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.
  • Gospel-Driven Friendship: Scripture w/ Quotes by Bonhoeffer

    Gospel-Driven Friendship: Scripture w/ Quotes by Bonhoeffer

    Gals, Gospel-Driven friendships are unique. Counter-cultural, actually! Instead of dining at the table of self-focus, we remind one another of the cross. In lieu of taking a personality test, we open God’s Word and pray for one another. In a world who’s god is self-sufficiency, Gospel-driven friendships point back to Truth (Jesus as Lord and His Word as sufficient)! A friendship formed and guided by the love of God doesn’t compromise on prayer, nor does it choose pragmatism (“whatever helps”) over Scripture. Friends, we love our sisters well by remembering the Gospel. And we demonstrate His love best through obedience. With God’s help we can forsake the fleshly reactions of our recent past, and walk in the steadfast compassion Jesus provides. He’s worth trusting, and our friends need Him more than anything else (ie “You do you”). His, Mer

    Scripture

    Ephesians 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

    John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

    Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

    ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:12-16‬ “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”‭

    Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

    Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

    1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

    Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

    Philemon 1:4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,

    Proverbs 27:9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

    Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

    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.

    John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

    Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

    Philippians 2:3-16 Do nothing from rivalry 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. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. …

    1 Peter 4:8-10 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

    Proverbs 16:38 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

    Matthew 22:37-40 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

    1 Corinthians 12:25-27 That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

    Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

    1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

    Proverbs 27:9 “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”

    1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

    Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

    Proverbs 17:9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

    Luke 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

    Proverbs 27:5-6 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

    Romans 1:12 That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

    1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

    Proverbs 27:10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

    Romans 12:3-13 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; …

    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; …

    1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

    John 15:12-15 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

    1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

    1 Peter 4:8-11 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

    2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;

    John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

    Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

    James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

    Proverbs 11:13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

    Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

    Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

    Proverbs 18:1-24 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. …

    Romans 12:10-11 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

    Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

    Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

    Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

    Amos 3:3 “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

    1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

    2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

    1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

    Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

    More Videos

    Friendship
    Agapē Love (in our relationships)
    Storge, Philia, Eros, and Agape

  • A Different Perspective

    Temple Grandin, PhD

    Have you heard of Temple Grandin? While in Graduate school, a respected professor lovingly shared Temple’s testimony in one of my classes… And friends, it impacted me immensely! Temple was often labeled by those around her as “different.” She was viewed by most through the lens of disability, versus her gifts and ability. She was often tolerated but not appreciated. As well as dismissed instead of engaged. And yet, despite all of the feedback given to her, she refused to define Autism as a burden,…but instead received it as a gift. One of her frequent encouragements to peers was to observe her as “different, but not less.” An important perspective that speaks so boldly of God’s wisdom and grace.

    “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
    ‭‭

    Psalm‬ ‭139:14‬ ‭

    By God’s Grace, Temple was given a teacher in high school, William Carlock, who truly appreciated her uniquenesses. He celebrated her joys and was an encouragement when she weeped. He was forgiving and tender-hearted, as well as corrected with gentleness and respect. His commitment was to the journey, and that humbleness grew them both. So very often, our busy lifestyles tend to promote a “glance” mindset of knowing someone, instead of “gazing.” We would rather take a synopsis of a person’s abilities versus digging-in, listening, and learning from them. Immediate gratification is generally valued over commitment, and test scores are often prioritized in lieu of God’s Word. It’s apparent that so many of us settle for the snapshot mentality, and miss the blessing of the portrait.

    It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given. One or the other becomes a habit of life.

    Elisabeth Elliot

    Friends, Temple’s story reminds us that having a different perspective (than that of the world’s) is important. For this reason, we need to abandon our short-sighted spectacles and spend time in God’s Word. It’s there in the Bible where we are gifted God’s perspective. And when we spend time in community, we get to witness God’s Word at work. Every person we meet and every circumstance we encounter gets filtered through the lens of the Gospel. And Gals, we need the Gospel!… So let’s grab those Bibles, dig into community, and seek His perspective in all things! 👓♥️

    Love, Mer

    Additional Resources:

    Here Elisabeth Elliot shares a different perspective which encourages all who listen to trust snd be thankful…no matter what our feelings may say…for God is good and always in control. Elisabeth Elliot’s “Will vs Feelings:” https://youtu.be/LITXT7NCZZE 🎙

    A Biblical perspective regarding justice and reconciliation: https://www.centerforbiblicalunity.com/resources

    A Biblical perspective regarding Afghanistan (prayer): https://mamabearapologetics.com/7-prayers-afgh/

    “Suffering is not for nothing” by Elisabeth Elliot, video 1… “Gratitude:” https://youtu.be/2zcBO3EsZBY

    Joel Kramer and Sean McDowell discuss Archeology and the Bible: https://youtu.be/A_k4noV95kk

    “How do I get through this?” Katherine and Jay Wolf – suffering through the Biblical lens of God’s wisdom, love, and faithfulness: https://youtu.be/bEW5sbMcY3k

    Perspective- An average 2021 Christian woman talks with a first century Christian woman: https://youtu.be/7Zrve6NMWxk

    CS Lewis provided a Biblical perspective of love in his book, The Four Loves. Here are a few short Doodles/videos regarding our need for God’s Agape Love :

  • Love- The Four Loves, (Book) CS Lewis

  • Love- The Four Loves: Storge/Affection (Doodles) CS Lewis

    • #Gospelglasses #HisPerspective #HisGrace #community

  • Bible Verses: The Sufficiency of Jesus

    Bible Verses: The Sufficiency of Jesus

    Sisters, let’s lay down our old self-reliant ways and put every single care into His hands. For it’s not self-confidence that will carry us through, but dependency upon Christ alone. Wherever you may be right now, take a breath and pray. No question is too lofty, no sorrow is too deep, and no past is beyond His Grace. Keep leaning into His arms (pray), digging into His Words, and diving into Gospel-driven community. Sister, Jesus’s work on the cross was enough, and the new Life He gives through the Resurrection is sufficient for every need you have today. Trust Him. Love, Mer ♥️

    God’s Word Says

    John 15:5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

    2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

    Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

    1 Corinthians 18-31 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. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 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? 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 to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, …

    2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (The Power of Christ in me!)

