Tag Archives: Kingdom of God

Learning to Worship In Life – 5

Scripture Reference: Mark 2:1-12 Our Deepest Need – as People The crowd that gathered around Jesus was made up of two principal groups of people, those friendly toward Him and those troubled by Him. The scribes were outwardly hostile toward … Continue reading

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Learning to Worship In Life – 4

Scripture Reference: Mark 2:1-12 Our Need to Be Useful – the Philanthropists My imagination is captured by these four nameless friends of the paralytic. When I read this story, I imagine what might happen should one of our worship services … Continue reading

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Learning to Worship In Life – 3

Scripture Reference: Mark 2:1-12 Our Unspoken Needs – the Paralytic There’s a sense in which each of us is like the paralytic. We have needs which we may never share with anyone else, but they are nonetheless real. In the … Continue reading

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Learning to Worship In Life – 2

Scripture Reference: Mark 2:1-12 There are several interesting things about this episode in the life and ministry of Jesus. One is the characters around whom the drama unfolds. You will observe the crowd of people packed tightly in the house, … Continue reading

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Learning to Worship In Life – 1

Scripture Reference: Mark 2:1-12 The service was in progress. The house was full just the way most ministers like it. The guest speaker was Jesus Himself who stood to His feet and started His sermon. No sooner had He made … Continue reading

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Spiritual Nuggets 1/10/2025

I Am Come Down to Deliver Them And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I … Continue reading

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Yearning for God . . . 7

Scripture Reference: Psalm 42 The Delight of the Psalmist “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Now drink in verse 8. “The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in … Continue reading

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Yearning for God . . . 6

Scripture Reference: Psalm 42 The Despair of the Psalmist – Continued John the Baptist became dreadfully depressed. He certainly had valid reasons. John was in prison and eventually was beheaded for his preaching. He was “the second Elijah,” the “forerunner” … Continue reading

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Yearning for God . . . 5

Scripture Reference: Psalm 42 The Despair of the Psalmist – Continued The important thought about your depression is not that you get out of it but what you get out of it. What do you learn from it? If your … Continue reading

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Yearning for God . . . 4

Scripture Reference: Psalm 42 The Despair of the Psalmist My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you … Continue reading

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Yearning for God . . . 3

Scripture Reference: Psalm 42 The Desire of the Psalmist “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear … Continue reading

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Yearning for God . . . 2

Scripture Reference: Psalm 42 Believe me, depression is a normal part of our lives. Rain, for instance, is absolutely essential for health and life on this planet, but we wouldn’t want rain all the time. Right? When there is too … Continue reading

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Yearning for God . . . 1

Scripture Reference: Psalm 42 Coming upon the holidays through the next couple of months (end of 2024), it’s not unusual in the least for people to experience that “blue” period in life. Let’s call it what it is: depression. We … Continue reading

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Spiritual Nuggets 11/26/2024

I Am With You and Will Keep You “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I … Continue reading

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Every Spiritual Blessing . . . In Christ – 6

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14 In Christ – Continued From Last Lesson: Indeed, it is for this very purpose that God blesses us, that we might praise His wonderful and glorious name! Every spiritual blessing is ours in Christ, and according … Continue reading

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Every Spiritual Blessing . . . In Christ – 5

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14 In Christ – Continued “Every spiritual blessing” is ours only “in Christ.” The Christian faith and the Christian life are all rooted and grounded in Jesus. This is what Paul is getting at in that difficult … Continue reading

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Every Spiritual Blessing . . . In Christ – 4

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14 Every Spiritual Blessing – Continued Assurance (verses 13-14) So then, in verses 13-14, Paul reminds his readers that this inheritance cannot be taken away. For, when we believed, we were “sealed with the Holy Spirit of … Continue reading

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Every Spiritual Blessing . . . In Christ – 3

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14 Every Spiritual Blessing – Continued Redemption (verse 7) In Jesus, Paul reminds us, we have “redemption through His blood.” Redemption is a slave-market term. In the ancient world, if a person desired to grant freedom to … Continue reading

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Every Spiritual Blessing . . . In Christ – 2

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14 Every Spiritual Blessing – Continued Predestination (verses 4-5) We are in the kingdom, we possess spiritual blessings, we are in Christ, Paul writes, not because we first chose God, but because “He chose us.” Nor did … Continue reading

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Every Spiritual Blessing . . . In Christ – 1

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14 “Blessing” is not an unfamiliar term for today’s Christians. If we look through the bestsellers at many Christian bookstores, or watch much Christian television, we are likely to find the word sprinkled quite liberally into sermons … Continue reading

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