“Someone from the crowd answered Him, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.’” – Mark 9:17-18 They […]
Read More“I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7 Jesus would famously quote this passage as He drove out those who had turned […]
Read More“Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” But He kept silent and did not answer.” – Mark 14:60-61 Was Jesus intimidated? Clearly not. He would speak up when the question was right. Was Jesus trying to frustrate His […]
Read MoreWhile he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” When Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” Mark 5:35-36 “Only believe.” It is what the Greek grammarians call a present imperative. What that means for the rest […]
Read MoreWhile He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” When Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” …Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say […]
Read More“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9 Rich…Poor. Transcendent God…Incarnate God. Divine Sovereignty…Human Responsibility. God is One…God is Three. God is Spirit…Jesus is God. I am a sinner…I am justified. Much of Christian theology […]
Read MoreI spent some time this week reflecting back on what God has been teaching me through 2 Corinthians the past few weeks. I felt again the weight of God’s Word on my spirit, and the desire to obey Jesus more stirring up in me again. As you reflect back on the past few weeks, what […]
Read More“For we are the temple of the living God, as God said…” – 2 Corinthians 6:16 Years ago, retired missionary Ralph Rummage would interject himself into my Sunday night teaching time in a grandfatherly way. He was gentle but firm. I felt rebuked, but at first, I didn’t understand why. In the course of my teaching, I […]
Read More“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 It is the victory before the victory. The home team is ahead by 3 points with 1 minute left. The quarterback steps behind the center, receives the snap, and takes a knee. The crowd cheers wildly, and the players on the sideline […]
Read More“Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.” – Acts 18:8 What is Baptism? Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as an act of obedience to Jesus’ command (Matthew 28:19-20). It is a picture of Christ’s burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). It is a symbol of the new life that the […]
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Think These Things 