"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
First Peter gives us a divine perspective on living as aliens and strangers in a world that is increasingly hostile to the gospel of Christ. Each of its five chapters alludes to suffering as a very real part of the Christian experience. This letter provides us with counsel and comfort in times of adversity and …
For this is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, Isaiah 30:15 NASB 15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:“You will be delivered by returning and resting;your strength will …
James is a powerful and practical manual on the application of faith in Christ to the struggles and relationships we encounter every day. With force and clarity, this epistle relates Christlike conduct to a wide range of topics, and it is always convicting to read. James maps the behavior of belief and shows how faith …
What the Father has done for us: He has enabled us[a] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light (Colossians 1:12) He has rescued us from the domain of darkness (Colossians 1:13) He has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves (Colossians 1:13)
We are called to be apprentices of Jesus in kingdom living, and this requires time, development, and patience. As the gospels illustrate, knowing and believing in Christ is a dynamic process. Spiritual formation—the lifelong process of becoming in our character and actions the new creations we already are in Christ—is gradual. We become more substantial …
As followers of Christ, we must embrace a stewardship mindset: we own nothing, and we are not here on our own business. As stewards, we manage the possessions of Another; as ambassadors, we manage the affairs of Another. The King owns everything, and we are on His business to serve and represent Him in the …
Hebrews is a profound and powerful book that uses a wide variety of Old Testament passages to present a clear case for the superiority of Christ over everything that preceded Him. Hebrews builds a cumulative argument to demonstrate the superiority of Christ over the old covenant, priesthood, and sacrifices. This theme is developed in the …
Philemon is a brief but powerful testimony to the transforming power of faith, forgiveness, and freedom in Christ. This transformation on the vertical level should result in transformation on the horizontal level of our relationships with others. This epistle teaches us that spiritual change produces social change. Paul’s purpose in writing this letter was to …
This epistle is a concise manual of conduct for assemblies of brothers and sisters in Christ. Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 are critical to the organization of the local church because they outline God’s requirements for the leadership of the body of believers. Titus provides us with instruction on the ordination of elders, dealing …
Paul’s two letters to Timothy and his letter to Titus are collectively known as the Pastoral Epistles because they deal with issues of shepherding and oversight of local churches. First Timothy presents Christ Jesus as the one mediator between God and humanity who gave Himself as a ransom for all (2:5–6). Christ Jesus came into …