Category Archives: Pastor’s Desk

Scripture Reference: Philippians 1:12-25 God Can Give Us Sufficient Courage for Every Situation We Face Read Philippians 1:19-25 for insight into this section. As you read this section of Paul’s letter, you see this is not the whimper of one … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Philippians 1:12-25 God Can Use Our Problems to Encourage Others – Continued Read Philippians 1:14-18 for insight into this section. The lesson here is clear: God often uses the problems that envelop us to encourage others in life’s … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Philippians 1:12-25 God Can Use Our Problems to Encourage Others Read Philippians 1:14-18 for insight into this section. Roman persecution of the Christians had not yet become severe or widespread. Ominous signs did foretell its coming, but Nero … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Philippians 1:12-25 God Can Put a Silver Lining in Every Dark Cloud – Continued Read Philippians 1:12-13 for insight into this section. During one of his most difficult experiences, as the darkness of uncertainty settled around him in … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Philippians 1:12-25 During life’s daylight hours, when we are lighthearted and full of life, we don’t take time to listen. But when the sunlight fades in some sorrow or difficult experience, God gets our attention and in the … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 9:22 The Death of Christ Is the Atonement of God for Our Sins What is the meaning of the death of our Lord? This is God’s redemption for our souls. This is God’s way for our salvation. … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 9:22 What is the crucifixion of the Son of God on the cross? What happened on Golgotha, on Calvary? Is this a dramatic play like the tragedy of Shakespeare’s Macbeth or King Lear? What is this that … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 9:22 The secular and material world is bold and blatant in its rejection of the gospel of atoning blood. They refuse and repudiate the whole message of redemption, stating their opposition bluntly, rudely, and brutally. They say … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Malachi 1:2-5 From Last Lesson: Have you noticed how quick we are to blame God for things He has nothing to do with? But what about the crack addict himself? Can’t we blame him? Some will be quick … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Malachi 1:2-5 Where was God’s love for the little girl from yesterday’s story? Shouldn’t His love have stopped this man from ravaging her family? Shouldn’t His love have stopped this man from becoming addicted to crack? Shouldn’t His … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Malachi 1:2-5 It is remarkable, in view of Israel’s sin, that God’s first message to them in this book is that He loves them. His love is a historical love that goes back to their ancestor Jacob, who … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Psalm 19 From Last Lesson: Creation reveals the glory of God; God’s Word reveals the way to God. How? The “testimony of the Lord,” all of what God has told his people, is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Psalm 19 In Psalm 19, David contemplates how creation proclaims the glory of God and then considers the riches of the Lord’s instruction in the Scriptures. He recognizes that, unlike the gods of the nations who are aloof … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: 1 John 4:7-21 The Perfecting of Love The presence of God in us is the way love is “perfected among us.” This is with a view to confidence, “boldness in the day of judgment,” and boldness in that … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: 1 John 4:7-21 Living in Love John has already told us that it is “by the Spirit” that we know that “He abides in us” (1 John 3:24). He now adds the thought that “we abide in Him.” … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: 1 John 4:7-21 Love is very important for John and he puts emphasis on it throughout this letter. Here he does this by drawing attention to the fact that love is rooted in God, who is, in fact, … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 11:1-9; Ephesians 3:1-13 There is no group within the Christian community who has the corner either on God or on truth. Today is a good day to remember that. Christians all over are considering our common calling … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 11:1-9; Ephesians 3:1-13 The revelation God gave Paul was a mystery; and no one before Paul had comprehended it fully. Certainly there had been hints here and there throughout Israel’s history, but as God worked in Paul’s … Continue reading →

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 11:1-9; Ephesians 3:1-13 In spite of our verbal commitment to reach out to others in Jesus’ name, Christians have spent a good deal of our evangelistic and missionary energy trying to get persons not just to come … Continue reading →