The Bereans are described as "more noble than those in Thessalonica" (Acts 17:11). This nobility was demonstrated in two key actions:They received the word with all readiness (openness, eagerness).They examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul and Silas preached was true (verification, diligence).Their nobility wasn't a matter of social class but of spiritual character. They didn't accept ...  Read More

Galatians 4:1-7 compares our former state to a minor heir who, though owning everything, is under the control of guardians and managers—essentially like a slave—until the time set by the father. Paul says we were similarly enslaved to the "elementary principles of the world" (Galatians 4:3), which can be interpreted as a life governed by the law, rules, or even worldly systems and false gods.Real ...  Read More

Paul opens this letter to the Galatians, immediately asserting his authority as an apostle of Christ and reinforcing that the authority comes directly from God and not human appointment. The Galatians at the time were pulling away from the gospel and beginning to accept a corrupted version being spread by false teachers. He is urgently conveying to the people to treat the false teachers as accurse...  Read More

Here in Chapter 15, Paul and Barnabas are up against it once again. The council at Jerusalem, which was comprised of delegates from the churches in Jerusalem and Antioch, were meeting because of an “urgent” question for the early church. It concerned the conversion of Gentiles. This real problem for the Jewish Christians was not whether Gentiles could be saved, but whether Gentile believers also h...  Read More

You may get a sense of Déjà vu when reading the book of James, especially since we just finished up our James Series – Real Faith, Real Life, which I strongly suggest you go back and listen to because it was so good!  James 1-5 teaches us the utmost importance of living out one’s faith through actions, not just with words.  Finding joy in trials, seeking wisdom from God, favoritism, and the untama...  Read More

Chapter 13 in the book of Acts concerns the transformation of Saul to Paul.  It gives an account in verses 9-10 when God refers to Saul as Paul, since his conversion, which happened on his journey on the road to Damascus.  The Holy Spirit led Paul to confront Bar-Jesus with his sin.  There is a time to be nice and a time to confront.  Ask God to show you the difference and to give you the courage ...  Read More

But the word of God increased and multiplied – Acts 12:24Acts 11, Peter communicates in Jerusalem that the gospel is not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. We learn about the amazing progress the church is making in Antioch and how there was great unity among the believers when they needed relief. Acts 12 Christians aren’t having an easy time, King Herod persecuted them. Peter was ar...  Read More

Sometimes God doesn’t ask.He interrupts.He steps into the middle of our lives, shining a light so bright that we can’t ignore Him.Sometimes, that interruption changes everything.Acts 9 tells one of the most dramatic stories of God’s intervention in Scripture. Saul, a man zealous for the wrong cause, is racing toward destruction. His heart is hard, his mind fixed, and his mission is one of persecut...  Read More

Standing Firm in the Face of PersecutionActs 7 contains the final words and martyrdom of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. His defense before the Sanhedrin is a powerful summary of Israel's history, demonstrating how they continually rejected God's messengers—culminating in their rejection of Jesus, the ultimate Prophet.1. The Power of Looking Up (Acts 7:54-56)After summarizing the history of I...  Read More

It is so hard to be bold in our day. We face criticism, rejection, peer pressure, and, sadly, most of the time, we tend to abandon what we believe and just go with the flow of what society dictates.This was not the case for the apostles. Just as they were starting their ministry without Jesus with them, they had to face such hard times like being threatened, put in jail, beaten, just because they ...  Read More

Tongues: Earthly Languages for Universal WitnessWhen the disciples began to speak, the crowd was astonished because they heard the message in their own native languages and dialects.Understanding "Tongues" in Acts 2The "tongues" in Acts 2 were real, known, earthly languages, not gibberish. The text is explicitly clear on this:The crowd consisted of devout Jews from "every nation under heaven" (v. ...  Read More

Luke 24 has a lot going on, but the central focus of the whole chapter is that Jesus is Alive and his resurrection changes everything. The chapter starts with an empty tomb. When the women visit Jesus’ tomb and find it empty, they report it to the disciples, who investigate for themselves and also find it empty. Next, we see a resurrected Jesus joining two disciples on the road and sharing scriptu...  Read More

