Wise followers of Jesus carefully choose their friends. Psalm 101 teaches us who to hang out with and who to avoid. Avoid those who have walked away from Jesus. . . I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me (v. 3b, ESV). Those who have known Jesus and then […]
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Hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5, NASB). Greg Laurie is the 71-year-old pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. He’s also a well-known evangelist. If you watched the movie The Jesus Revolution, you learned the roots of Laurie’s faith at the beginning of the Jesus Movement in the early 1970s. In 2008, Laurie lost
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The Greek word for “thanksgiving” is “eucharist.” The Eucharist is technically Thanksgiving in the New Testament. [Jesus] took bread, and when he had given thanks [eucharist], he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, ESV). Today, when we celebrate
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While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-19, ESV). When visiting Israel, walking along the northern Sea of Galilee,
Brain Mapping* the Sea of Galilee Read More »
Second Peter 2 is the most anti-progressive chapter in the Bible — in my opinion! But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction (2:1, ESV). Admittedly it’s difficult to clearly define
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To Titus, my true child in a common faith (Titus 1:4a, ESV). The Book of Titus is personal. The Apostle Paul calls Titus his child in the faith. First and Second Timothy, along with Titus, are called the Pastoral Epistles because they were written to Paul’s co-workers. However, the relationship is more than working together; Paul calls
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This Psalm is a “soon coming of the Lord” song. Read it carefully. He is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth (v. 13, NLT). If we read this Psalm thinking, “This is for us right now,” it transforms this Psalm
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These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7a, ESV). My wife, Barbara, has been discipling our granddaughter. A few weeks ago, she taught Lila that God wants her to pray and that He will answer specific requests. My wife created an
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Current research indicates that the title of a blog, podcast, or article saying “three ways…” or “three parts…” or “three reasons…” will gain more attention than a blog, podcast, or article headlining “two ways…” or “four parts…” or “five reasons…” Why does “three” work better? I have a theory. Read the following slowly, carefully, and
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O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37, ESV) The Bible clearly depicts Jerusalem as the most important city in history. It’s the capital of ancient Israel
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