“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:13-14). I am amazed at [...]

“I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” 1 Cor 15:10 I want to work hard and get lots done. I want to be productive for the kingdom of God. But I know what it is like to do that is my [...]

“All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. . . . Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.” Eccl 6:7, 9 There has to be something more to life than working to [...]

“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils undert he sun the few days in his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.” Ecclesiastes 5:18 Today, I am determined to enjoy life, to [...]

I recently read again about “saints” in the Bible. What does it mean to be a saint? First, we move past the Roman Catholic understanding of a saint as an especially holy and officially recognized believer in the church. The Bible refers to all believers as saints. Paul wrote “to all those in Rome who [...]

Moses told the Israelites what God told him to say, that God would deliver them. But the Israelites did not listen. So when God told him to go talk to Pharaoh, Moses said, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips” (v. 12). [...]

Speak only love and speak only truth in as few words as possible. “A Babbeling fool will come to ruin” (Prov 10:10b). “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov 10:19) “Speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15).

“Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?” 1 Cor 15:29 Here is a notoriously difficult verse. There are two reasons for its difficulty: 1) “There is no historical or biblical precedent for such baptism,” [...]

I continue to study through 1 Cor 15 as I am teaching it at our church. Paul is explaining how the fact of the resurrection as a historical event is critical to the Gospel. Verses 30-32a comprise another argument for the resurrection, the evidence of Paul’s life! Why would he put himself at risk, denying [...]

It seems to me that this verse has something to say about the idea that the existence of life will ultimately be threatened by global warming: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” Gen 8:22