August 22 – Gift Unused

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. (1 Corinthians 14:26) Read: Job 4:1-7:21, 1 Corinthians 14:18-40, Psalm…

Who Are Your Mentors?

Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. (Proverbs 2:20) Read: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22 Relate: One of the first “real” books I read after I got out of college was Christ and Culture by Richard Niebuhr. It forced me to evaluate how I view the interaction between God…

God In Flesh Now Appearing

I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7) Read: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11 Relate: I am half tempted to talk about gnosticism here and illustrate how an early form of…

Luke 2:52 (Royal Rangers)

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. (Luke 2:52) Read: Numbers 26:1-51, Luke 2:36-52, Psalm 60:1-12, Proverbs 11:15 Relate: There is something to be said for order, tradition, and repetition. Normally, I’m not a big fan of two out of those three, but there are times, places, and…

Abide

You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (John 15:3-4) Read: Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 13:10-52, Mark 4:21-41, Luke…

John 3:4 (Born Again… Again)

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” (John 3:4) Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 12:1 – 14:32 Relate: I’m a single guy. I’ve never been married, never had kids, and since all of my younger siblings are adopted, never even lived in the same…