    1 Corinthians 1:30-31 And because of him[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the

    1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:27-31‬ ‭“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””

    Psalm 16:5 You, LORD, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands.

    2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

    Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

    Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

    2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

    2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

    1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

    John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

    John 1:14 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 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

    Colossians 1:28-29 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

    Hebrews 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God,

    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.

    Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

    Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

    Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

    1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.

    1 Corinthians 15:1-58 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. …

    Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.

    Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

    Hebrews 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

    Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

    Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

    1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

    Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.

    Romans 3:24 And are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

    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 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

    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.

    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.

    Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

    Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

    Jude 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy,

    1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

    1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

    1 Peter 1:18-19 Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

    Hebrews 13:12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

    Hebrews 10:10-14 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

    Hebrews 9:26 For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

    Hebrews 9:12 He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

    Titus 3:7 So that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

    Colossians 1:20-22 And through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

    Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

    Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

    Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    Galatians 2:16 Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

    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.

    Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

    Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

    Romans 6:1-11 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His. …

    Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

    Acts 13:39 And by Him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

    Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

    Romans 8:31-35 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

  • Bible Verses about God’s Sovereignty

    Bible Verses about God’s Sovereignty

    Dear Sisters,

    Whether it be our own personal pain and brokenness, observing the suffering of others, and/or the dissension and heartbreaking evil seen around us (at homes, at work, or on the news)… one might ask, “How could anything good come from this?” The historical testimonies of Joseph, Ruth, and Job in the Bible also deal with the question of suffering. Each of these persons drew hope and joy upon knowing that despite what they felt and witnessed, God was on the throne. They knew that God was good and thus trusted God’s character and wisdom. Instead of leaning upon their own understanding, they poured out their hearts before God in utter vulnerability, confident in His reign (soveREIGNty) over every detail.

    Prosperity should not be an occasion for pride, and uncertainty should not be an occasion for panic…Why? Because of the Providence of God.

    Alistair Begg

    In John 1:46, Nathanael asked the same question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Like all of us, Nathaniel relied upon his human reasoning, emotions, and experience but was advised to go to Jesus and see! God often allows our understanding to fail as to remind us that only He is God and that we need to lean upon Him in all of our ways. Just as Nathaniel saw no possibility of good coming from such a lowly location (Nazareth), we too can struggle mightily to perceive how God could bring good out of various circumstances…especially times of immense suffering! Jesus truly is the only good that can come from any situation. Resting in His Peace and His care in times of sorrow or great concern allows us to know His faithfulness even more. Friend, no matter what you and I might face today, nothing is impossible with God and nothing is in vain according to His purposes. Throw every fear, question, and presupposition upon the cross today… Jesus is enough for every need we will ever face. God is Holy, Just, and wholly good… Not to mention, 100% in control. Let’s keep praying loads and loads, reading His Word fervently, and diving into Gospel-driven community… Trust His heart! ♥️

    Love, Mer

    Luke 22:42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

    Matthew 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

    Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

    Acts 17:2-3 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

    1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

    Colossians 1:29 For this (verse 28) I toil, struggling with all of HIS energy that HE powerfully works in me.

    Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; He does all that he pleases.

    Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have you done?”

    Isaiah 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

    Proverbs 21:1  The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

    Psalm 135:6  Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

    Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

    Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

    Ephesians 1:11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

    1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

    Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

    Job 2:10 “But he said to her, “…Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

    Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

    Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

    Colossians 4:2-4 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

    1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

    Romans 9:18  So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

    Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

    1 Timothy 6:15 Which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

    John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

    Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

    John 15:5 “ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

    Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

    2 Chronicles 20:6 And said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.

    Romans 9:11 Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—

    Isaiah 45:7 I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.

    Isaiah 43:13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

    Deuteronomy 32:39 “‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

    Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

    Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lordhas taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

    James 4:13-15  Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

    Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

    Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

    Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

    Exodus 4:11  Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

    Acts 2:23 This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

    Psalm 29:10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

    Romans 13:1-7 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …

    Daniel 4:17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’

    Romans 11:33-36  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

    Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

    Jeremiah 32:27  “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

    Deuteronomy 8:18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

    Philippians 1:6  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

    Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

    Ephesians 1:11-12  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

    Ephesians 1:4 Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

    ‭‭Job‬ ‭42:2-6‬ ‭ESV ““I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.””

    Psalm 139:13- 16 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

    Romans 9:21  Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

    John 6:65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

    Genesis 22:13-14 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”;[b] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”[c]

    Matthew 10:29-30  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.

    Lamentations 3:37  Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?

    Lamentations 3:37-38  Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?

    Isaiah 40:13-14 Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?

    Ecclesiastes 3:14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

    Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

    1 Samuel 2:10  The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed.”

    Genesis 1:1  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

    2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

    Colossians 1:16  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

    Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

    Acts 4:27-28 For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

    John 19:11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

    Matthew 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

    Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

    Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

    Psalm 22:28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

    1 Chronicles 29:11-12 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

    Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

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

    Daniel 4:34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

    Psalm 16:5-6 “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

    2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

    Romans 8:29-30 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

    John 6:37  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

    Jeremiah 32:17  ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

    Isaiah 14:27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

    Psalm 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

    Hebrews 4:13  And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

    2 Corinthians 4:4  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

    Romans 9:20  But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

    Romans 9:19  You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”

    Daniel 4:34-35 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

    Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

    Isaiah 14:24  The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

    Proverbs 20:24  A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?

    Psalm 147:5  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

    Psalm 33:11  The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

    Revelation 19:6  Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

    Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

    James 1:18  Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

    Acts 17:10-11 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

    Jeremiah 27:5 “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.

