Angle: If the psalter is providing insight into various human responses to the questions of faith, how might this influence the rest of the collection of psalms? I hope you’re blessed by this brief commentary.
Primary Motifs
I was asked to teach part of a series on the Weightier Matters of the Law, specifically, mercy.
I enjoyed doing this brief exegetical 1,200 word outline for Matthew 12:1-8 (ESV). I hope it blesses someone.
A) Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.
B) The Lord made the Sabbath for man. He is to do good by showing mercy and also by receiving mercy. Continue reading
I recently assigned to give a message which was part three in a three-part series with the theme “Divine Protection”. The scripture I was asked to preach on was Exodus 14:14.
What does “The LORD shall fight for you” mean in relation to:
This brief essay I wrote for a class examines the differences in the four accounts of what is often called the last supper. I was limited to 1,000 word. Maybe there are some fun and exciting tidbits in here for you, heh heh. 🙄
Introduction
There are four direct references to the Lord’s Supper in scripture. These accounts differ slightly in wording while some add additional content. The differences are minor enough to understand without casting doubt on the legitimacy of any of the four. The church did not seem to dispute the minute details of the discrepancies as much as they did the ecclesiastical implications of the bread and cup, [1] which is not the focus of this paper. It will be argued here that the differences between the four accounts can be reconciled primarily by 1) Understanding when each account was written 2) Understanding why and how the gospels were written. Scripture testifies of itself that it is God breathed,[2] yet God used imperfect men in their own language and context to record the inspired words, therefore scripture incorporates men’s personal understandings and perceptions in its rendering. Continue reading
God is the creator of all things (Gen 1:1). God’s ways are perfect (Psalms 18:30). God is Spirit (John 4:24). God is love (1 John 4::8) God is without beginning or end, from “everlasting to everlasting” (Psalms 90:2). God is one (Deut 6:4), and beside Him there is no other god and no equal (Isaiah 45:5,). God is holy (Leviticus 11:44), just (Deut 32:4), jealous over his people, an avenger of iniquity (Deut 5:9), merciful, gracious, kind, and slow to anger (Joe 2:13). Continue reading
*This is a recent essay I wrote for school—limited to 1,000 words 🙁 . Haha, there may be some useful information in there.
Romans 12:1-8 (NASB) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Continue reading
*Part three of a sermon series regarding “The Comforter”. I was tasked with preaching on the Comforter and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
It started with creation. The Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters (Gen 1:2) as God spoke order and beautiful perfection out of darkness. We are all familiar with the story of man’s fall in the garden that brought sin and death upon God’s creation. God, being just, enforced the penalty of man’s transgressions, death. God, being merciful, also made a promise of a future redeemer — the seed of man who would crush Satan (Gen 3:15). Continue reading
I tend to spend a lot of time in doctrine and the epistles. Reading the words of Jesus in my devotion time — his sermons in particular — have both reminded me of and challenged me on the powerful simplicity in the instructions Christ himself gives us. I’ve spent a lot of time in Matthew 5:1-12 (the beatitudes) over the last three weeks and will continue to do so in the future. These teachings need to get deeper into my soul. The one scripture that has been my focus more than any other is Matthew 5:3, “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (NJKV). I’ve sought God on what it means to be “poor in spirit”. I feel it means lacking or deficient in my own spirit. But what does that actually mean for me? Continue reading
[Act 16:6-10 KJV] 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Continue reading
Selfless love empowers true ministry. The love of God’s people will compel his ministers to endure not only physical shackles, but also the self-imposed shackles of worldly ordinances for the sake of others. By the grace of God we have been set at liberty to willingly endure trials, persecutions, and the legalities of this life for his glorious namesake.