Hold Fast Apologetics

What Does Scripture Say?

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A former Speech and Language Pathologist for nearly 20 years, I began educating our 3 children full-time in 2015 and have cherished every gifted moment (even the challenges). But what is interwoven into all aspects of daily life (as a wife, via motherhood, teaching, friendship, fitness, etc.) is Christian Apologetics (1 Peter 3:15)… which is why this blog exists.
  • Test It

    Test It


    Ladies, did you realize that Satan, “The Father of Lies,” (John 8:44) is well-versed regarding scripture?

    He sure is!

    This is extremely important to understand! For quoting the Bible doesn’t necessarily equate to correctness nor to worshipping God.

    According to a recent 2022 poll by Arizona Christian University, only 37% of professing Christian pastors hold to a biblical worldview. Therefore, the tendency towards eisegesis, interpreting the Bible through the lens of “preference” vs accuracy, is highly probable.

    One profound example of Satan twisting scripture was when Jesus was fasting the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. (Matthew 4) After the fast, Jesus was hungry…Satan then approached Him and arrogantly questioned Jesus’s identity as God’s own Son. Mind-blowing, haughtiness! Satan continued to tempt Jesus…How?? By quoting scripture. He spoke words you and I would read in the Bible and hear at church. But Satan’s motives were to utilize those verses in ways that would benefit his own agenda (ie “eisegesis”)…and he perpetuates this scheme still, today.

    We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

    2 Cor 10:5

    The Father of Lies takes what is Biblical and twists it. His irreverence is intentional and his deception, crafty. One of his the most salient schemes is placing the focus upon ourselves, instead of upon God. Satan wants us out of God’s Word, off of our knees, and isolated – out of community and obsessed with “Self.” Nevertheless, despite his continuing efforts to alter our understanding of Truth, He can’t change Truth. God’s one and only Son is Truth. (John 14:6) And God’s Word is Truth. For this reason, we need to test the spirits by measuring every teaching against God’s Word alone. We shouldn’t rely solely upon a teaching we hear from a stage or a podcast, but we genuinely need to get into the Word for ourselves, and pray for God to lead.

    “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

    James 4:7


    ‭Be encouraged, Ladies! Jesus endured temptation without sin. Jesus wasn’t deceived by Satan’s lies, but instead succeeded where Adam and Eve had failed. He later took our sin upon Himself… cancelling our debt… nailing it to the cross. And Because of what He has done for us, we can now approach the Throne of Grace through Him.

    It is with Jesus’s help, that we can test every message carefully: in prayer and by His Word. We can also grow in Christ within a Gospel-Driven community... knowing that God will work through our brothers and sisters in Christ as to lovingly correct us when needed. Gals, no matter what may come, lean-into prayer… soak-up His Word… and “be a Berean.” Test what you hear. God’s got you. ♥️🙏🏼

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

    Col 3:16

    Praying with and for you,

    Mer

    3 minutes with Mike Winger


    Referenced Scripture

    John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

    John 1:1,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

    1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

    Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

    Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

    Genesis 3:1-7 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.”

    Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

    Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

    John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

    Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

    Acts 16:16-18 “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.”

    Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

    2 Timothy 2:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

    1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

    2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

    2 Peter 2:1-3 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

    Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

    2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

    Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

    Jude 1:4 “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

    Romans 16:17-18 “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

    Ephesians 4:14 “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

    1 Corinthians 1:18-25 “18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

    “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
        and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

    20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[b] to save those who believe.22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

    1 Corinthians 6:11 “ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

    1 Corinthians 8:1 “Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

    1 Corinthians 8:5-6 “For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”

    1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:13-14‬ “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

    Romans 12:2 “ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”

    2 Corinthians 4:1-3 “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”

    James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

    What is the Gospel?

    Trust God’s Word

    Trust It – Voddie Baucham (60 minutes)
    11 minutes

    Bible – New Testament Reliability🎞

    Bible Contradictions? Apologetics playlist🎞

    Resources from Answers in Genesis

  • Is the Enneagram Permissible for Christians?

    Is the Enneagram Permissible for Christians?