    Isaiah 43:15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

    Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

    John 1:3-4 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

    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.

    Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.

    Exodus 17:16 Saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

    Revelation 17:17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

    Revelation 4:2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

    2 Peter 1:10  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

    1 Peter 1:20  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

    2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

    Deuteronomy 10:14  Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

    Revelation 12:9  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

    Revelation 20:11  Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

    1 Peter 3:17  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

    6 minutes
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    60 minutes
    Credit and thanks to OpenBible and BibleGateway
  • Colossians

    Colossians

    Inspired by God, the letter to the Colossians was written by both Paul and Timothy around A.D. 62.

    Chapter 1 – Thankfulness for Spiritual Attainments

    1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus [a]by the will of God, and Timothy [b]our brother,

    2 To the [c]saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

    3 We [d]give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have [e]for all the [f]saints; 5 because of the hope reserved for you in [g]heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, [h]the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as [i]in all the world also it is bearing fruit and [j]increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard it and [k]understood the grace of God in truth; 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

    9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the [l]knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [m]to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and [n]increasing in the [o]knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to [p]His glorious might, [q]for the attaining of all perseverance and [r]patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us [s]to share in the inheritance of the [t]saints in light.

    The Incomparable Christ

    13 [u]For He rescued us from the [v]domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [w]His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

    15 [x]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: 16 for [y]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [z]is before all things, and in Him all things [aa]hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [ab]it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the [ac]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in [ad]heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

    …in Him, and through Him

    Col 1

    21 And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in [ae]the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, [af]was made a [ag]minister.

    24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking [ah]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church. 25 I [ai]was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might [aj]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His [ak]saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person [al]with all wisdom, so that we may present every person [am]complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His [an]power which [ao]works mightily within me.

    “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all HIS energy that HE powerfully works within me.”

    Col 1:28-29

    Footnotes

    1. Colossians 1:1 Lit through
    2. Colossians 1:1 Lit the
    3. Colossians 1:2 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
    4. Colossians 1:3 Or always give…praying for you
    5. Colossians 1:4 Or toward
    6. Colossians 1:4 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
    7. Colossians 1:5 Lit the heavens
    8. Colossians 1:5 Or of the gospel
    9. Colossians 1:6 Or it is in all the world also, bearing
    10. Colossians 1:6 Or spreading abroad
    11. Colossians 1:6 Or came to fully know
    12. Colossians 1:9 Or real knowledge
    13. Colossians 1:10 Lit unto all pleasing
    14. Colossians 1:10 Or growing by the knowledge
    15. Colossians 1:10 Or real knowledge
    16. Colossians 1:11 Lit the might of His glory
    17. Colossians 1:11 Lit unto all
    18. Colossians 1:11 Or patience with joy
    19. Colossians 1:12 Lit unto the portion of
    20. Colossians 1:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
    21. Colossians 1:13 Lit Who rescued
    22. Colossians 1:13 Lit authority
    23. Colossians 1:13 Lit the Son of His love
    24. Colossians 1:15 Lit Who is
    25. Colossians 1:16 Or in
    26. Colossians 1:17 Or has existed prior to
    27. Colossians 1:17 Or endure
    28. Colossians 1:19 Or all the fullness was pleased to dwell
    29. Colossians 1:19 I.e., fullness of deity
    30. Colossians 1:20 Lit the heavens
    31. Colossians 1:23 Or in faith
    32. Colossians 1:23 Lit became
    33. Colossians 1:23 Or servant
    34. Colossians 1:24 Lit of
    35. Colossians 1:25 Lit became
    36. Colossians 1:25 Lit make full the word of God
    37. Colossians 1:26 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
    38. Colossians 1:28 Lit in
    39. Colossians 1:28 Or perfect
    40. Colossians 1:29 Lit working
    41. Colossians 1:29 Lit in powe
    Voddie Baucham <60 minutes

    📝 Matthew Henry Commentary Chapter 1: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Col.1.1-Col.1.29

    📝 Charles H. Spurgeon’s Sermon, “Christ in You:” https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/christ-in-you/#flipbook/

    🎞 Alister Begg sermon, “Presenting Everyone Mature in Christ” part 1: https://youtu.be/fAv6C92kCkQ part 2: https://youtu.be/Mc9IYRL1ZiU part 3: https://youtu.be/bXZGrdrz3Ik part 4: https://youtu.be/oFM0NPayavw

    Chapter 2 – You Are Built Up in Christ

    2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not [a]personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth [b]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. 5 For even though I am absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see [d]your orderly manner and the stability of your faith in Christ.

    6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so [e]walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established [f]in [g]your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing [h]with gratitude.

    …overflowing with gratitude

    Col 2:7

    8 See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, [i]rather than in accordance with Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made [j]complete, and He is the head [k]over every ruler and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And [l]when you were dead [m]in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had [n]disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through [o]Him.

    See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception…

    Col 2:8

    16 Therefore, no one is to [p]act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath [q]day— 17 things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the [r]substance [s]belongs to Christ. 18 Take care that no one keeps [t]defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, [u]taking his stand on visions he has seen, [v]inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and [w]ligaments, grows with a growth [x]which is from God.

