May 8 | Application
I’m a sports fan, but I’m alarmed by the swift expansion of sports betting. Gambling is addictive and it threatens the integrity of athletic competition. . . .
Series: Application
April 25, 2022
May 1 | Application
Bad Samaritans evidently can become good ones. That’s why Jesus wanted the gospel to be preached in Samaria (Acts 1:8), and when it was, many Samaritans accepted Christ and were baptized (Acts 8:5-11).
April 18, 2022
April 24 | Application
The road of life is littered with perils. Often, we manage to glide over the hazards and keep going, but a small nail can lead to a slow leak or a major blowout in our relationship with God.
April 11, 2022
April 17 | Application
If you survey a crowd about their favorite flowers, crocuses probably won’t make the list. They aren’t tall like sunflowers, elegant like orchids, or fragrant like hyacinths and lilacs. . . .
April 4, 2022
April 10 | Application
They appeared to have nothing in common at all. People treated him like gold and they treated her like dirt . . .
March 28, 2022
April 3 | Application
These days, care is rare. How often do you encounter genuine, unselfish concern for others?
March 21, 2022
March 27 | Application
Romans 12:1 makes me ask myself, "Am I unreservedly devoted to the Lord? What does it cost me to follow Jesus? . . ."
March 14, 2022
March 20 | Application
We can’t live in the past. Our relationship with God shouldn’t rely on a nostalgic preoccupation with the way things used to be. But we shouldn’t forget the past. . . .
March 7, 2022
March 13 | Application
If you base your self-image on what others think about you—or pamper your ego with an inflated sense of self-importance—you’re looking at a contorted mirror.
February 28, 2022
March 6 | Application
Our memories of being baptized—and seeing new believers baptized today—should move us to thank God for his grace.
February 21, 2022
Feb. 27 | Application
On a shelf in my office sits a 4-by-6-inch frame containing this short message: “Teach the Bible, Love the People.” That little plaque reminds me about two key priorities in ministry found in Romans 10.
February 14, 2022
Feb. 20 | Application
Psalm 44 puts into words the failure and frustration we often feel. As such, it provides an important backdrop for Romans 8.
February 7, 2022
Feb. 13 | Application
Has life disappointed you? Have others disappointed you? How about the church . . . or God?
January 31, 2022
Feb. 6 | Application
I wonder, "What if the way I feel about golf is the way non-Christians feel about the church?"
January 24, 2022
Jan. 30 | Application
How can we honor the Lord when conflicts arise? Is it possible to hold firm convictions without destroying relationships? Several principles found in Romans 14 can help us put this slogan into practice.
January 17, 2022
Jan. 23 | Application
The word "leftover" sounds stale and unappealing. The Law of Moses instructed the Israelites to give the firstfruits of their labors, not the scraps. However, the Bible also has some positive things to say about leftovers . . .
January 10, 2022
Jan. 16 | Application
Something in the human spirit wants to push back and assert our independence. When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, Peter refused at first. On the surface his objection appeared humble, but in reality, pride was at work.
January 3, 2022
Jan. 9 | Application
In Romans 1, the apostle Paul lowers the hammer of God’s righteous wrath on Gentile sinners. Then in Romans 2, Paul pivots toward his Jewish readers . . .
December 27, 2021
Jan. 2 | Application
If God had no capacity for righteous anger, it would create some difficult dilemmas.
December 20, 2021
Dec. 26 | Application
There will be a last time I pet my dog, mow my lawn, eat my favorite meal, and watch a ballgame on TV. But the story won't end there . . .
