THE SON IS ALIVE AGAIN Jesus told a parable about a father and two sons. The younger one was rebellious and took his portion of his father’s wealth and squandered it in riotous living. When his money had run out, a famine came, and he took a job feeding pigs. He was so hungry that
THE LOST ART OF HUMILITY Jesus taught this timeless spiritual principle promoting humility over self-promotion. He illustrated the principle with a parable concerning seat selection at a wedding banquet. He observed that it would be better to take a “lowly” seat at the table and have the master elevate you to a better one, than
THE SCARLET ROPE Rahab, the Jericho harlot, hid the Israelite spies whom Joshua had sent to reconnoiter the city. After making an amazing confession of faith in the Lord, she made a deal with the spies that she would hide them in return for protecting her family when the Lord gave the city over to
THE POWER OF AN ENCOURAGING WORD Here we have another practical proverb given through Solomon. It has to do with the power of words and the effect they have on the hearer. Consider your words. Are they like a pressure cooker or a pressure release for others? When you see someone struggling with anxiety,
A PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROVERB The Spirit inspired Solomon to write many practical proverbs. This is one on how to become a leader. For many aspire to leadership, yet few know how to qualify. Many think this is due to politics or birthright. But the few who work hard and find themselves elevated know better. Leadership
HOW DO YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE? How do you measure life? Jesus warned the man who asked him to act as judge in settling his father’s estate that such things were not so important. Too many families have been divided over the disposition of their parents belongings. How sad that a time of mourning is
CONFESSION IS BETTER THAN COVER-UP After warning his disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Jesus warned that ultimately all things that people have sought to cover up and hide, will be exposed. Eventually, every public persona will have its mask removed. As the Lord warned the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land,
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR AND OBEY A woman in the crowd that had gathered listening to Jesus teach, exclaimed, “God bless your mother!” To which Jesus replied, “Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Surely, the blessing that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had received
WHY LEAVE THE ALTAR STONES NATURAL AND UNCUT? Moses instructed Israel to build an altar of “natural, uncut stones” after they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. They were to offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD. But why did God insist that the altar be built with natural, uncut stones?
GOSPEL SHARING AND FEAR OF REJECTION Jesus sent out 72 disciples two by two to preach the gospel in every town and place he was about to go. He prepared them to understand that some people would accept their message and some would reject it. The main thing was to know that ultimately they were