    20 If you have died with Christ [y]to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish [z]with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the [aa]appearance of wisdom in [ab]self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

    Footnotes

    1. Colossians 2:1 Lit in the flesh
    2. Colossians 2:2 Lit of the full assurance
    3. Colossians 2:5 Lit and seeing
    4. Colossians 2:5 Or your good order
    5. Colossians 2:6 Or lead your life
    6. Colossians 2:7 Or by
    7. Colossians 2:7 Or the faith
    8. Colossians 2:7 One early ms in it with
    9. Colossians 2:8 Lit and not
    10. Colossians 2:10 Lit full
    11. Colossians 2:10 Lit of
    12. Colossians 2:13 Or although
    13. Colossians 2:13 Or by reason of
    14. Colossians 2:15 Or divested Himself of
    15. Colossians 2:15 Or it; i.e., the cross
    16. Colossians 2:16 Lit judge you
    17. Colossians 2:16 Or days
    18. Colossians 2:17 Lit body
    19. Colossians 2:17 Lit of Christ
    20. Colossians 2:18 Or deciding against you
    21. Colossians 2:18 Or going into detail about
    22. Colossians 2:18 Or conceited
    23. Colossians 2:19 Lit bonds
    24. Colossians 2:19 Lit of God
    25. Colossians 2:20 Lit from
    26. Colossians 2:22 Or by being consumed
    27. Colossians 2:23 Lit report; Gr logos
    28. Colossians 2:23 Or would-be religion

    📝 Matthew Henry Commentary Chapter 2: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Col.2.1-Col.2.23

    📝 Charles H. Spurgeon’s Sermon, “Death and its Sentence Abolished:” https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/death-and-its-sentence-abolished/#flipbook/

    🎞 Augustus Lopes: “The Sufficiency of Christ:” https://youtu.be/MLA3A13HzRQ

    Chapter 3 – Put On the New Self (Jesus)

    3 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a]Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

    Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth.

    Col 3:2

    5 Therefore, [b]treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [c]amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming [d]upon the [e]sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. 8 But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. 9 [g]Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old [h]self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self, which is being [i]renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [j]barbarian, [k]Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.

    Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you,

    Col 3:16

    12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and [l]patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is [m]the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ, to which you were [n]indeed called in one body, [o]rule in your hearts; and [p]be thankful. 16 Let the word of [q]Christ richly dwell within you, [r]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing [s]one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

    Family Relations

    18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing [t]to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not [u]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

    It is the Lord whom you serve.

    Col 3:24

    22 [v]Slaves, obey those who are your [w]human masters in everything, not with [x]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [y]heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [z]of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [aa]that without partiality.

    Footnotes

    1. Colossians 3:2 Or Be intent on
    2. Colossians 3:5 Lit put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth
    3. Colossians 3:5 Lit is
    4. Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain upon the sons of disobedience
    5. Colossians 3:6 I.e., people opposed to God
    6. Colossians 3:7 Or among these
    7. Colossians 3:9 Or Stop lying
    8. Colossians 3:9 Lit person
    9. Colossians 3:10 Lit renovated
    10. Colossians 3:11 I.e., uncultured
    11. Colossians 3:11 I.e., a member of an ancient people near the Black Sea, often considered unrefined
    12. Colossians 3:12 I.e., forbearance toward others
    13. Colossians 3:14 Lit the uniting bond of perfection
    14. Colossians 3:15 Or also
    15. Colossians 3:15 Or be in control in
    16. Colossians 3:15 Or show yourselves thankful
    17. Colossians 3:16 One early ms the Lord
    18. Colossians 3:16 Or in
    19. Colossians 3:16 Or one another, singing with psalms…
    20. Colossians 3:20 Lit in
    21. Colossians 3:21 Or provoke to anger
    22. Colossians 3:22 I.e., slaves in first-century Roman culture
    23. Colossians 3:22 Lit masters according to flesh
    24. Colossians 3:22 I.e., working only when watched
    25. Colossians 3:23 Lit from the soul
    26. Colossians 3:24 I.e., consisting of
    27. Colossians 3:25 Lit there is no partiality

    📝 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Colossians 3: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Col.3.1-Col.3.25

    📝 Charles H. Spurgeon’s sermon out of Chapter 3 entitled, “Christ’s Indwelling Word:” https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/christs-indwelling-word/#flipbook/

    🎞 Alistair Begg’s sermon, “The Christian Family:” https://youtu.be/-HrZ1soXABY part 2: https://youtu.be/I2fiuvAqEx0

    🎞 Paul Washer teaches on Marriage, Family, and Parenting: https://youtu.be/saLNPagopjQ

    Chapter 4

    Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

    2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it.

    Devote yourselves to prayer, and keep alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving

    Col 4:2

    5 [a]Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, [b]making the most of the opportunity. 6 Your speech must always be [c]with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

    7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. 8 For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; 9 [d]and with him is Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your own. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

    10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’ cousin Mark (about whom you received [e]instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may [f]stand [g]mature and [h]fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has [i]a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and Demas does also. 15 Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also [j]Nympha and the church that is in [k]her house. 16 When [l]this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, read [m]my letter that is coming from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus, “See to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may [n]fulfill it.”

    18 [o]I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my [p]imprisonment. Grace be with you.

    Footnotes

    1. Colossians 4:5 Lit Walk
    2. Colossians 4:5 Lit redeeming the time
    3. Colossians 4:6 Or gracious
    4. Colossians 4:9 Lit along with Onesimus
    5. Colossians 4:10 Or orders
    6. Colossians 4:12 Or stand firm
    7. Colossians 4:12 Or fully developed
    8. Colossians 4:12 Or made complete
    9. Colossians 4:13 Or much toil; or great pain
    10. Colossians 4:15 Or Nymphas (masc)
    11. Colossians 4:15 One early ms their
    12. Colossians 4:16 Lit the
    13. Colossians 4:16 Lit the
    14. Colossians 4:17 Or continually fulfill
    15. Colossians 4:18 Lit The greeting by my hand of Paul
    16. Colossians 4:18 Lit bonds
    15 minutes. Paul Washer and Prayer

    📝 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Chapter 4: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Col.4.1-Col.4.18

    📝 Charles H. Spurgeon’s sermon entitled, “A Sermon for the Week of Prayer:” https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/a-sermon-for-the-week-of-prayer/#flipbook/

    🎞 Apologist, Jon McCray discusses how the Bible does NOT condone Slavery as we know it…but the opposite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKK4FXm0bD4

    📝🎙 Does the Bible advocate Slavery? Mama Bear Apologetics podcast: https://mamabearapologetics.com/mba046-doubting-dawkins-part-7/?fbclid=IwAR30wP0ILwOfLi2v_ll3a7Fvvd0M-EkmXiNHD4YUk–7JQSMg3a3paKRI4I

  • What is Truth?