A summary of Mark 16: Grief turns into Hope, Doubt turns into Belief and Fear turns into Joy.As the women approached the tomb in grief, where was their faith in the resurrection of Jesus?  They had gone to prepare the body as was custom.  Then they found the tomb open, and Jesus gone.  In fear, they ran to tell the disciples.  Then Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and then he appeared to the two o...  Read More

This chapter is full of teachings. I chose to focus on the section of scripture where Jesus addresses the daughters of Jerusalem. Also, the forgiveness shown at the cross.So far, Jesus has been on trial and sentenced to crucifixion. He has endured hatred from religious leaders, a sleepless night, being scourged and is now on a very public two mile walk. It was on this walk that the compassion Chri...  Read More

In both Matthew 27 & Mark 15 we see the picture of Jesus’ sufferings, beatings, and eventual crucifixion, from being handed over to Pilate to being mocked by the whole battalion of guards, but not before being scourged and witnessing the people choosing Barabbas over him.  Take a moment to collect your emotions, it’s ok we will wait.  The Saviour of the world has just been put to death in the most...  Read More

 Finding Peace and Trust in Uncertainty Jesus speaks to his disciples, whose hearts are troubled by the news of his impending departure. It is a powerful message of trust, comfort, and the promise of His presence even when things feel uncertain.Real-Life Principle: Trust is the Antidote to Anxiety.Jesus establishes in John 14:1 is, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe a...  Read More

Luke 22 chronicles the climactic night of Jesus' betrayal, the institution of the Last Supper, His urgent teaching on servant leadership, the agony in Gethsemane, and the beginning of His trial. Within this intense narrative, the dispute among the disciples about which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24-27) stands out as a critical lesson. Real Life Principle: True Greatness is Found in Humble S...  Read More

 The Night Love Did Not Turn AwayIt began around a simple table.The room was filled with the scent of bread, the flicker of oil lamps, and the weight of unspoken sorrow. Jesus knew what was coming—the betrayal, the scattering, the denial—and yet He still chose to love to the end. He took the bread, blessed it, and broke it. “This is My body.” Then the cup: “This is My blood of the covenant, poured...  Read More

 The Parable of the Talents illustrates core principles of stewardship and faithfulness in using the gifts and resources God has entrusted to us.Real-Life Principle: Actively Invest Your God-Given resources that God calls us to be active and productive stewards, not passive preservers, of the time, talents, opportunities, and possessions He gives us. The Master's praise for the first two servants ...  Read More

Matthew 24 continues Jesus's Olivet Discourse, detailing the signs of the end of the age and the necessity of constant readiness. This chapter is a dramatic call to spiritual alertness and endurance in the face of inevitable turmoil.Real Life Principle: Maintaining Faithful Readiness by Enduring and Working. Jesus repeatedly emphasizes two concepts throughout Matthew 24: the certainty of tribulati...  Read More

I’ve lived near the Gulf Coast or Atlantic Coast nearly all my life. Hurricanes are nothing new. There are basic preparations to be made, including evacuation plans if necessary.  Things that are certain: 1. There will be hurricanes, 2. You never know where they land until they land, 3. You never know how destructive or powerful they are until after landfall. But there will be hurricanes. On Augus...  Read More

The Condemnation of Hypocrisy.Matthew 23 records Jesus's final public sermon in Jerusalem, a powerful, scathing rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees. It is a severe warning against religious showmanship and a call to authentic, internal righteousness.Real Life Principle: True Greatness Rests in Humble Service, Not Self-Exalting Showmanship.Jesus confronts the religious leaders who "do all their dee...  Read More

What do you believe...the Law of God, or the law that men added to the Law of God?  From the earliest of times when God chose His people to free them from Egypt and bring them to His promised land, the temptation of man was to “add his own input” to God’s established law!  When you are more concerned about ritual laws than you are about your faith, trust, and relationship with God through Christ, ...  Read More

In Mark 11, Jesus curses a fig tree that had leaves but no fruit. Immediately after, He enters the Temple and drives out the money-changers, accusing them of turning a "house of prayer for all nations" into a "den of robbers." The next day, the disciples see the fig tree completely withered. These two events are intentionally linked by Mark to deliver one sharp message.Real Life Principle: Authent...  Read More