In ancient Israel a farmer draped a bag of seed over his shoulder and walked through the field, scattering it on the ground. Naturally, the seed fell on different soil types. Jesus compared soil to the human heart (Luke 8:4-15).
Speaking the Truth in Love
Speaking the Truth in Love
Sermons by David Wright (Page 27)
We were dead in our sins. But God made us alive together with Christ, raised us up with him and seated us in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:4-10). Why did the Lord do this stupendous thing?
Human life is a shadow, a mere breath, a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (Job 14:2; Ps. 39:5; Jas. 4:14). If this were my last day on earth, how would I live it?
Jesus has followers. The Bible calls them disciples. The prince of the power of the air has followers too (Eph. 2:1-3).
In false Christianity churches try to reconstitute the old covenant temple experience. Dressed in robes a priest stands at the altar. Incense burns. A choir sings. But Christ has introduced a new covenant (Heb. 13:9-16).
Newlyweds may be surprised to learn that marriage doesn’t erase all conflict, that relational friction is completely natural. New Christians may be surprised to learn that conflict in the church is also to be expected. Preachers, elders, and saints sometimes make each other sad (Heb. 13:7, 17, 24).
A growing congregation showers young people with attention and encouragement. This is a good thing. But elderly people sometimes feel forgotten or even useless. Daniel’s experience forces us to see advanced age in a new light (Dan. 6:1-24).
Paul teaches that in mixed-gender assemblies of the church, women are to dress modestly and submit to male leadership (1 Tim. 2:8-15). But should the modern church take his message on this point seriously? Don’t his instructions merely reflect the sexist culture of his times?
Persecution tempted the recipients of Hebrews to drift away from Jesus. Flirting with this temptation always has a corrupting influence on Christian conduct (Heb. 13:1-6). Hebrews 13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with…
2 Kings 5 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his…