    What is Truth?

    Sisters, would you agree that we tend to “stake our lives” on what we deem to be true? That isn’t necessarily a wrong step to take, but it certainly is a profound one! Here’s a hypothetical situation to ponder…

    Let’s say that you were fast-asleep one evening until you heard an incredibly loud sound downstairs. Your spouse as well as your children are upstairs, and your dog is at your bedside. Your heart skips a beat as you realize that everyone is still upstairs! No amount of “positive thinking” will alter this reality. That sound was real and it needs to be acknowledged. Taking steps to investigate the sound is certainly not unkind, nor is it unloving. On the contrary! Examining what is true is both responsible and wise! The danger would be to approach this situation with apathy and avoidance.

    The heart-dropping crash in the scenario above is the wake-up-call we all face when reality won’t be ignored anymore. It can’t be, because Truth isn’t of our invention. We need to pause and remember that Truth was not made by human hands nor is it (or He) derived by the philosophies of men or women. Simply and boldly stated, Truth is not a “what,” but a “who!” Nearly 2000 years ago God put on flesh and entered humanity as to save it. His claim to be the Messiah (“Christ” in the Greek) placed Jesus as the Son of God, not a created being (like you and i). His words, like the sound downstairs in the middle of the night, need be evaluated, not ignored. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) As much as our old nature wants to control and manipulate what is true, no thing nor person has either the capability nor the authority to change Truth. But you can be 100% certain that Truth changes any heart He (Jesus) touches! Talk with Him! Evaluate His claims!

    “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [that is, Jesus]: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse…. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

    C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

    Pilate asked, “What is truth?” When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, “I find no basis for an accusation against him.”

    John 18:38

    Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”

    John 14:5-7

    Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth,before Abraham came into existence,I am!”59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden from them and went out from the temple area.

    John 8:57-59

    The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

    John 10:31-33
    Does Truth Exist? 60 minutes with Frank Turek
    6 minutes with Melissa Dougherty
    60 minutes with author and professor Nancy Pearcey

    Who is Jesus?

    6 minutes
    10 minutes with Wes Huff
    6 minutes
    12 minutes w/ Nabeel Qureshi
    45 minutes w/ Gary Habermas
    20 minutes with J Warner Wallace
    51 minutes with Mary Jo Sharp
    44 minutes with Mikel Del Rosario

    Why Christianity?

    10 minutes with Jon McCray
    47 minutes with Greg Koukl

    What does Scripture Say about Truth?

    John 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness (testify) to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

    John 18:38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

    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 17:7 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

    John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

    Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”

    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.

    Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

    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 complete, equipped for every good work.

    1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (testifying to history and promises fulfilled)

    1 Corinthians 15:6 “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”

    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.

    Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

    Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

    1 Corinthians 2:1-16 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

    Psalm 12:17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.

    Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

    2 Timothy 3:13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

    Colossians 3:1-3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

    Psalm 119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

    John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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

    Judges 2:10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

    Colossians 2:1-23 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

    Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

    John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

    John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

    John 16:13 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

    Psalm 5:9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

    Psalm 25:5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

    Psalm 119:151 But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.

    Psalm 45:4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!

    Psalm 43:3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!

    Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

    John 1:14 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.

    John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

    2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to His own glory and excellence,

    1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

    John 3:20-21 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

    Ephesians 5:8-11 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

    Ephesians 4:14-15 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

    2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

    Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

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

    Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

    John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

    Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

    2 Timothy 3:3-7 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

    2 Peter 2:2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

    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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

    2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

    Colossians 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

    Proverbs 18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

    Additional Biblical Resources

    8 minutes with Wes Huff
    20 minutes with Dr. David Wood
  • The Gift of Joy

    The Gift of Joy

    “James the Just” (per Josephus), Jesus’s half-brother, was known for having knees like a camel…calloused and tough. He was a man devoted to prayer, and his knees reflected that fervency! Prior to the Resurrection, James was not a follower of Jesus. But he couldn’t deny the miracle he had witnessed…Jesus had risen from that tomb! James’s life had changed in response to this event…and thereby became committed to sharing this Good News far and wide! This would bring hardship upon his life, however…Even martyrdom around AD 62. But James knew the genuine joy of reliance upon Christ…and therefore chose calloused knees over a hardened heart.

    “The secret is Christ in me, not me in different circumstances.”

    Elisabeth Elliot

    James 1

    Inspired by God, the letter of James was written in the early to mid 40s (A.D.)…approximately 10-15 years after the Resurrection. The audience of James were Jewish Christians who met in house churches outside of Palestine.

    The Testing of Your Faith

    1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

    To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

    2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be [g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

    5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a [i]double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

    9 Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his [j]humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

    12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [l]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 Do not be [o]deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or [p]shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be [q]a kind of first fruits [r]among His creatures.

    19 [s]You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in [u]humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.

    26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

    What is the Gospel?

    8 minutes
    20 minutes

    The Resurrection

    50 minutes

    Joy in Brokenness

    Voddie Baucham’s sermon on Psalm 51.
  • Ephesians

    Ephesians


    “The Bible is absolutely Sufficient for all faith and practice.” – Voddie Baucham

    Inspired by God, written through Paul…the book of Ephesians was written in A.D. 62 during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. Per the ESV Study Bible notes, “Ephesians articulates general instructions in the truths of the redemptive work of God in Christ; the unity of church among diverse peoples; and proper conduct in the church, the home, and the world. Unity and love in the bond of peace mark the work of the Savior as well as a Christian’s grateful response” to Jesus’s grace. These notes continue to share that “Ancient Ephesus forms an appropriate background to the book of Ephesians because of this city’s fascination with magic and the occult (see Acts 19:19). This helps explain Paul’s emphasis on the power of God over all heavenly authorities and on Christ’s triumphant ascension as head over the church and all things in this age and the next. The Ephesians needed (as we still do, today) to be reminded of the these things in order to remain resolute in their allegiance to Jesus as the supreme power (Lord) in the world and in their lives.”