    Women in Apologetics Instagram comment

    The question of whether the Enneagram is permissible due to its perception of helpfulness is a very common one! Its incredibly important that we acknowledge the emotional significance of this question for we all have grown-up with the postmodern mindset that “what seems helpful must be good and right (pragmatism).” And sadly, so many of us, Christians, are possibly confusing the idea of helpfulness with holiness.

    We, as a society, have forgotten to slow down and think carefully about our decisions. And therefore, we follow at whim, the emotionally helpfulness of something. Let’s look at some examples which being to light the need to slowdown and reason better:

    Firstly, we hopefully can all conclude that even though adulterous relationships in the context of marriage might seem helpful to those involved in the act, they are not lawful nor permissible. Nor are they considering others (their families). It’s not helpful for them.

    The same goes with drinking too much alcohol to numb the pain of a physical injury or an emotional wound. You see, what seems to be helpful in the moment does not always equate to good and right. But can actually create more harm.

    Let’s get back to the question at hand:

    “But the Enneagram helps me grow in holiness. Plus, isn’t it permissible to utilize this tool?”

    This is an earnest question. And one I certainly want to afresh gently and respectfully.

    To preface, Friends, when you are able, refresh yourselves with the Galatians 2 account of when Paul lovingly corrected his brother in Christ, Peter. If Peter, a man who walked and talked with God in the flesh (Jesus), then we all will make mistakes and he corrected at various times in our lives.

    So, how do we answer this?

    Below is was my response combined with the article I quoted from GotQuestions:

    GotQuestions:

    Question: “What does it mean that everything is permissible in 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 10:23?”

    Answer: In 1 Corinthians 6:12, we read, “Everything is permissible for me” (CSB), a statement that, pulled from its context, would seem to cast off all restraint. Is everything permissible for the believer? Can we do anything we want? Here is the whole verse: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (NASB). Paul repeats the idea in chapter 10, verse 23: “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify” (NASB).

    Freedom in Christ is a truth Paul constantly emphasizes. For example, Paul says, “Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. . . . For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters” (Galatians 5:1, 13, NLT). Paul states that believers “are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14) and “by grace you have been saved, through faith . . . not by works” (Ephesians 2:8–9; cf. Romans 3:20). Paul never tires of telling Christians that “we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (Romans 7:6).

    Evidently, some in Corinth had distorted Paul’s message of liberty and moved toward an antinomian approach of living, which sees moral law being of no use and not binding because faith alone is necessary for salvation. Because of the textual construction in the Greek, many commentators believe the statement All things are lawful for mewas used by the Corinthians, and Paul is simply repeating back to them their own words. It was the Corinthians who were saying, “Everything is permissible for me,” repeating it as a mantra to cover their sinful behavior. In their minds, they probably even thought they were quoting Paul, who had taught them about Christian liberty. In his corrective letter to them, Paul’s intent was to counter that attitude. Some translations use punctuation to bring out that meaning, putting everything is permissible or its equivalent in quotation marks: “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23, NIV).

    In both places where everything is permissible is found, Paul reminds his readers that, when he speaks of Christian freedom, it is always in relation to freedom from works-based righteousness, i.e., earning salvation by good deeds. When we try to merit salvation through the Mosaic Law, Pharisaic tradition, or any other means, we pervert the gospel. Grace is unmerited and by definition cannot be earned. The Christian is free from the burden of attempting to earn salvation, but the Corinthians had perverted Paul’s message of freedom to justify sinful lifestyles.

    Grace is not license to sin. The believer should not live as if “everything is permissible.” Beyond the book of Corinthians, Paul makes it clear that freedom in Christ does not equate to freedom to sin: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? . . . What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” (Romans 6:1–2, 15, NASB); “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13, NASB).

    Chapters 6 and 10 in 1 Corinthians also emphasize a restraint of Christian freedom when it comes to other believers. Paul’s primary message on this subject for the Corinthians and all believers in all ages is summarized in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (NASB).

    Deuteronomy 18

    18 “The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord’s food offerings as their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them. 3 And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the Lordyour God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.

