Ours is a generation that glorifies self. But Elder Gowens opens the scripture to show that fulfillment comes from going beyond self. Selfishness is the essence of sin. In contrast is the sacrificial love epitomized by Christ. Biblical love is not an emotion but a commitment to live for others, as Christ gave Himself for […]
Elder Ronald Lawrence reads Psalm 131, one of the Psalms of Degrees that accompanied the Jewish pilgrimages to Jerusalem for occasions of worship. Psalm 131 is a psalm of humility penned by David. David was a man after God’s own heart. He he had much of which he could have boasted. He was anointed to […]
Elder Marty Smith exposits Colossians 1:19-29, two sentences with two very different boundaries: eternal and temporal. Verses 19 and 20 make the very simple but profound point that it pleased God to reconcile us to Him in the person of Christ, and that the blood of the cross made that a finished work. Verses 21-29 […]
Elder Gowens turns to 1 Corinthians 7:14 to extract the principle that God gives blessings to some because of the obedience of others. Indeed, the essence of the gospel message is that sinners were blessed because of Christ’s obedience, and despite their unworthiness. God also grants blessings directly to His obedient children. The application of […]
Psalm 98 opens by declaring of the Lord that “he hath done marvelous things.” The psalms often invoke marvel in contemplation of God. The gospels also record the marvel of many who came into contact with the Lord Jesus Christ: the Jews, Simeon, Mary, Joseph, the Samaritan woman, Pilate–all marveled at the man. They marveled […]
In Matthew 11, Jesus sends an encouraging message to John the Baptist in prison. Among the many other notable miracles signifying that Christ was indeed the Messiah was this one: “the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Elder Lawrence shows that the preaching of the gospel remains a miracle to this day. The gospel […]
Elder Marty Smith turns to Isaiah 55:4 and discovers a prophetic vision of Jesus Christ as “a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” He finds the vision addressed to a people hungry and thirsty, but without money to buy (Isa 55:1). Such is the case with all God’s children who […]
Expounding on Galations 5:22, Elder Gowens explores the formation of character in God’s children. He shows that character starts in the distinct personal tendencies with which we are born. Upon these, several forces act. Our sinful nature; the influences of friends, family and peers; life experiences: all of these help shape character. But most encouraging […]
We are all too familiar with the emotion of anger rooted in our human nature. Man’s anger does not work the righteousness of God, and usually ends in trouble or negative consequences.
In contrast, when God is angry, His response is always appropriate. Elder Lawrence opens the scriptures to examine the differences between man’s anger and […]
Jesus exhorted His disciples in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Yet elsewhere Christ said, “ye will not come,” and “ye cannot come.” Christ also said, “no man can come” unless the Father draws him, and “all the Father giveth me shall […]