11 reasons to read Revelation

The book of Revelation, along with some of the OT prophetic books is among the most daunting books for believers to read. While the overall message of Revelation is clear (judgment is coming!), yet the meaning of the particulars in the book is sometimes more difficult to discern. So we are tempted to skip reading […]

Our God who hears our prayers

Virtually every believer will acknowledge that he does not pray enough. We don’t pray for a variety of reasons. And one of those reasons is that we do not think highly enough about God who hears our prayers. We have a deficient functional theology. Oh, we would likely say the right words about God and […]

Sunday Leftovers: four reasons for hope for the believer who sins

Toxicologists Frank LoVecchio and Jeffrey Suchard of the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix conducted a study a few years ago and discovered that 15% of Arizona rattlesnake attacks occurred after the snakes had been mortally shot, bludgeoned, or even beheaded. One man shot and decapitated a snake, then waited five minutes before picking […]

Kindle ESV Study Bible on sale

The Kindle version of the ESV study Bible is on sale for $4.99 — that’s a great deal if the ESV is your primary Bible for reading and study. Go to Amazon.com to purchase this Bible.

The earth is the Lord’s

God, through Asaph, says in Psalm 50: “For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. “If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.” […]

For what do you wait?

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” (Ps. 39:7; NASB) The plight of Merhan “Alfred” Nasseri was an unusual one, to say the least. In 1988 he arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on a two-day trip, but without a visa. Apparently his Iranian passport was confiscated […]

Ready to worship?

“O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1; NASB) It was a simple question. We do not know the circumstances under which it was asked, but we do know the heart from which it came. David, the man whose life was patterned after the heart of […]

Day and night meditation

I am neither a farmer nor a rancher. Yet for at least two weeks during a couple of summers in my youth, I became a “temp” farmer, working on my uncle’s dairy farm. It was a time not only for a “city-slicker” to be exposed to some life realities, but also a fun time with […]

Sunday Leftovers: Fellowship with God

The term “fellowship” is used regularly in the context of the church (do non-believers use the word?). Often the word is used synonymously for “food” or “feast,” as in, “be sure to bring enough food to the fellowship (feast)…” or “come Wednesday evening as we enjoy fellowship (a meal) together…” While fellowship can take place […]

Sunday Leftovers: First John and sanctification

Reading 1 John has often created questions for believers about the security of their eternal life, because of what John seems to be saying about sin — e.g., “No one who abides in Him [Christ] sins…” (3:6). Yet every believer still knows the reality of sin in his life, so too often people think something […]

Sunday Leftovers: What do you know?

Last Sunday I attempted to provide an extensive amount of background information about the book of 1 John, and someone suggested it might be helpful to post my sermon notes on the blog because he couldn’t get it all down. Given that the way I format my notes together is not conducive to a quick […]

Understanding 1 Samuel

Recently we began reading 1 Samuel in our daily Bible reading plan. Here are a couple of charts that you may find helpful in understanding the book. The first provides an overview to the flow and theme of the book and the second offers a perspective of the relationships of the three kings of the […]

Understanding Joshua

Yesterday we began reading the book of Joshua. Here is a chart I produced a few years ago that may help you understand the theme and flow of the book:

A Trinitarian prayer to guide the day

Paul’s benediction in Ephesians 3 has been on my mind much this week. It is an expression of Paul’s overflowing gratitude for and dependence on the Triune God who is producing salvation in Paul. It is an exalted view of what the Father, Son, and Spirit are presently at work doing in the believer and […]

Who killed Jesus?

The cross of Christ is repugnant to many. Polly Toynbee, one of the most well-known opinion columnists in Great Britain and leader of the British Humanist Association, reviewed the 2005 movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In an article subtly entitled, “Narnia Represents Everything That Is Most Hateful about […]