    6 “And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he lives—and he may come when he desires—to the place that the Lord will choose, 7 and ministers in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord, 8 then he may have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony.Abominable Practices9 “When you come into the land that the Lordyour God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, 14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.A New Prophet like Moses15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lordmy God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, orwho speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

  • Did Constantine Construct the Bible?

    Did Constantine Construct the Bible?

    The graphic shared here can be found at http://www.WesleyHuff.com

    When you’re playing a board game with your family or friends, and you have a question about the game, what do you do?

    To add, let’s hypothesize that during an Indianapolis Colts football game, a member of the opposing team decides to dribble the football down the field like a soccer ball.

    In these two instances, you and I would hopefully agree that the rules for both types of games would need to be consulted.

    And these rules would have an interpretation which fallible human beings could read and agree upon (the essential parts, especially).

    When it comes to Christianity as a worldview, to understand what makes it “Christianity” and not Gnostic Christianity, Buddhism, New Thought, etc., we would need to consult the Christian manual: the Scriptures.

    When Constantine decriminalized Christianity, along with other religions at that time, he strongly encouraged the leaders of numerous churches to meet and settle a contentious dispute regarding a central belief.

    How did these men handle the matter? They consulted the Scriptures…both the Old Testament as well as the historical, eyewitness accounts of the biblical texts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). They looked at the Christian dictionary.

    When Arius claimed Jesus was only a created being, the group examined what Christianity teaches about itself to prove Arius was wrong. No new teachings were formed at this council, nor was the Bible constructed here. It’s incredibly important to look back at history, therefore examining claims made in movies (Da Vinci Code) as well as on social media.

    Resources:
    ✏️ What Happened at the Council of Nicaea? By Wes Huff – https://www.wesleyhuff.com/blog/2020/10/13/what-happened-at-the-council-of-nicaea

    🎞️ What is Christianity? Greg Koukl covers this topic in his book, The Story of Reality

    58 minutes with Greg Koukl

  • Mark 2: Great Faith or Great God?

    Mark 2: Great Faith or Great God?

    Oftentimes we hear sermons about the “great faith” of the four men who lowered their paralyzed friend down through the roof to get him to Jesus. And while their confidence in Jesus’s ability to heal was recognized by Jesus, is man-centered faith the primary point that event was recorded?

    Friends, succinctly stated: No!

    Let me explain, biblically.

    Upon seeing the confidence those 4 men placed in His ability, Jesus didn’t just heal the paralyzed man and then praise their faith. He could have, but that wasn’t the plan.

    After healing the man, Jesus intentionally chose words which would “wreck the roof” of that place, far more than the Faith of those men!! Jesus purposefully pronounced in front of every person present (especially the Scribes) that He is God.

    This is incredibly important to note, don’t you think!

    Friends, when Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” Jesus was claiming to do something only God can do. And the Scribes caught this audacious claim by Jesus immediately:

    “Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (Mk 2:6-7)

    You see, Mark 2 is primarily about Jesus’s identity, not about “men-centered” faith. And this is vital to understand because a pillar of Christianity is recognizing Jesus as God (second Person of the Trinity). Without Him being fully man and fully God, there is no atonement for our sins (1 Jn 4).

    When we fall for the works-based messages which stroke our sinful desire to get some glory for ourselves, we settle for a false works-based gospel (Galatians 1).

    Friends, it’s so easy to make this mistake because without God’s help (Grace), we want to take control of our circumstances and receive as much praise as possible.

    With all of this in view, when you hear a teaching which points to what we can do to earn some glory, grab your Bibles and read those passages completely. Please avoid reading only one verse, and building a teaching around only that one verse…as that lends to placing our own understanding (eisegesis) into the text versus what the text, in it’s entirety, communicates (exegesis).

    Mark 2 is a wonderful example of the importance of reading the whole chapter (at least a paragraph) instead of only one verse. Recognizing the main theme that Jesus was unmistakably pronouncing Himself as God, is central to the passage.

    Here is an an incredible video recorded by Mikel Del Rosario pertaining Jesus’s announcement in Mark 2.

    Please check it out!

    35 minutes with Mikel Del Rosario

    Mark 2

    And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

    5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

    6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

    13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

    15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes ofthe Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

    18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

  • Did Jesus Claim to be God?

    Did Jesus Claim to be God?

    Friends, Jesus’s claim to be God is captured in Scripture for us, and has been an essential teaching of Christianity from the very beginning of the Church (~AD 30).

    Despite its historical significance, Mikel shares that only 43% of surveyed professing Christians today accept the teaching that Jesus is God(!).

    Concurrently, a recent Barna poll demonstrates a similar statistic: just 37% of professing Christian pastors hold to a biblical worldview, with 67% accepting spiritual syncretism (research shared below). It’s apparent that Christians need more time in the Scriptures!

    For this reason…please grab your Bible, play this video, and follow along with Mikel’s 40-minute lecture. It’ll encourage and equip you, immensely!

    Resources:

    Research cited above: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AWVI2022_Release_06_Digital.pdf

    https://www.str.org/w/nine-early-church-fathers-who-taught-jesus-is-god

    Tim Barnett: “Many people think Emperor Constantine invented the deity of Christ in the fourth century, but a look at quotes from the early church fathers shows this is an egregious misrepresentation of the facts. In my mentoring letter this month, I offered a short list of quotations to demonstrate that the early church believed Jesus is God. Now I’d like to make the argument even stronger by offering thirty-six quotations from nine different early church fathers. All of these quotations predate the Council of Nicea.”

  • Train Them Up!

    Train Them Up!

    Per an article written by Cold Case Detective and Christian Apologist, J. Warner Wallace, children are born with the awareness that God is real.

    “Olivera Petrovich, an Oxford University psychologist, surveyed several international studies of children aged 4 to 7 and found that the belief in God as a ‘creator’ is ‘hardwired’ in children and that “atheism is definitely an acquired position.”

    J. Warner Wallace continues:

    “Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology and director of the Mind and Development Lab at Yale University, writes, ‘The universal themes of religion are not learned… They are part of human nature… Creationism – and belief in God – is bred in the bone.’”

    The fact that we come into this world reasoning that a Creator is behind the creation, both personal and rational, is significant and shouldn’t be overlooked. God wants us to know Him!

    Biblically, there are two ways God makes Himself known…through what is termed, General Revelation, as well as Special Revelation. Here are some explanations:

    1) General Revelation:

    “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Romans 1:19-23

    2.) Special Revelation. The following excerpts are from this article by GotQuestions:

    Special revelation is how God has chosen to reveal Himself through miraculous means. Special revelation includes physical appearances of God, dreams, visions, the written Word of God, and most importantly—Jesus Christ. The Bible records God appearing in physical form many times (Genesis 3:8, 18:1; Exodus 3:1-4, 34:5-7), and the Bible records God speaking to people through dreams (Genesis 28:12, 37:5; 1 Kings 3:5; Daniel 2) and visions (Genesis 15:1; Ezekiel 8:3-4; Daniel 7; 2 Corinthians 12:1-7).

    Of primary importance in the revealing of God is His Word, the Bible, which is also a form of special revelation. God miraculously guided the authors of Scripture to correctly record His message to mankind, while still using their own styles and personalities. The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is inspired, profitable, and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God determined to have the truth regarding Him recorded in written form because He knew the inaccuracy and unreliability of oral tradition. He also understood that the dreams and visions of man can be misinterpreted. God decided to reveal everything that humanity needs to know about Him, what He expects, and what He has done for us in the Bible.

    The ultimate form of special revelation is the Person of Jesus Christ. God became a human being (John 1:1, 14). Hebrews 1:1-3 summarizes it best, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son … The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” God became a human being, in the Person of Jesus Christ, to identify with us, to set an example for us, to teach us, to reveal Himself to us, and, most importantly, to provide salvation for us by humbling Himself in death on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus Christ is the ultimate “special revelation” from God.

    With all of this information in view, we are able to further recognize how incredibly important it is to “Train up a child in the way he should go;” for “ even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Pr 22:6). If we don’t train our children up in God’s wisdom, the world is chopping at-the-bit to do so on our behalf!

    And remember, God will help you. Look to Him first and foremost for wisdom and guidance (in the Scriptures and through prayer). Paul David Tripp encourages us with this quote from his book:

    “in every moment when you are parenting, you are being parented. In every moment when you are called to give grace, you are being given grace. In every moment when you are rescuing and protecting your children, you are being rescued and protected. In every moment when you feel alone, you are anything but alone becaus

    Paul David Tripp; “Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family:”

    Parents, shared here in this brief clip, are 10 resources for parents as suggested by Alisa Childers, along with an interview by Sean McDowell with Natasha Crain. Please check them out!

    Under 20 minutes
    Nearly 60 minutes

    Love,

    Mer.

  • Disinterested

    Disinterested

    “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

    Simply stated, if you are a wife and/or a mom, your spouse and your children are the “others,” first and foremost.

    As Nancy Pearcey shares in her book, The Toxic War on Masculinity, the predominant view of men and households prior to the Industrial Revolution was to be “disinterested” in personal gain, & therefore primarily interested in providing for the needs of others.

    In order to be disinterested, and therefore able to regard others as more important than ourselves, we need a selfless, charitable love to take over. We need God’s love to take over. F

    Friends, in and of ourselves, we are absolutely incapable of loving well. We will always be seeking to do what is our best interest, if left to lean on our own understanding. Therefore, the ability to love without any selfish ambition is a miraculous work, accomplished only by the Holy Spirit who was given to us through the finished work of Jesus in the cross.

    With this biblical perspective in view, to be disinterested in “self” and interested in love is to be walking in complete dependency upon the one and only God who modeled this for us!

    Jesus, the 2nd Person of the Godhead, humbled himself by putting on humanity with the purpose of going to the cross, dying in our place, and then rising three days later…making a way back to God which only He could make.

    To be clear, Jesus never abandoned His Godness. He was fully God the whole time He walked on the earth in human skin. But Jesus was also fully human. We could not be saved unless He was both fully both.

    From the human perspective, the cross is the perfect picture of being disinterested. As our interests are often opposed to the good of others. But the perfect character of God has holy interests which are always for our best.

    Only God is God. Let God help you today! Put His interests ahead of your own and you will find that live will lead.

    Philippians 2

    So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of ethe same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

    14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

    19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

    25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

  • The Old Lie

    The Old Lie

    The New Age belief (old, actually) that humanity is inherently good, desires the original design…w/o trusting and worshipping the Designer. This reflects the rebellion humanity instigated in wanting to be good on its own.This belief in inherent goodness denies our sinful state.

    In denying our sinful condition, one denies the teaching of Scripture. Jesus affirmed Scripture as God’s Word (Mk 7:8-13), which spoke about Jesus (Lk 24:42-44). Therefore to deny sin is to deny the real Jesus and His instructions.

    In Mark 10, Jesus was helping the rich young ruler recognize that Jesus was/is God. Only God is good, and Jesus is good. Therefore, Jesus is God. Only God is good. Jesus’s purpose was to save us/forgive our debt, and to give us Himself (a new spirit) and His righteousness.

    Sisters, sin looks in and says, “I’ve got this.” While faith in God trusts the work He has done on our behalf…and lives daily, not for his or her own glory (doing what seems right), but for God’s glory…which is good and right.

  • Let Us Reason Together

    Let Us Reason Together

    4 minutes with Tim Barnett
    Why Apologetics?

    Tim Barnett from Stand to Reason and Red Pen Logic details why in this way: “The Bible commands it, the culture demands it, the Church needs it, and the results confirm it.”

    Image credit: Women in Apologetics

    The word “apologia” in Greek refers to providing a “reasonable defense.”

    Many of us, daily, give an apologia/apologetic for numerous beliefs we hold! For the Christian, our defense isn’t a fleshly defensiveness, but instead a loving dialogue shared with someone regarding the reasons for the hope we’ve been given through the Gospel. In fact, respectfully providing a gentle apologia was strongly encouraged by the earliest Christians, namely Peter and Paul.

    The important thing to remember is that giving a reasonable defense of a position should involve kindness, respect, and a listening ear. It is not about winning an argument, but is instead about being clear,…and making a earnest case. We desperately need more of these types of dialogues today.

    📙 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord…” Isaiah 1:18

    📙“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8

    📙“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5

    📙“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2

    📙“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”
    1 Peter 3:15

    Quote Source:

  • Contend for the Faith (Jude)

    Contend for the Faith (Jude)

    45 minutes with Alistair Begg

    Per the ESV Study Bible (highly recommend), the letter written by Jesus’s half-brother was penned in the mid-60’s A.D. This is only 30 years after the bodily resurrection of Jesus. The theme of this letter centers on the church’s need to “contend for the one true faith once and for all delivered to the saints (v.3), and people of faith must persevere to the e d by resisting the false teachers and following truth.”

    Scriptures speaking of Jude:

    • Matthew 13:55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?”
    • “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”

    The Book of Jude (Biblegateway):

    Jude

    Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:

    To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. 4 For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago,have come in by stealth; they are ungodly,turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

    5 Now I want to remind you, although you came to know all these things once and for all, that Jesus saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe;6 and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. 7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

    In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones. 9 Yet when Michael the archangel was disputing with the devil in an argument about Moses’s body, he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct—like irrational animals—by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam’s error for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

    12 These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.

    14 It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.” 16 These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.

    17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” 19 These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit

    But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. 22 Have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

    Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time,now and forever. Amen.

  • Father’s Day Scripture

    Father’s Day Scripture

    “…a new study has come out showing how profoundly fathers influence their kids. The Communio Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships found that for passing on parents’ religious convictions to their children, fathers matter even more than mothers.”

    Nancy Pearcey

    Professor, author, and Christian Apologist, Nancy Pearcey, advocates for biblical manhood via her impactful new book, “The Toxic War on Masculinity.” The quote above is a part of an article (here) adapted from Chapter 11 of her book. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book! Now, let’s follow Nancy’s lead, and dig-into what God’s Word shares about Fathers…We need God’s words most.

    Scripture Pertaining to Fathers

    Please utilize these scripture references as places to begin…Not as an ending. What I mean by this is what Christian Apologist, Greg Koukl, often articulates: “Never read a Bible verse.”It’s critical that we head this hermeneutical advice as we all can fall prey to reading our own perspective into a verse (“eisegesis”) instead of learning what is the intended message (“exegesis”) when we read a verse in isolation. Instead, we need to read the ENTIRE verse in it’s given context. We need to read the entire chapter, at minimum. With this in view, please take these scripture references as bookmarks for further study.

    Numerous Verses supplied by OpenBible.

    Psalm 103:13
    As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

    Ephesians 6:4
    Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

    Colossians 3:21
    Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

    Proverbs 3:11-12
    My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

    Proverbs 22:6
    Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

    Proverbs 23:24
    The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

    Malachi 4:6
    And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

    Psalm 127:3-5
    Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

    Joshua 24:15
    And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

    Proverbs 23:22
    Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

    Proverbs 14:26
    In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

    Exodus 20:12
    “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

    Proverbs 20:7
    The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

    Joshua 1:9
    Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

    Hebrews 12:7
    It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

    Deuteronomy 1:29-31
    Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’

    Matthew 7:9-11
    Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

    Matthew 23:39
    And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

    Deuteronomy 6:6-9
    And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

    3 John 1:4
    I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

    1 Corinthians 16:13
    Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

    Luke 15:20
    And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

    Genesis 18:19
    For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

    John 3:16
    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

    1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
    For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

    Psalm 68:5
    Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

    Ephesians 5:25-33
    Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, …

    1 Chronicles 29:17
    I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

    Genesis 2:24
    Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

    1 John 3:1
    See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

    Proverbs 13:24
    Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

    Proverbs 10:9
    Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

    Luke 15:20-24
    And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

    Proverbs 19:18
    Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

    Proverbs 15:5
    A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

    Ephesians 6:11-18
    Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. …

    1 Corinthians 13:1-13
    If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; …

    John 14:6
    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

    John 14:2
    In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

    Ephesians 6:1-3
    Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

    Matthew 6:26
    Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

    Isaiah 9:6
    For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

    Proverbs 17:24
    The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

    Ephesians 6:1-4
    Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

    Proverbs 17:6
    Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

    James 1:17
    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

    Matthew 15:4
    For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

    2 Corinthians 6:18
    And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

    Luke 12:32
    “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

    Isaiah 64:8
    But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

    Proverbs
    Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

    Colossians 3:20
    Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

    1 Corinthians 8:6
    Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

    Proverbs 10:1
    The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

    Job 1:4-5
    His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

    Philippians 4:20
    To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

    1 John 2:15
    Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

    1 Timothy 3:2-5
    Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

    Romans 8:32
    He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

    Romans 8:19
    For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

    John 17:24
    Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

    John 14:23
    Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

    John 14:21
    Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

    John 14:13
    Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

    John 10:28-30
    I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

    John 1:18
    No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

    John 1:12
    But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

    Matthew 26:53
    Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

    Matthew 10:29-31
    Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

    Matthew 6:6
    But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

    Proverbs 1:1-33
    The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, …

    Romans 12:17-21
    Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

    Psalm 103:1-22
    Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. …

    Deuteronomy 6:6-7
    And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

    Proverbs 3:32
    For the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.

    Hebrews 12:11
    For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

    Matthew 6:17-18
    But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

    1 Timothy 5:1-25
    Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, …

    Exodus 34:6-7
    The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

    Proverbs 4:1-4
    Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.

    Psalm 128:3-4
    Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

    2 Samuel 7:14-15
    I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

    Deuteronomy 1:31
    And in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’

    Malachi 2:10
    Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

    1 Timothy 5:8
    But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

    Matthew 28:19
    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

    Deuteronomy 5:16
    “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

    Galatians 4:6
    And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

    Matthew 6:8
    Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

    Proverbs 1:8
    Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

    2 Timothy 3:16-17
    All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

    Luke 1:37
    For nothing will be impossible with God.”

    Proverbs 3:11
    My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,

    1 Peter 4:8
    Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

    Romans 8:15
    For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

    John 14:12
    “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

    Philippians 4:6
    Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

    John 3:16-17
    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

    Ephesians 6:2
    “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

    Proverbs 4:1
    Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

  • The Humility of God (Philippians 2)

    The Humility of God (Philippians 2)

    “The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for man.”

    – John Stott, The Cross of Christ

    The humble character of our God astonishes the human heart. To conceive of a Holy God coming low to save a rebellious creation is “a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23). Why would God leave an environment of perfect peace, joy, and love to enter into a place of hardship, betrayal, and suffering?

    To be absolutely clear, Jesus remained 100% God throughout His incarnation and earthly ministry. Jesus added on humanity but never stopped being God (2nd Person of the Trinity). It’s also crucial to understand that Jesus did NOT become a sinner upon the cross but took OUR sin UPON Himself. Jesus was the sinless lamb who paid the debt we couldn’t pay (John 1:29), and gave us the righteousness we couldn’t earn. Only God could do both. That was the plan from eternity past within the Godhead. Jesus was willing to enter into humanity and was set as flint toward completing that mission all the way up to quoting the psalm of victory, Psalm 22, on the cross (Mt 26:21).

    Written by the Apostle Paul while imprisoned in Ephesus, then it was sometime between 52–55 AD, Philippians 2 is an incredibly vivid demonstration of the humility of God. It contains a song or a creed sung by the early church just weeks or months after Jesus’s bodily resurrection around 30 AD called the Carmen Christi (Philippians 2:5-11). This song was one of many sung at that time, which pointed to the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Acknowledging these teachings (creeds/songs) is also important because they provide evidence that the stance of the Christian Church from the very beginning was that Jesus was/is not only the promised Messiah (Christ) of the Scriptures, but was/is God as well.

    The holy humility of God is a characteristic we need to be thankful for daily, friends…Especially throughout the month of June, when the word, “Pride,” is lifted high all around us. For without the humility of our God, there would be no cross.

    “For without the humility of our God, there would be no cross.”

    Philippians 2

    So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    Lights in the World

    12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

    14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

    Timothy and Epaphroditus

    19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

    25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

    55 minutes with Dr. Gary Habermas