Daily Thoughts From God's Word

Churches are not perfect.  What’s the old adage?  “Churches are not perfect because they are made up of imperfect people.”  And certainly, the church at Corinth was not perfect.  Here’s the thing, though, these people were genuinely the church and, thus, it could be written of them that they were sanctified, called to salvation, recipients of grace, enriched in speech and knowledge, having Christ in them, gifted, persevering by God’s grace, ultimately guiltless (because of th

In chapter 1, Paul stated, “We preach Christ crucified” (1:23).  He continues his focus on Christ in these chapters:  “And I, when I came to you, brothers . . . I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (2:1-2).  Paul explains further, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” (2:12).  And so it is, for those of us who know Christ and his salva

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1:18).  Just this thought this morning:  The world simply does not understand.  It cannot understand, and it won’t understand.  How foolish many must think we are.  But the cross is everything, and by that I mean Jesus Christ and all he has done for us and all that he is to us.  Maybe a good illustration of this reality:  At Baxter, last evening, we went walk

Following up on yesterday’s thoughts – “Kind of a must-be-holy-but-we’re-not-holy-but-we-have-the-righteousness-of-another-which-means-no-one-can-make-any-successful-charge-against-us thing.” – God has given gifts and, also, one another to help us become more and more like Christ – in dealing with enemies, in loving others, in submitting to the authorities, etc. – and, especially, we have the example of Christ himself.  The gospel, the Savior, the fellowship of the church, sp

Paul writes, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (12:1).  We are to live lives of holiness.  We are new creatures with a new and holy Lord. Our problem is that, even as children of God, our lives do not always reflect this reality.  That’s why it’s such good news that this entreaty is set on the foundation already laid out in the letter, i.e., th

Now, that which Paul himself has experienced – forgiveness of his sins and a right relationship with God and eternal life – he wants Israel to experience:  “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (9:3).  The covenants are theirs.  And the promises.  And the Christ.  And all other things.   Israel has a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (10:2), and Paul’s “heart's desire an

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1).  I just have to wonder, have many sweeter words ever, I...

Coming from Acts into Romans (the one being largely historical, the other largely theological), one understands why Paul does what he...

Imprisoned in Rome, people began to come to Paul in ever greater numbers (28:23).  For two years, Paul was there “and welcomed all who...

How about a bit of recap of Paul’s ministry to this point?  Paul has been arrested at the temple, and he is allowed to speak to the...

“And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were...

Of Paul’s ministry, Luke writes,  “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily” (16:5).  That’s a...

The Jerusalem Council is so real world.  Luke tells us the unvarnished truth of what is going on in the early churches.  There’s a...

Thrown into prison by Herod, miraculously freed by God, and returned to the disciples, Peter “described to them how the Lord had brought...

Peter and Cornelius.  This story is full of so many lessons:  God’s salvation is for the whole world, not just for Jews.  The gospel is...