40 Daily Reflections from the letters of 1, 2, and 3 John Imagine what the world would look like today if Christians learned to radiate the love of Jesus to everyone around them. Love One Another is a devotional Bible study for Christians who want to foster a deeper appreciation for the two greatest commandments […]
Our home church canceled today’s Sunday service because everyone (except us) is off at church camp, a weeklong community experience on the shore of Lake Michigan. While many at church dislike camping, they so treasure the extended time with a church family that they go anyway. It’s a highly anticipated annual event, the highlight of […]
God Perspective Matters More As readers of the book of Job, we are privy to the whole story: Satan torments Job in an effort to prove that Job’s Godly devotion is conditional, that it is dependent on circumstances. Job, however, does not have the luxury of this grand view. All he knows is that his […]
Will We Follow Through When the Pressure’s Off? God’s chosen people toil as slaves in Egypt. He tasks Moses with getting them out. So far things aren’t going so well. God has sent seven plagues to get the Pharaoh’s attention, without achieving the people’s release. Plague number eight is on its way: Locusts. An army […]
Today’s passage: John 2:13–24 Focus verse: “Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16) When you think of Jesus, what image comes to mind? Is it Jesus, meek and mild? The little children gather around him and he gazes at them, his eyes brimming with compassion. In another scene, Jesus stands on a […]
Jesus Offers Us the Gift Of Salvation; All We Need to Do Is Accept It We read in scripture that we are saved by God’s grace through faith. There’s nothing else we must do. It is God’s gift to us. We can’t earn it. All we need to do is receive it (Ephesians 2:8-9). He […]
This nontypical, nondenominational church enjoys a good amount of positive local buzz. Today is Mother’s Day. I’m apprehensive because visiting a church on a holiday never provides a typical experience. Consider these seven discussion questions about Church 64. 1. Two young women at the entrance to the parking lot smile and wave as we pull […]
After Job’s so-called friends fail so miserably to comfort him in his time of need, after they criticize and malign him, God steps in. God puts them in their place for what they said and affirms that Job has spoken truth. Then God tells the friends to prepare a sacrifice and to ask Job to […]
A Women Takes Extreme Action to Get What Is Due Her Tamar is a victim who takes extreme action to vindicate herself. She’s the daughter-in-law of Judah. She suffers at his hand, responds with guile, and has twins with him. Later she is one of four women mentioned in Jesus’s family tree. Talk about a […]
Today’s passage: John 2:1–12 Focus verse: He revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:11) Consider the miracles Jesus performs. He heals people with broken bodies, casts out evil spirits, and even raises dead people to life. Whatever their situation, Jesus makes their life better—much better. Yet his first miracle, right after […]