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Read the Word: Psalm 139:1-6 Meditate on the Word: As humans, we can often be contradictory, even within ourselves. For example, I am a person who very much enjoys quiet. Perhaps not absolute silence per se, but being outdoors with only the sights and sounds of nature is something I quite enjoy. Yet, often when… Read More »

Read the Word: Numbers 6:22-27 Meditate on the Word: How often do we take the time to consider that God loves to bless His people? He loved providing good things for the people of Israel: a fertile land, abundant crops, freedom from oppression. As His children, those of us in the body of Christ are… Read More »

Read the Word: 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 Meditate on the Word: In the early days of the church, Paul understood something very clearly. Preaching that does not rely on the Holy Spirit is not effective for calling people to holy living. Preaching that is effective for calling people to live their lives for God can be… Read More »

Read the Word: Romans 8:9-11 Meditate on the Word: As a pastor, nothing makes me more sad than to get a phone call to officiate a funeral for someone that I never met. As a general rule, if I’ve never met you and am presiding over your funeral, this means that: You do not have… Read More »

Read the Word: Romans 8:1-8 Meditate on the Word: I think that often, we see our salvation as freedom from the consequences of our sin. This is, at best, an incomplete view that helps to keep us focused on our sin. Instead, we should view our salvation as freedom from our sin. Not just the consequences,… Read More »

Read the Word: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Meditate on the Word: When the Lord carried Ezekiel to the valley of dry bones, Israel had been defeated. They had been captured and deported to Babylon. The temple had been destroyed. Their national identity was gone. The death of their nation seemed permanent. And yet God, in his mercy,… Read More »

Read the Word: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Meditate on the Word: Yesterday, we were asked to consider which gifts God has given us as individuals for use in the church. Remember that these gifts are given by God for the common good. One thing that is certain is that God likes for people’s gifts to work… Read More »

Read the Word: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Meditate on the Word: Have you ever stopped to consider what gifts God has given to you for the benefit of the church? Paul mentions a few gifts in this passage, but it does not seem that this is to be a complete list. Instead, what we notice is… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 33:12-22 Meditate on the Word: It is very easy to place our trust in the things of this world that we can see around us instead of in God whom we cannot see. Nations trust in military strength to fend off enemies. Then enemies attack. People trust in jobs for security… Read More »

Read the Word: Psalm 115:1-8 Meditate on the Word: While this psalm was written hundreds of years ago, there is a sense in which it could have been written today. In today’s culture, people are more concerned with self than anyone else. Their idols may not be silver and gold, although those certainly are idols… Read More »