GOD MAKES US A FAMILY GROWING IN CHRIST WE WERE STRANGERS It is unsettling to be a stranger. I remember standing in Hangzhou, China, in the middle of a long alleyway packed with thousands of people. My family and I were visiting my sister who lived there, but they were waiting for me at the […]
There’s a famous scene from the Academy award winning Best Picture, Braveheart. William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson, strides across the battlefield in front of his rag-tag army of men, martialed for battle. As his fellow Scotsmen are sizing up the enemy across the battlefield, they’re considering their options, the best of which seems to […]
God’s Blueprint for Marriage 1. Wives, Submit to Your Husbands 2. Husbands, Love your Wives 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head […]
A Closer Look Study Guide WALK WISELY Ephesians 5:15-20 (CSB) 15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking […]
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in […]
Christian, Who are You? 1. In the World 2. In Christ 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God […]
A Closer Look Guide There’s a song that has become almost like a world anthem- John Lennon’s Imagine. Remember how it goes? “Imagine all the people, living life in peace.” It was heard again at the 2021 Olympic Ceremony in Tokyo, the 5th time in the last 25 years that this particular song has been […]
MLC Sunday Summer 2021 Luke 10:38-42 These Are A Few of My Favorite Things! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Amen.” (Ephesians 1:3) God’s Word for our meditation on this Ministry Sunday is […]
Life Guide Happy are they who hear the Word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:15 (RSV) Ezekiel 2:1-3:4 1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to […]
Pentecost 7 – A Closer Look Study Guide Mark 6:7–13 (NIV) 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but […]