Are we ready to be bold and have courage in Jesus?
The five thousand had just been feed. It was a stunning day. God had been shown, through His son Jesus, …
Category Archives: God’s Goal
Jesus has a warning! Will we heed it?
Jesus is constantly challenging the religious elites and leaders (scribes) of His time here on earth. He still does today. …
Are we a part of the religious elites and hypocrites?
Jesus is clear. Jesus detests hypocrites. Jesus calls it out all the time. Our contempt allows us to ignore …
Is the kingdom of God eating and drinking?
The joy of deliverance is amazing. When God sets us free, rejoicing is in order. We were tied up missing …
How tolerant of other believers should we be?
How tolerant of other believers should we be? Even when disputing/dialoguing over prominent doctrines, a disciple of Jesus should exercise …
Are we fortunate when we are persecuted for Jesus?
How does Jesus expect us to react under persecution? Rejoice and be glad! That is right. Can we jump up and down …
Where does false doctrine come from?
Doctrine is “a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true.” Biblical doctrine refers to …
Is peacemaking a big deal to Jesus? Can we do it?
Why this is important: We can’t make peace if we don’t have peace ourselves. That is the first task, …
Are we holding Jesus in contempt?
God has a purpose. God knows what He is doing. God knows who He is choosing to bring the good …
If we drink the water Jesus gives, will we never thirst — not ever?
Eternity is a long time. Think a billion years. Not enough. A trillion years. Not enough. It is hard enough to …
Are we lost? What will be the outcome?
All who wander are not lost Wandering around is not a sign you are lost. In your heart, you probably …
Is self-control an issue of the heart?
Self-control is an issue of our hearts. We must not be wishy-washy in our resolve. We must excerpt control of our …
Will we be happy if we are meek and gentle?
Jesus is clear that we will be more than happy (aka blessed) if we are meek and gentle. We will …
Is Jesus clear about the church and what it means in His kingdom?
Yikes! Many people today think of the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. …
Is Jesus clear about what He expects from us?
Why this is important: Jesus has just finished talking about not judging and hypocrisy in the Jesus Manifesto. At first …
What is the purpose of a church?
Should we be concerned about the use of the word “church“? It is possible that to many believers and unbelievers …
Does our speech reveal what is in our heart?
What our speech produces has eternal implications, for it reveals what is in our hearts. Jesus said: “The good man …
Will we keep the commandments of Jesus?
Jesus is our Master. As our Master, Jesus has some commands for us. They are not optional if we follow …
Should we really take Jesus seriously?
Why this is important: The religious scholars and the average Jewish person of Jesus time on earth thought they took …
Is obedience thicker than blood?
Jesus challenges us to see the reality of GOD’s World (Kingdom). We think a lot about our families. What about …
What does Jesus think about servant-leaders? Is that what we are called to be?
Jesus isn’t enamored with our being a leader who serves. Jesus calls on us to be a servant or a …
How can we control what we say to others? Can we have self-control?
One of the proofs of God’s working in our lives is the ability to control our own thoughts, words, and …
Will God’s word change our lives?
What does Jesus say? We know what He says. We can read His words. We can study them. We can absorb …
What should we do about the poor?
Why this is important: In both the Old and New Testaments, we see God’s desire for His children to show …
Are we hiding our light?
Why this is important: Jesus doesn’t want us to play a game of hide and go seek. Now think …
Should we be gentle in caring for the weak?
The main thing: Can we be gentle in caring for the weak? Yes, we can and should. God has a …
What does God expect when we pray?
So what is prayer? The most basic definition of prayer is “talking with God.” Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; …
Do we love Jesus? Are we obedient? Does it matter?
I admit it is tough to always be obedient. I have a rebellious streak in me. We all do. The …
Danger! Warning! Is our legalism causing us to be religious frauds?
Jesus has the number of the religious elites. They are constantly trying to trap him. They are constantly trying to …
If we refuse to do our part, do we cut ourselves off from God’s part?
Jesus challenges us to forgive others. It is a clear command and unambiguous. That is our part to do. When …
Does God want to live with us?
God has goals in mind. He will accomplish them. When we miss God’s goal, that is known as sin. I …
Can we manufacture goodness on our own?
Jesus wants us to love. Jesus wants us to do good. Jesus wants us to not expect anything in …
What is the Religion of Secular Humanism and Atheists all about? Will they persecute us?
There is no doubt that persecution is a stark reality of living for a disciple of Jesus. For a disciple …
Can we use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies?
All it takes is to watch the news to know we live in a massively corrupt culture. God’s goal is …
How can we deal with the impulse to retaliate?
Jesus challenges us to not retaliate in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5-7). It is in our core, when someone hurts …
Where can we find peace? Is it in Jesus the Messiah?
The Apostle Paul alerts us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, …
Do we scrawl a whim in place of God’s word?
Jesus is talking to religious people. That could be us. Jesus challenges us to really understand what God is saying and …
What models do we have for how to be patient?
Who is our model for patience? God is patient, and His Spirit produces the fruit of patience in us. When we …
Is God pleased at being ignored? Are we hostile to God?
Am I focused on God? That is an essential question. It may be the only question worth considering most of the …
Will we handle betrayal well? What will our reaction be?
Betrayal is a gross violation of trust and can be one of the most devastating forms of pain inflicted upon …
How do we increase our chances for wisdom?
We all need direction. Our vision is always limited. There are so many things we don’t see for our self. …
What does the gentleness of Jesus the Messiah look like?
What happens when the faithful wander off? They are wayward. They drift. It happens. It happens to others I know. …
Is Jesus going to accuse us before God?
Jesus is clear about His role. He is the one who saves us from missing God’s goal for our life. …
Is being angry helpful? What does God think about that?
What is our mission? Our mission, given to us by Jesus, is to love. That is it. That should …
What happens when we put our faith in our experiences?
Is our faith contingent on how we feel right now? What we are experiencing right now may shake our faith. We …
Will we go when God calls? Are we ready?
Isaiah was an amazing man of God. He stood in God’s presence. He knew God intimately. One day he heard …
Why would the meek inherit the earth?
God’s promises to the meek is good news! Humility is the name of the game. Jesus challenges me to be humble. …
“No one can pray and worry at the same time.” ~Max Lucado | What is prayer?
God’s goal is for us to talk with Him, trust Him and obey Him. Our alignment with God takes the anxiety …
Do our words reflect what is in our hearts?
God’s goal: It is God’s goal for us to align our hearts with our words in a way that is acceptable …
Should we load ourselves down with equipment as we proclaim the good news of Jesus?
Jesus has powerful but simple things He wants us to do. We don’t need a lot of equipment to complete …
Where does love come from?
Where does love come from? Love comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a gift. It is fruit that grows …
What is patience? Is it a gift from God?
The big picture: We are always, and I mean always, in such a hurry these days. Our culture is on …
Are we disciples of Jesus? What does Jesus require of us?
Jesus was quite explicit about the cost of following Him. Discipleship requires a totally committed life: “Any of you who …
What is the proper response to God as His covenant people? Is it faithfulness?
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people. It is seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects …
Do we understand love? Do we really get it?
John simply got it. The message from God our Father and our Messiah Jesus is that we should love one …
Can a gadbout gossip be trusted? Will someone of integrity violate a confidence?
Jesus wants us to be people of integrity. Everyone we know needs to be able to trust us completely. It …
Do we need to be sanctified? What does that even mean?
I avoid some things because they sound very geeky and smack of theology. Jesus talks about sanctification. Maybe I need …
Are we really children of God? How can we be sure?
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. We become God’s children …
Should we judge others or not?
Jesus can be very straightforward and direct. His suggestion on criticizing and judging others is to not do it if we …
Are we more interested in religion than in people?
What matters: The people of the town of Bethel sent a delegation to the priests and prophets with a question. They …
God gives us strength. What is our strength for?
The way I see it: My oh my, there is some misguided thinking going on in this world. God has …
Can we keep our lives simple and honest?
God’s goal: Jesus summed up what God wants us to do. It was nothing new. God is all about simplicity. God …
Do we get rid of God’s command so we won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions?
Why it matters: Jesus challenges us to obey God and not follow the latest religious fads. God is clear in …
Do we become a winning athlete by sitting on the sidelines?
Why it matters: Think about 10 years ago. Is what was average then below average now? Probably. What does that mean …
Who is the Prince of peace?
The most prevalent focus to the concept of peace in the New Testament is the messianic peace accomplished by the …
Does the common sense of the godly preserve them?
Why is matters: The most difficult thing in life to control is our tongue. What we say makes a difference. Words …
How easy is it to forget about joy?
