Read Luke 12:1 through 13:35 Have you ever been frustrated because you’ve shared God’s Word, talked with a person about Christ, and prayed fervently that he or she would come to Christ or grow spiritually – and nothing seemed to happen? [Jesus] asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took …
Excellent Worship
Read 1 Chronicles 24:1 through 26:32 God identified David as a man after the Lord’s own heart. David deeply valued worship. As a musician himself, David understood the power of music to touch human emotions, intimately connecting the people with their God. So, the king personally supervised the official integration of music into temple worship. All these men were under …
When Bad News Comes
Read 2 Kings 18:1 through 20:21 Bad news often comes in the form of a letter. I once got a frightening letter from the Internal Revenue Service. I read, I wept, I prayed, I appealed, and I won. That letter was a snap compared to other letters. Some have opened letters from their spouses, letters that amounted to final notice …
Taking Friends to Jesus
Read Luke 5:1 through 6:49 “We’re in Branson and Mark had a heart attack,” Elizabeth wrote on her Facebook status. “He will have a heart cath and stents put in tomorrow.” She wanted to sob with fear and aloneness, but was trying to be strong for Mark and their two young children, who only knew that Daddy was too sick …
The Myth of Money
Read 1 Kings 9:1 through 11:43 How often have we thought that more money would make our lives easier? If we just got a raise, we could pay our bills more easily. If only our house or our car was nicer, we would feel better. If we only had money in savings, we could finally relax. Yet how often do …
The Legacy
Read 1 Kings 2:1 through 3:28 What is the most important legacy a parent could pass on to his or her child? Would it be the houses, lands, and full bank accounts that a mother or father worked to provide? Would it be a broad education and wisdom? Would it even be a successful business or ministry for those children …
What About Holiness?
Read 1 Peter 1:1 through 5:14 Modern Christians seem to have fallen into the entitlement trap. They expect a comfortable life and readily answered prayers. Rather than self-discipline or correction from church leaders when they stray from Scripture, they want acceptance of their personal practices. They may overlook or excuse sin in themselves and others. God calls believers to a …
Love God First
Read Mark 12:1 through 13:37 Some people get so busy doing God’s work that they neglect Him. They find themselves going through the motions of a church service without actually worshipping. Their daily bible reading becomes a duty instead of a delight. And their Christian service becomes a chore rather than a joy. These people need to return to the …
Forgiveness
Read Mark 10 through 11:33 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25). The story is told of a man who feared he was on his deathbed. He made an offering of peace to a man against whom he had held a …
Three Anxious Souls
Read Mark 5:14 through 6:13 Anxiety is common to everyone. “What will the doctor’s report say?” “Will the plane land safely in this storm?” “Where is my child? He is not home, and it is getting late.” “How will the bills be paid?” The people of the New Testament experienced anxiety too. A former demoniac was anxious to travel with …