August 17, 2022“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities— His external power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” – Romans 1:20 When I was 18 years old, I graduated high school, and my parents gifted me a trip to Israel for graduation. They didn’t send me to Cancun ...  Read More

August 16, 2022“Then he said, ‘Look, I have come to do Your will.’ He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.” – Hebrews 10:9 As we have looked at the last few days, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and plead to His Father, “if there is any other way to save the sinners, let’s do it another way.” But the Bible is clear, this was the ONLY WAY. But Jesus plea...  Read More

August 15, 2022“He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.’” – Matthew 26:39 Yesterday, we discussed how Jesus knew what was coming before it ever came. But this does not mean Jesus was excited about what was to come. Jesus did not want to be c...  Read More

August 14, 2022“He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’” – Matthew 26:37-38 Yesterday, we discussed how Jesus had a place of prayer. He had a place in the Garden of Gethsemane that He would regularly go to. He went there once more before He wa...  Read More

August 13, 2022“Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, ‘Sit here while I go over there to pray.’” – Matthew 26:36 Yesterday, we looked at a time when Jesus broke bread with the disciples and told them what was coming. He predicted that they would desert Him (and they did). But long before they scattered, Jesus brought His disciples up on the Mount of Olives an...  Read More

August 12, 2022“On the way, Jesus told them, ‘Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, God will strike the Shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.’” – Matthew 26:31-32 You can probably imagine Jesus reclining at the table with the twelve disciples in the Upper Room— br...  Read More

August 11, 2022“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” – Romans 10:9-10 How does God the Father reveal to us who God the Son is? The same way He reveals the truth in our hearts and mind...  Read More

August 10, 2022“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” When Jesus asked Peter the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter gave his confession and said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Some translations read, “You are the Christ.” Peter used the Greek word Christos, which is translated as Christ or Messiah, which are synonymous. When you say J...  Read More

August 9, 2022“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” – Psalm 37:4 As we have looked at the last couple of days, idols can be found in all shapes and sizes. We worship idols related to success, money, possessions, and stuff. We can find them in our personal identity and physical fitness. But no matter what you call it, if you have put it before God, He calls it idola...  Read More

August 8, 2022“You must not have any other god before me.” – Exodus 20:3 Yesterday, we talked about the things that we give our firsts to. Your firsts can be in the form of time, money, or attention. But the truth is if you are giving your first and giving your best to something other than God, that thing is an idol. What does modern-day idolatry look like? I like how John Piper put it. He said, “...  Read More

August 7, 2022“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ ‘Well,’ they replied, ‘some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ Then He asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’” – Matthew 16:13-15 Not only did Jesus love using visual aids, as we’ve discussed the last few days. J...  Read More

August 6, 2022“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” – Matthew 9:36 Over the last three days, we have looked at biblical stories Jesus told using visual aids to make His point. Today, we look at one more from Matthew 9:36. Jesus was specifically talking about the need for workers as He traveled from town to town a...  Read More