    📄 C.H. Spurgeon’s Sermon on Ephesians

    📄 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Ephesians

    🎞 Line by Line Teaching Through Ephesians, Redeemer Bible Church

    🎞 Additional video resources and sermons on Ephesians are shared at the bottom of each chapter.

    Chapter 1 – The Blessings of Redemption

    1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus [a]by the will of God,

    To the [b]saints who are [c]at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before [d]Him. In love 5 [e]He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. 7 In [f]Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He [g]lavished on [h]us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He [i]made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, 10 regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things [j]in the heavens and things on the earth. 11 [k]In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, 12 to the end that [l]we who were the first to hope in the [m]Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In [n]Him, [o]you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also [p]believed, you were sealed in [q]Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

    In Him we have redemption through His blood

    Eph 1:7

    15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and [r]your love for all the [s]saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the [t]knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart [u]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the [v]saints, 19 and what is the [w]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

    Identity is not something you achieve, but what you receive (in Christ).

    Frank Turek

    Chapter 2 – Made Alive in Christ

    And [a]you [b]were dead [c]in your offenses and sins, 2 in which you previously walked according to the [d]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the [e]sons of disobedience. 3 Among them [f]we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, [g]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the [h]mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead [i]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together [j]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the [k]boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [l]this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

    For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God

    Eph 2:8-9

    11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, [m]excluded from [n]the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away [o]have been brought near [p]by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the [q]barrier of the dividing wall, 15 [r]by abolishing [s]in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might [t]make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, [u]by it having put to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the [v]saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy [w]temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

    I gave up all for Christ, and what have I found? Everything in Christ.

    John Calvin

    Chapter 3 – Paul’s Stewardship

    For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. 4 [a]By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight [b]into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to [c]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets [d]in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all [e]saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to [f]enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the [g]eternal purpose which He [h]carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and [i]confident access through faith [j]in Him. 13 Therefore I ask [k]you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, [l]since they are your glory.

    14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom [m]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner [n]self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the [o]saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

    to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God

    Eph 3:19

    20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations [p]forever and ever. Amen.

    My faith rests not in what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know, but in what Christ is, in what he has done, and in what he is doing for me.

    Spurgeon

    Chapter 4 – Unity of the Spirit

    Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

    7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore [a]it says,

    “When He ascended on high,
    He led captive the captives,
    And He gave gifts to people.”

    9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what [b]does it mean except that He also [c]had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as [d]pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the [e]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the [f]knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature [g]which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 [h]As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness [i]in deceitful scheming; 15 but [j]speaking the truth in love, [k]we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together [l]by what every joint supplies, according to the [m]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

    The Christian’s Walk

    17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the [n]Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, [o]excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior [p]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old [q]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new [r]self, which [s]in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

    Put on Jesus

    Eph 4:24

    25 Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil [t]an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no [u]unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification [v]according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, [w]by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, [x]clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven [y]you.

    God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.

    George Whitfield

    Chapter 5 – Be Imitators of God

    Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved [a]you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a fragrant aroma.

    3 But sexual immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among [d]saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness [e]or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or [f]impure or greedy person, which [g]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

    Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them

    Eph 5:11

    6 See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the [h]sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 [i]as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [j]it says,

    “Awake, sleeper,
    And arise from the dead,
    And Christ will shine on you.”

    15 So then, [k]be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 [l]making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, [m]in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to [n]one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; 21 [o]and subject yourselves to one another in the [p]fear of Christ.

    Marriage like Christ and the Church

    22 Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

    25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [q]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are parts of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

    The Lord continues to empty us in order to teach us to lay aside all self-reliance, that we may cling to Christ alone.

    Paul Washer

    Ephesians 6 – Children and Parents

    Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.

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

    Slaves and Masters

    5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your [a]masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not [b]by way of [c]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the [d]heart. 7 With goodwill [e]render service, as to the Lord, and not to people, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

    9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

    Ephesians 6:5-9
    The Armor of God

    10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [f]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [g]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

    For our struggle is not against [f]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

    Eph 6:12

    18 [h]With every prayer and request, [i]pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, [j]be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the [k]saints, 19 and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in [l]chains; that [m]in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

    21 Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to [n]what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful [o]servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 [p]I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know [q]about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.

    23 Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ [r]with incorruptible love.

    Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?

    Corrie Ten Boom

    Video Resources:

    Revelation 1-2 Ephesus

    Jon McCray of Whaddo You Meme: “Does the Bible support slavery?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pERsLtciNhY&list=PLtgkpjnbEbN6oQ0muSXn7z66FQ3bTJPbj

    Allen Parr of The Beat shares a series of videos teaching through the Book of Ephesians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONyfzvZG-U0&list=PLbE_MYjGeeTB807JIliNKF9iCB1IlOc7L

    Voddie Baucham teaches on Ephesians 2:10-11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoJGYCc7EUg

    Alistair Begg sermons on Ephesians: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alistair+begg+ephesians

    Ephesians 5:11… Exposing the Word of Faith Movement, by Apologia Studios

  • Psalm 102 and Hebrews 1

    Psalm 102 and Hebrews 1


    Let’s devote ourselves to prayer, live in His Words daily, and dive into Gospel-focused community.

    C.H. Spurgeon’s Sermon on Psalm 102 https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/spurgeon-sermons/read/devotionals/spurgeons-morning-and-evening/morning-and-evening-716-pm-551264.html

    Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Psalm 102 https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Ps.102.1-Ps.102.28

    Voddie Baucham’s “Why You Can Believe the Bible:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1XJ7DeR5fc

    Psalm 102

    Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.

