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Alms, Prayer, & Fasting 6:1-18 General Comments on Prayer vv.5-8 I wonder if Jesus was thinking of Ecclesiastes 5:2 at this point: “God is in heaven and you upon earth, therefore let your words be few.” It is clear that prayer has little to do with volume, public visibility, or pious repetitions. Nor does it […]

Key Verse: Romans 4:3 “…Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” How would you feel if you were almost 100 years old, your wife was 90; and you were still childless, even though God had promised you a son? You probably would have given up hope by now. You’d question the […]

Key Verse: Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of there law.” What does it mean to be “justified”? And who or what is the “justifier”? Well, let us start with the meaning of “justice”. The Bible tells us God is “just” and His nature demands […]

Key Verse: Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Do you ever get tired of preachers? I do, and I’m a preacher! I’ve often tried to analyze […]

This week a “day of infamy” occurred in Washington DC. We all watched it unfold and we’re all troubled not only by the insurrection itself but by the implications. There’s a lot of blame-shifting and/or soul searching going on depending on political ideologies and adherence or non-adherence to conspiracy theories. But, regardless of polarities, no […]

Key Verse: Acts 28:20 “…for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” The book of Acts concludes with Paul living under house arrest in Rome. It was a fairly casual confinement — he had only one soldier to guard him, and anyone who wished to do so could visit him. Even here, […]

Key Verse: Acts 27:25 “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” King Agrippa was impressed with Paul. After hearing Paul’s message, he said to Governor Festus, “This man could have been set free, if he had not appealed to Caesar” (26:32). But appeal to […]

Alms, Prayer, & Fasting 6:1-18 How NOT to Give vv. 2-4 Part 3 As is often the case with language and culture there is a blurring of the lines over time. For example, the “Pharisees” and the “Sadducees” emerged as differing religious sub-cultures in the latter half of the second century before Christ. Their sectarian […]

Key Verse: Acts 26:20 “I…declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” I think most of us have done it. Maybe several times. We sin, are stricken in our conscience, […]

Key Verse: Acts 24:26 “Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.” She was just a nice little old lady. She came to our door in Jerusalem, out of breath, and clutching a large notebook […]

Key Verse: Acts 23:6c “I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” (NIV) Paul’s troubles in Jerusalem continues. Even though he was now in the care of the Roman commander, he still had to face the hostility of the people. This time it was the commander himself who was […]

Key Verse: Acts 21:28 “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled the holy place.” Have you been feeling sorry for yourself lately? Are your friends (the ones who should […]