Do disciples have joy even in the face of opposition? Absolutely we do. Jesus is kind and thoughtful. I know …
Should we keep the good news message simple? Are we the equipment?
How it matters: Jesus challenges us to not get wrapped up in all “stuff” that keeps us from fulfilling His mission …
What does Jesus think about retribution?
Why this matters to God: This is tough stuff. It doesn’t feel right. Our natural reactions, in relationships, can get us …
If good people barely make it, what’s in store for the bad?
Why it matters to Jesus: Jesus is straight with us. The way is not easy. He says it over and over. …
How bold and courageous can we be with God in control?
God is speaking. He is moving. Will I keep quiet about what I have seen and heard? Will I speak …
Where does hypocrisy come from?
Jesus is clear. Jesus hates hypocrites. Jesus calls it out all the time. My contempt allows me to ignore …
If we are disobedient, are we living in darkness? Will we suffer God’s wrath?
Not all work is the same. Some things are much more important in the Kingdom than others. I shouldn’t waste …
Can we learn to love like God and Jesus?
Jesus demonstrated His love for us by dying on the cross so that we can be reconciled to God the …
Why does Jesus demand we live a radical life?
In listening to Yeshua [Jesus] , much of what He is saying goes against the grain of what I have …
How do we open our eyes to what God is doing?
Yeshua [Jesus] challenges us to see the opportunities right in front of us. We need to see what God IS …
When we embellish our words with religious lace, does that make them true?
Jesus challenges us to make sure our words are clear and genuine. They should reflect all of His love. Embellishing …
Does a wise heart takes orders?
We live in a world where we must respond to others and take orders. We have bosses, police, parents, teachers …
How is hypocrisy expressed? Is it through insincere motives?
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. As a follower …
Is fasting really important? Does Jesus expect us to fast?
I am thinking this part of the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5-7) has been ripped out of most Evangelical and Protestant …
What does Jesus think about our politics?
This is a special message for our current toxic political and religious environment. Jesus has something to say about all …
Why is meekness required by God?
Yeshua [Jesus] is clear that I will be more than happy if I am meek and gentle. I will in …
Are my prayers just monologues?
I am hoping that God doesn’t feel this way when I pray. I have heard lots of prayers (including my …
Can children get along?
We are God’s children. Now think about it. He has forgiven us. He has adopted us. All is right in …
What food gives me energy and keeps me going?
Jesus challenges us to focus on the main thing. God has a goal for us today. God wants us to …
Am I being stupid or willfully stupid?
Jesus asks some stunning questions. We don’t exactly know how to respond. Some days, there aren’t great answers. Jesus is …
How do we receive God’s nourishment?
I hunger for God’s touch in my life. It is all about the relationship with God. God is all about …
Does love ever give up and quit?
My heavenly Father never gives up on me. He loves me even when I haven’t wanted to know Him. He …
Am I a loafer and lazybone?
This is a stunning insight from Solomon. God’s goal for us is that we work. Work is Godly. Work is …
Can we calculate the riches we have in Jesus the Messiah?
That God has done something in my life is a real surprise, Him handling every single detail. It is nothing …
What kind of people is God looking for?
What is the BIG THING our heavenly Father is looking for? He is desperately seeking men and women after his …
What does Jesus know about forgiveness?
Jesus’ mission from God our Father was to bring forgiveness to the world. On the cross, Jesus accomplished the mission. …
Is self-control the mark of a wise person and an aspect of a disciples character?
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. …
Is God first in my life? Am I trying to fool Him? Can He be fooled?
God knows how to do surgery. He can bring about internal purification. I can trust Him. He is good, all …
Do we become children of God by new birth? Is that even possible?
This is stunning. As disciples of Jesus, we are the chief objects of God’s fatherly love. We become God’s children …
Let’s all wear love. It’s our basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
God has chosen us for a new life. It is a life of love. It’s characteristics are: Compassion Kindness Humility …
How much time do I spend jockeying for position with others?
Jesus challenges us to stop being competitive. We are always comparing ourselves with others. It is a serious problem. It …
Do we find peace through the Father’s provision for the believer?
God’s ultimate provision of peace is discovered in the person and work of Jesus the Messiah. It is only through …
What does Jesus want us to keep doing? What do we need more of?
Jesus challenges us. He tells us stories to shake us up. He wants us to love like our heavenly Father …
What was the most important thing to Jesus?
Everything was complete. The last thing Jesus says is so profound. This is the way it has always been with …
