “distracted by talk that doesn’t mean anything”? Scripture: 2 Kings, chapters 1-3; Psalm 82; 1 Timothy, chapter 1 1 Timothy 1:3-11 (CEB): When I left for Macedonia, I asked you to stay behind in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain individuals not to spread wrong teaching. They shouldn’t pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. Their teaching only causes useless guessing games instead of faithfulness to... Read more

Reflecting Jesus: “Gracious and Sprinkled with Insight”

Last updated on: June 18, 2024 at 12:10 pm By Rick Rice

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How do we reflect Jesus’ presence and work in our lives? “Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight…” Scripture: 1 Kings, chapter 22; 2 Chronicles, chapters 18-19; Colossians, chapter 4 Colossians 4:1-6 (CEB): Masters, be just and fair to your slaves, knowing that you yourselves have a master in heaven. Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray for us also. Pray that God would open a door for the word... Read more

“Then You Will Know that I Am the Lord”

Last updated on: June 17, 2024 at 10:16 am By Rick Rice

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God promised to defeat Israel’s enemies so that “then you will know that I am the Lord.” How can we guard ourselves against missing God’s purposes? Scripture: 1 Kings, chapters 20-21; 2 Chronicles, chapter 17; Colossians, chapter 3 1 Kings 20:26-30 (CEB): So in the spring of the year, Ben-hadad assembled the Arameans and marched up to Aphek to fight with Israel. Now the Israelites had already been assembled and provisioned, so they went to engage the Arameans. The Israelites... Read more

“Live It Out!” What Does It Mean to Live God’s Way?

Last updated on: June 12, 2024 at 11:31 am By Rick Rice

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“God is the one who enables you both to want at to actually live out his good purposes.” But what does it mean to “live it out” God’s way? Scripture: 1 Kings, chapter 12; 2 Chronicles, chapters 10-11; Philippians, chapter 2 Philippians 2:12-18 (CEB): Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. God is the... Read more

A Destructive Spiritual Power

Last updated on: June 6, 2024 at 10:10 am By Rick Rice

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In Ephesians 2, Paul warns us against “a destructive spiritual power” at work in the world. How can we avoid this destructive power and walk in God’s way? Scripture: Ecclesiastes, chapters 1-3; Psalm 45; Ephesians, chapter 2 Ephesians 2:1-10 (CEB): At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. You used to act like most people in our world do. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual... Read more

The Mind and the Mouth

Last updated on: May 29, 2024 at 10:09 am By Rick Rice

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Our culture is marked by anger and hatred. Proverbs tells us that there is a connection between the mind and the mouth. What comes out of the mouth reflects what is in our hearts and minds. Scripture: Proverbs, chapters 10-12; Romans, chapter 10 Proverbs 10:6-14 (CEB): Blessings cover the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked rots. The skilled mind accepts... Read more

15 Guidelines for Holy Living

Last updated on: May 16, 2024 at 11:20 am By Rick Rice

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In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul gives us 15 guidelines for holy living – concrete action steps that keep us open and available to God. Scripture: 1 Kings, chapter 1; 1 Chronicles, chapter 28; Psalm 91; 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (CEB): Brothers and sisters, we ask you to respect those who are working with you, leading you, and instructing you. Think of them highly with love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. Brothers and... Read more

What Is God’s Will? For Us to Be Holy

Last updated on: May 15, 2024 at 9:38 am By Rick Rice

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“What is God’s will for me?” People often ask this question. Scripture gives us a direct answer: God’s will is for us to be holy. But what does that mean? Scripture: 1 Chronicles, chapters 25-27; 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (CEB): So then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to keep living the way you already are and even do better in how you live and please God – just as you... Read more

Filling in the Gaps: Holiness and Spiritual Development

Last updated on: May 14, 2024 at 12:05 pm By Rick Rice

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Paul prays that God would “fill in the gaps” for the Thessalonians by strengthening their hearts in love. He says this will make them “blameless in holiness.” What’s the connection between holiness and spiritual development? Scripture: 1 Chronicles, chapters 22-24; 1 Thessalonians, chapter 3 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (CEB): Now Timothy has returned to us from you and has given us good news about your faithfulness and love! He says that you always have good memories about us and that you... Read more