Weekly Messages

The apostle John commends to us in 3 John the gift and discipline of hospitality. Not only is hospitality a virtue among early church members, but its absence draws a stern condemnation from John, the apostle of love. In verses 9 and 10 John specifically rebukes a man named Diotrephes for his lack of humility [...]

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of [...]

Turning to Isaiah 6, Gus Harter examines the encounter of the prophet Isaiah with the thrice-holy God of Israel. When confronted with God’s holiness, Isaiah recognizes his own sin and imperfection. In that realization is fear and awe, mirroring that of every child of God who gets a glimpse of God’s holiness and comprehends the [...]

As the time of his death nears, Joshua challenges the children of Israel in Joshua 24:14-18 to remain faithful to the God of their fathers who had delivered them from Egypt and brought them into a bountiful land. Chapters 23 and 24 record his instruction and blessing to Israel. The key to understanding Joshua’s message [...]

In Deuteronomy 33:1-8 scriptures record the blessing of Moses upon the children of Jacob. It is quite different from the blessing given by Jacob upon his deathbed at the end of the book of Genesis. In that blessing, Jacob shone a harsh and uncompromising light upon the actions and failures of his sons; it rewarded [...]

In 2 Timothy 1:7, the word “fear” has the sense of timidity or cowardice. This is the fear of circumstances or of men. It contrasts sharply with the fear of God, an expression of faith that displaces timidity. The fear of God gives us the courage to do what is right, regardless of what men [...]