Should we ask God for healing?
God heals. Jesus heals. The word of God teaches us that God is in the healing business. Sometimes we pray …
Category Archives: Teachings
Why did large crowds of people follow Jesus?
It is stunning. There is the ebb and flow to those who follow Jesus. At any given point, it was …
Is joy the result of the behavior of others?
Now this is some great news. I have people watching over my soul. How cool is that? It is way …
Can we magnify God by glorifying him?
Now here is some good news. I can magnify God by glorifying Him So how does that happen? What is …
Does God have a plan for salvation?
God has a plan for me. Now that is some very good news. I am shouting for joy over that. …
Where does holiness come from for followers of Jesus?
Holiness comes from God and specifically the sacrificial death of Jesus for our having missed God’s goal for our lives. …
Can achievements give us false security?
I have to be careful to not fall into the trap that anything I have is the result of something …
Is joy experienced even in adversity?
Literally, Peter wrote, “Be constantly rejoicing!” In fact, he mentioned joy in one form or another four times in these …
Is it rare to find true faithfulness?
Jesus challenges me to be faithful. Loyalty and commitment within human relationships is important in the life of God’s people. …
Does the birth of children bring joy?
What joy there is in bringing children into this world. Consider this from Jesus: When a woman is in labor, …
Is God’s motive the honor of his name?
God is God. God is to be honored and His name is to be revered. This is a shock to …
Is joy experienced through conversion?
When we accept Jesus as our Master and commit to be a disciple, we are ecstatic. Joy is ours beyond …
Is resurrection real for believers?
Resurrection of my body, after death, will happen. So is the eternal life I have right now as a follower …
Did Jesus demonstrate His friendship with us in his death on the cross?
I don’t understand completely why Jesus would die for me. That is mighty powerful love. And He did it because …
What are reasons for God’s people to know joy?
There is a whole lot of joy in knowing Jesus. God is good and always in a good mood. So …
Why was Jesus criticized for breaking with tradition and opposed by the religious elites?
Things are getting dicey. The fact that the religious elites (scribes and Pharisees) united in this attack and came all …
Are human authorities instituted and established by God?
God is clear. I must recognize that authority comes from God. This is a foundational principle. I am challenged by …
Is joy experienced in a relationship with Jesus the Messiah?
Yes, joy is most certainly is experienced in my relationship with Jesus! I have good news. I want to shout …
Does legalism represent a fatal misunderstanding of the purpose of OT law?
I fall into the trap of thinking that if I just follow the rules, I will be seen as good …
Should we forgive our enemies and persecutors?
Jesus is all about forgiveness. That is the reason God sent him to us. I need forgiveness and the good …
Is there encouragement for those facing temptation?
I struggle with temptation. I know all followers of our Master Jesus do. I start with the good news that …
Do I have joy because of the victory and deliverance that Jesus gives me?
Jesus teaches us the great joy that there is in victory and deliverance. There is a threefold joy here: the …
Do we see justice in the righteousness of Jesus?
We start with justice. God has chosen His Son Jesus to deliver justice to us all. This will not be …
Is the Holy Spirit real?
There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. …
Is joy common among believers?
There is something I’ve noticed about followers of Jesus and His disciples. They are just plain happy folks. They are …
25 Amazing Bible Verses for Thanksgiving
Every day should be a day of thanks. Instead of thanks-giving, we should consider thanks-living. Our daily life should always …
Is Jesus the object of our faith?
Where should I put my faith? In God? In Jesus? In the Holy Spirit? Yes! Yes! And Yes! Jesus challenges …
Does the Father affirm Jesus the Messiah is his Son?
This is stunning. God Himself spoke. And the message? God is very well pleased with His Son. I can count …
Is Jesus the good shepherd?
It should be understood that Jesus is “the” good shepherd, not simply “a” good shepherd, as others may be, but …
Joy – Does God himself give joy to us?
The joy I have, in Jesus my Master, is a gift from God. I don’t screw my courage and become …
Glory – Is the glory of Jesus God’s glory?
The glory of God is the beauty of His spirit. It is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, …
Joy — What is the biblical background to the use of the word?
Background on Joy Joy (שִׂמְחָה, simchah; χαρά, chara). Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state …
Prophet – Did people anticipate the coming of a prophet? Is Jesus that Prophet?
The Messiah is anticipated by the Jewish people as the Prophet of God. Jesus is that Prophet. Jesus the Messiah …
Exaltation – Will God exalt those who are humble?
It is possible to submit outwardly and yet not be humbled inwardly. God hates the sin of pride, and He …
Joy – Is it because of the believers’ partnership in the good news?
Am I offering prayers filled with joy? Am I a partner in the joy of the good news? Am I …
Ecstasy – Is it in response to the Holy Spirit?
