Joel Gregory tells a funny story about a family seated around their table one Thanksgiving Day looking at the annual holiday bird.
From the oldest to the youngest, they were to express their praise. When they came to the 5-year-old in the family, he began by looking at the turkey and expressing his thanks to the turkey, saying although he had not tasted it he knew it would be good. Continue reading
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YouVersion is a free online Bible app that you can access on your computer or install on your smartphone or tablet.
It can be read or listened to in over 1300 languages and more than 2000 versions of the Bible.
Each year YouVersion lists the most shared, highlighted and bookmarked verse of the year. For 2019 it was Philippians 4:6. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Continue reading
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Much we experience in life is bittersweet.
You can’t enjoy the sight of the beautiful rainbow without rain.
Leaving a job you enjoy for another job is often filled with mixed emotions. You leave behind pleasant memories and close relationships for a new challenge and an exciting opportunity Continue reading
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During the time I was a student at Florida College there was a preacher in Tampa, H.E. Phillips, who hired a Shakespearean actor, Richard Lupino, to produce an audio recording of the New Testament.
Lupino didn’t know anything about the Bible. So H.E. would explain to him the characters and the setting and then Lupino would do an interpretative reading of it. To show how little he knew, when he came to the section about Paul, he asked Phillips, “Paul? Is he a good guy or a bad guy?” Continue reading
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Jerry Shirley tells a story about a King who visited a slave ship. There was a slave galley where they chained prisoners to the oars and made them row.
The King decided to go below the deck and talk to those who were chained to the oars. And he asked one man, “Why are you here?”
“Oh,” he said, “Sire, I don’t know why I’m here. I was in a crowd when a crime was committed and when they arrested everybody, they got me, but I’m innocent!” Continue reading
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“What is truth?” asked Pilate in his now-famous question to Jesus at His trial.
Commentators, preachers, and philosophers have discussed and debated Pilate’s motive behind the question. Was he sincere? Just jesting? Responding cynically? Barclay suggested “he asked the question wistfully and wearily.” Obviously, we will never know. Continue reading
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William Barclay titled this text, “The Royalty of Service.” Derek Geldart entitled it “Love on its knees.” Kerry Haynes called it “Bottom-Up Leadership.” And it’s often been cited as a narrative that identifies “The Heart of a Servant.”
I simply call this poignant passage, that only John records, “Jesus’ Model for Ministry.” Continue reading
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A preacher was standing at the church house door shaking hands as the congregation departed and saw a man who rarely attended.
He grabbed him by the arm and said, “You need to join the Army of the Lord!”
“I’m already in the Army of the Lord,” the man replied.
“How come I don’t see you except for Christmas and Easter?” the preacher questioned. Continue reading
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Dennis Davidson tells a story about Samuel Bradburn, an associate of John Wesley, who was a highly respected minister of his day.
On one occasion Davidson was in desperate financial need. When Wesley learned of his circumstances, he sent him the following letter: “Dear Sammy: ‘trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.’ Yours affectionately, John Wesley.” Attached to the letter was a 5-pound note (then worth about $10). Continue reading
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It is easy to think that people like the apostle Peter had an advantage over us today because they saw Jesus. Talked with him. Walked with Him. And learned from him.
However, in this passage, Peter pens that we, too, can be “partakers of the divine nature.” Through the knowledge of Jesus Christ we can enjoy a special relationship with Him. Fellowship and partnership with the Divine is possible when we become Christians.
This text tells us how. Continue reading
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