    A Prayer of the afflicted when he is weak and [a]pours out his complaint before the Lord.

    102 Hear my prayer, Lord!
    And let my cry for help come to You.
    2 Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
    Incline Your ear to me;
    On the day when I call answer me quickly.
    3 For my days have ended in smoke,
    And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
    4 My heart has been struck like [b]grass and has withered,
    Indeed, I forget to eat my bread.
    5 Because of the [c]loudness of my groaning
    My bones [d]cling to my flesh.
    6 I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;
    I have become like an owl of the ruins.
    7 I lie awake,
    I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.

    8 My enemies have taunted me all day long;
    Those who [e]deride me [f]have used my name as a curse.
    9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,
    And mixed my drink with weeping
    10 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
    For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.
    11 My days are like a [g]lengthened shadow,
    And [h]I wither away like [i]grass.

    12 But You, Lord, [j]remain forever,
    And Your [k]name remains to all generations.
    13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
    For it is time to be gracious to her,
    For the appointed time has come.
    14 Surely Your servants [l]take pleasure in her stones,
    And feel pity for her dust.
    15 [m]So the [n]nations will fear the name of the Lord,
    And all the kings of the earth, Your glory.
    16 For the Lord has built up Zion;
    He has appeared in His glory.
    17 He has turned His attention to the prayer of the [o]destitute
    And has not despised their prayer.

    18 [p]This will be written for the generation to come,
    [q]That a people yet to be created [r]may praise [s]the Lord:
    19 For He looked down from His holy height;
    From heaven the Lord looked [t]upon the earth,
    20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
    To set free [u]those who were doomed to death,
    21 So that people may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion,
    And His praise in Jerusalem,
    22 When the peoples are gathered together,
    And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

    23 He has broken my strength in the way;
    He has shortened my days.
    24 I say, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days,
    Your years are [v]throughout all generations.
    25 In time of old You founded the earth,
    And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
    26 [w]Even they will perish, but You endure;
    All of them will wear out like a garment;
    Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.
    27 But You are [x]the same,
    And Your years will not come to an end.
    28 The children of Your servants will continue,
    And their [y]descendants will be established before You.”

    Footnotes

    1. Psalm 102 Title Ps 142:2
    2. Psalm 102:4 Lit herbage
    3. Psalm 102:5 Lit voice
    4. Psalm 102:5 Lit have cleaved
    5. Psalm 102:8 Or made a fool of
    6. Psalm 102:8 Lit have sworn by me
    7. Psalm 102:11 Lit stretched out
    8. Psalm 102:11 Or as for me, I
    9. Psalm 102:11 Lit herbage
    10. Psalm 102:12 Or sit enthroned
    11. Psalm 102:12 Lit memorial
    12. Psalm 102:14 Or have found
    13. Psalm 102:15 Or And
    14. Psalm 102:15 Or Gentiles, heathen
    15. Psalm 102:17 Or naked
    16. Psalm 102:18 Or Let this be written
    17. Psalm 102:18 Or And
    18. Psalm 102:18 Or will
    19. Psalm 102:18 Heb Yah
    20. Psalm 102:19 Lit toward
    21. Psalm 102:20 Lit the sons of death
    22. Psalm 102:24 Lit in generation of generations
    23. Psalm 102:26 Lit They themselves
    24. Psalm 102:27 Lit He
    25. Psalm 102:28 Lit seed

    Alistair Begg sermons: Hebrews https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/scripture/hebrews/

    Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Hebrews https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Hebrews

    Hebrews 1

    God’s Final Word in His Son

    1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 [a]in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the [c]world. 3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and [e]upholds all things by [f]the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

    5 For to which of the angels did He ever say,

    “You are My Son,
    Today I have fathered You”?

    And again,

    “I will be a Father to Him
    And He will be a Son to Me”?

    6 And [g]when He again brings the firstborn into [h]the world, He says,

    “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

    7 And regarding the angels He says,

    “He makes His angels winds,
    And His ministers a flame of fire.”

    8 But regarding the Son He says,

    “Your throne, God, is forever and ever,
    And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of [i]His kingdom.
    9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
    Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
    With the oil of joy above Your companions.”

    10 And,

    “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
    And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
    11 They will perish, but You remain;
    And they all will [j]wear out like a garment,
    12 And like a robe You will roll them up;
    Like a garment they will also be changed.
    But You are the same,
    And Your years will not come to an end.”

    13 But to which of the angels has He ever said,

    “Sit at My right hand,
    Until I make Your enemies
    A footstool for Your feet”?

    14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

    Footnotes

    1. Hebrews 1:2 Or at the end of these days
    2. Hebrews 1:2 Or in the person of a Son; lit in Son
    3. Hebrews 1:2 Lit ages
    4. Hebrews 1:3 Lit Who being
    5. Hebrews 1:3 Lit upholding
    6. Hebrews 1:3 Or His word of power
    7. Hebrews 1:6 Or again when He brings
    8. Hebrews 1:6 Lit the inhabited earth
    9. Hebrews 1:8 Late mss Your
    10. Hebrews 1:11 Or become old
  • Psalm 139 and Matthew 5

    Psalm 139 and Matthew 5

    “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” – Charles Spurgeon.

    C.H. Spurgeon’s Sermon on Psalm 139:24 https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-way-everlasting/#flipbook/

    Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Psalm 139 https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Ps.139.1-Ps.139.24

    Voddie Baucham’s “Why You Can Believe the Bible:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1XJ7DeR5fc

    Psalm 139

    God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.

    139 Lord, You have searched me and known me.
    2 You know [a]when I sit down and [b]when I get up;
    You understand my thought from far away.
    3 You [c]scrutinize my [d]path and my lying down,
    And are acquainted with all my ways.
    4 [e]Even before there is a word on my tongue,
    Behold, Lord, You know it all.
    5 You have encircled me behind and in front,
    And placed Your hand upon me.
    6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.