We seem a little reluctant to talk about the ecstatic experience. Is that for mystics and weirdo’s I think? Maybe …
Lamb of God – Is Jesus innocent and sacrifices himself for us?
I have missed God’s goal for my life (aka sin). A penalty must be paid. Jesus, the innocent lamb of …
Joy – What is it a hallmark of?
What a treasure we have in the joy that Jesus brings into our lives. God has a country. Jesus is …
Baptism – Does sprinkling with water symbolize spiritual cleansing?
I must prepare myself spiritually to fellowship with God. The Old Testament priest had to go through various washings and …
Blame – Are God’s people to aim to live free from blame?
I need to focus more on being blameless. The Apostle Paul shows the being blameless is a result of my …
Repentance – Is it is the only way to escape God’s judgment?
Repentance (radically changing my mind) is of central importance because missing God’s goal (sin) brings God’s judgment. Fellowship with God …
Joy – Do God’s people find their joy in Jesus?
Jesus wants me to glad, joyful and happy. Jesus paid the price for my missing God’s goal (aka sin). I …
Patience of Jesus – Do His disciples have it in relation to people?
God is patient with sinners. Jesus perfectly models that for me. Jesus is my example. Jesus shows me the way. …
Joy – Why does the Holy Spirit’s fruit include joy?
We love to eat fruit. We love the fruit and the juice. It gives us nourishment and refreshes us. May …
Anger – Does Jesus reflect the anger of God?
Does Jesus get angry and upset? Jesus the Messiah shows controlled emotion arising from his unswerving opposition to evil and …
Surprise – Should disciples of Jesus be surprised with suffering?
The surprises along the way are God’s surprises. He is never caught off guard or unprepared. He calls me to …
Gentleness – What is the example of Jesus?
I have a lot to learn from Jesus. Jesus is gentle and shows compassion. Jesus has compassion for those in …
Joy – What role does it play for the believers’ faith and obedience?
There is great joy when our brothers and sisters walk in the truth of the Master Jesus. I want to …
Family — Is it the foundation of relationships in God’s Kingdom?
Family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. The foundation of …
Joy — How can I experience joy in my discipleship life?
Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be …
Obedience – Did it mean the ultimate personal cost for Jesus?
Jesus was not wrestling with God’s will or resisting God’s will. Jesus is obedient. He was yielding Himself to God’s …
Sin – How does God remove it from us? How is the penalty paid for?
Jesus paid the price for my having missed God’s goal (aka sin) for my life. A penalty had to be …
Merciful – What should disciples do? Can I pass the mercy test?
Can I pass the test? Let’s call it the mercy test. Jesus orders me to be merciful. Am I? Jesus …
Heart – Do I have a love for God’s word?
The believer has an old nature that wants to keep him in bondage; “I will get free from these old …
Faithfulness – Do I reflect God’s faithfulness?
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people; seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects God’s own …
Joy – Is it promised to me from Jesus the Messiah?
We have a great promise from Jesus the Messiah. It is joy and happiness. Jesus wants me to have joy. …
Fools – What do we know about them from Proverbs?
I want wisdom. It is important to my daily walk with Jesus. Sometimes it helps, in understanding something, is to …
Preeminence of Jesus – Does He have it over his enemies?
Jesus is first in my life. Jesus is preeminent. Jesus comes before anything else. Let it be so! The word preeminence is …
King Jesus — How long will Jesus be King?
Kings came and went. Kings died. Someone else became King. It could have been a son. It could have been …
Self-Control — What is it?
I need more self control in my life! Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, …
Love – Is the God of the Old Testament a grumpy old man?
Somehow, we have this image of God, from the Old Testament, as an angry old man. Grumpy to the core. …
Judging – How should we deal with sinning disciples of Jesus?
There was a pastor who became involved immorally with a married woman in his congregation. They each divorced their respective …
Joy — What is it? Why is it important?
It is easy to forget about joy. It is essential in the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes (aka The Jesus …
Sanctification — Is a lack of faith an obstacle?
Sanctify I avoid some things because they sound very geeky and smack of theology. Jesus talks about sanctification. Maybe I …
Old Age — Should we respect the old?
Old age is generally held in honor and the aged in society are to be respected. Because of the wisdom …
Children of God — How does it happen? What role does the Spirit of God play?
I am so glad that God has adopted me. Jesus has broken the bondage of slavery and given my His …
Humility — Does God command it?
Does God command me to be humble? Yes, Absolutely. There is no doubt about it. The Bible describes humility …
Kindness — Is failure to acknowledge God’s kindness missing God’s goal (aka sin)?
When I exhibit the kindness of God, I am tender, benevolent, and useful to others. Every action, every word …
Worry — What causes it? Am I too world-centered?
Jesus teaches His disciples that we are not to worry. Jesus encourages me to avoid worrying about my physical needs …
God’s Goal — What is the focus of Jesus?
Jesus has a real focus. Jesus is going to do what God wants Him to. I need to get the …
Joy — Does the appearance of Jesus on the scene bring us joy?
The disciples of Jesus are to rejoice in the salvation brought about by the Messiah’s faithful life and death, and …
Self Examination — Does lack of it lead to pride and self-delusion?
There was a problem among the early group of disciples in Corinth. It still continues among believers today. I need …
Will Jesus judge the nations with justice?
Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes …
Peace — Is it through the ministry of Jesus?
We are born at war. At birth, my sinful nature has already declared war on God and His truth. My …
Fear — Should I be afraid of natural phenomena like tornadoes and hurricanes?
I am constantly on the lookout for tornadoes. I live in tornado alley. I used to live in the northeast …
Word of God — Is Jesus the Messiah the incarnate Word of God? Is Jesus God in the flesh?
Jesus invites me to know Him. Who is Jesus? The Apostle John tells me Jesus is the Word of God. …
Pretense — Is it practiced by people in their approach to God?
I need to be careful. It is one thing to be a hypocrite. It is another to be pretentious. Pretense …
Evil — What is it? Why does God oppose it?
I need to know about evil. I need to know how to recognize it. Jesus challenges me to recognize it …
Wisdom — Was it foretold of Jesus? Is it recognized in Jesus?
I start with Jesus. I must. That is where wisdom starts. The fear of the MASTER is the beginning of …
Good works — Is there evidence of a radical change of thinking and action?
Goodness is virtue and holiness in action. Jesus calls on me to radically change how I think and do good. …
Crucifixion — Why was Jesus scourged and then had to carry His own cross?
Crucifixion is all ghastly to contemplate. The cruelty is stunning. It goes beyond the shame and pain though. Jesus died …
Loyalty — Why does God show His loyalty to us?
God is loyal. God is faithful. That is just who God is. It is His very nature. When God says …
Second Coming – What does Jesus the Messiah say about it?
I think many followers of Jesus avoid discussing the second coming of Jesus and the rapture. I know I have …
Joy – Is it because of the believers’ love and concern?
Joy is something that I must work at. It is a fruit, needs cultivation, water, fertilizer and more. Neglect can …
Truth — Is it reality and is it found in Jesus?
The new covenant encompasses the Greek idea of truth as reality, as well as the Hebraic concepts of faithfulness and …
Covet — Is it linked with other sins like idolatry and pride?
I covet. It is not very pretty. I do it. I see something and I want it, even though it …
How do I find grace and mercy in my life?
I don’t deserve God’s grace. In fact, that is what it means. It is a gift to me from Jesus …
Fasting — What kind of attitude do I need?
The purpose of fasting should be to take my eyes off the things of this world to focus completely …
Discipleship — Is peace is a result for the disciple?
I am to be a disciple. That is the goal that Jesus has for me. Making disciples is important because …
Materialism — Will possessions and riches make it difficult to enter God’s country?
I have to be careful. Materialistic seduction can happen. I live in America and that is clear. If materialism was …
Unity — Is the called-out assembly of disciples (aka church) unified?
Jesus is pretty clear. Jesus wants His followers and disciples to be unified and one. Jesus wants us perfected in …
31 Questions that Jesus Asks in the Good News According to Luke
It is stunning how masterfully our Master Jesus, the Messiah, uses questions (read more here) to teach vital spiritual truths. …
Slave — Whose slave are you? God’s? Sin’s?
It is hard to get the issue of being a slave in my mind. In the Greek-speaking world of the first …
New Covenant — What are the superior blessings of the new covenant?
Under the New Covenant (or New Agreement), I am given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift. “For by grace …
Immaturity — Is that the cause of backsliding?
I started out strong. I imagine you did too. And then … Something happened. Or several things. We went off …
Heaven – Are you on the train? Will you take it all the way to its destination?
What should we learn from the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16? Let’s think about the …
Law — Is there a conflict between grace and the law?
The purpose of the Law was, basically, to bring us to the Messiah. It is essential to start here. Once …
Insight — Do we have insight into the truth about Jesus the Messiah?
Insight is the spiritual quality that enables me to appreciate God’s mind and will. I will know about matters of …
Woe — What does it mean and why does Jesus use it so much?
When we see the word WOE in the scripture, particularly when Jesus uses it, we know we better pay attention. …
Listening — Will I listen to God’s word and his spokesmen?
What does Jesus want from me? Jesus wants me to listen. Jesus wants me to be a good and faithful servant. …