    For the music director. A Psalm of David.

    7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
    Or where can I flee from Your presence?
    8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
    If I make my bed in [f]Sheol, behold, You are there.
    9 If I take up the wings of the dawn,
    If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
    10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
    And Your right hand will take hold of me.
    11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will [g]overwhelm me,
    And the light around me will be night,”
    12 Even darkness is not dark [h]to You,
    And the night is as bright as the day.
    Darkness and light are alike to You.

    13 For You created my innermost parts;
    You wove me in my mother’s womb.
    14 I will give thanks to You, because [i]I am awesomely and wonderfully made;
    Wonderful are Your works,
    And my soul knows it very well.
    15 My [j]frame was not hidden from You
    When I was made in secret,
    And skillfully formed in the depths of the earth;
    16 Your eyes have seen my formless substance;
    And in Your book were written
    All the days that were ordained for me,
    When as yet there was not one of them.

    17 How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
    18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand.
    When I awake, I am still with You.

    19 If only You would put the wicked to death, God;
    Leave me, you men of bloodshed.
    20 For they speak [k]against You wickedly,
    And Your enemies [l]take Your name in vain.
    21 Do I not hate those who hate You, Lord?
    And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
    22 I hate them with the utmost hatred;
    They have become my enemies.

    23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
    Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;
    24 And see if there is any [m]hurtful way in me,
    And lead me in the everlasting way.

    Verse 24 – NASB “Hurtful;” ESV “Grievous;” HCSB “Offensive;” NLT “Sinful;” NET “Idolatrous”

    Footnotes

    1. Psalm 139:2 Lit my sitting
    2. Psalm 139:2 Lit my rising
    3. Psalm 139:3 Lit winnow
    4. Psalm 139:3 Or journeying
    5. Psalm 139:4 Lit For there is not
    6. Psalm 139:8 I.e., the netherworld
    7. Psalm 139:11 Lit bruise; some commentators cover
    8. Psalm 139:12 Lit from
    9. Psalm 139:14 Some ancient versions You are fearfully wonderful
    10. Psalm 139:15 Lit bones were
    11. Psalm 139:20 Or of
    12. Psalm 139:20 Some mss lift themselves up against You
    13. Psalm 139:24 Lit way of pain

    Matthew 5

    1Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

    The Beatitudes

    2And He opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

    3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

    5“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

    6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

    7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

    8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

    9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sonsa of God.

    10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

    Salt and Light

    13“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

    14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatb they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

    Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

    17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

    Anger

    21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherc will be liable to judgment; whoever insultsd his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the helle of fire. 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.f

    Lust

    27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

    Divorce

    31“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

    Oaths

    33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.37Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.g

    Retaliation

    38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,h let him have your cloak as well. 41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

    Love Your Enemies

    43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers,i what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

  • The Importance of Scripture

    The Importance of Scripture

    “Jesus Christ on the Infallibility of Scripture” by Answers in Genesis ✏️

    Voddie Bauchum’s “Why I Believe the Bible” 🎞

    But Jesus answered (Satan), “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

    Matthew 4:4

    Acts 17:11-12 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the (OT) Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

    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.

    Romans 15:4  For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

    Romans 10:17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

    Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

    ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:6-7, 10 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”‬

    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 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

    John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

    Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

    1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written,

    “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
    what God has prepared for those who love him”—

    2 John 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

    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.

    Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

    Psalm 119:105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

    Hebrews 4:12-14  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. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 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.

    Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

    Matthew 4:4  But He (Jesus) answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

    Jeremiah 23:29  Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

    Matthew 22:29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

    Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

    Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

    Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

    Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

    John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

    Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

    Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

    James 1:23-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

    Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

    2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

    John 7:37-38 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

    John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

    Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

    Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

    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.

    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.

    Luke 11:27-28  As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

    Matthew 28:20  Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

    Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

    1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (apologia) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

    James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

    Reliable and Trustworthy

    60 minutes with Voddie Baucham
    11 minutes
    45 minutes with Gary Habermas

    ✏️ The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

    Evidence for the Resurrection

    45 minutes with Mary Jo Sharp

    Focused on the Gospel

    8 minutes with Jeff Durbin

  • Luke 12

    Luke 12


    Let’s devote ourselves to prayer, live in His Words daily, and dive into Gospel-focused community.

    Have you met the real Jesus? https://jewsforjesus.org/have-you-met-the-real-jesus

    Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary on Luke 12: https://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/luke/12.htm

    C.H. Spurgeon’s Sermon Notes on Luke: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/scripture-index/luke/

    Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees

    In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

    Have No Fear

    4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.[a] Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?[b]And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

    Acknowledge Christ Before Men

    8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

    The Parable of the Rich Fool

    13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

    Do Not Be Anxious

    22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[c] 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,[d] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his[e]kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

    32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    You Must Be Ready

    35 “Stay dressed for action[f] and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants[g] whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he[h] would not have left his house to be broken into.40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

    41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant[i] whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

    Not Peace, but Division

    49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

    Interpreting the Time

    54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

    Settle with Your Accuser

    57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”[j]

    Footnotes

    1. Luke 12:5 Greek Gehenna
    2. Luke 12:6 Greek two assaria; an assarion was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius(which was a day’s wage for a laborer)
    3. Luke 12:25 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
    4. Luke 12:27 Some manuscripts Consider the lilies; they neither spin nor weave
    5. Luke 12:31 Some manuscripts God’s
    6. Luke 12:35 Greek Let your loins stay girded; compare Exodus 12:11
    7. Luke 12:37 Or bondservants
    8. Luke 12:39 Some manuscripts add would have stayed awake and
    9. Luke 12:43 Or bondservant; also verses 45, 46, 47
    10. Luke 12:59 Greek lepton, a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer)