
Paul closes his letter by showing how the gospel brings real peace, contentment, and generous partnership. In Christ we learn to resolve conflict, exchange anxiety for prayerful trust, and find joy and sufficiency in Him—whatever our circumstances. The result is a life rooted in unshakable grace and gratitude.

Paul warns against false confidence and testifies that everything he once prized is worthless compared to knowing Christ. True gain isn’t found in achievement or status but in pressing forward toward Him, treasuring the Savior above all else and living as citizens of heaven.

The core of gospel living is the mind of Christ: self-emptying humility and sacrificial service. This mindset must shape all of life. It means counting others more significant than yourself and doing all things without grumbling. We are called to follow the example of Christ, which leads to true greatness, and to be living examples…

[Note: This is Part 3 of a 6-part series looking at Paul’s letter to the Philippians.] In the previous post, we saw that gospel living begins with a shared mission, deep prayer, and love that overflows. Paul’s opening words revealed his deep partnership with the Philippians and his prayer that their love would abound with…

Paul’s letter to the Philippians emphasizes gospel living through shared mission, deep prayer, and overflowing love amidst suffering and joy.

[Note: This is Part 1 of a 6-part series looking at Paul’s letter to the Philippians.] In our current culture, it’s quite rare to write actual letters. It’s too easy to send a text message, instant message, DM, or one of any number of “instant” options. In the time of the apostle Paul, however, letters…

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will…

We’re continuing our journey with Jesus and His disciples in Luke’s gospel. In this post, we’ll look at what it cost some to follow Jesus. Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. Then when a woman…

We’re continuing our journey with Jesus and His disciples in Luke’s gospel. Today, we’re going to look at what happens when one begin to lose hope. John’s disciples informed him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to…

We’re continuing our journey with Jesus and His disciples in Luke’s gospel. Today, we’ll finish our discussion of Luke 6 by looking at the second half of Luke 6:17-49. There we read: [Jesus said,] “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you…

We’re continuing our journey with Jesus and His disciples in Luke’s gospel. Today, we’re going to look at the first half of Luke 6:17-49. There we read: Then [Jesus] came down with them and stood on a level place. And a large number of his disciples had gathered along with a vast multitude from all…

We’ve seen so far that Jesus was not what the people of Israel expected in a Messiah. He talked about being sent to the Gentiles after all! Now, we’re going to see that Jesus wasn’t quite the “observant Jew” that the Pharisees thought He should be. On a Sabbath, while he was going through the…

Starting today, we are embarking on a journey with Jesus. We’ll look at some of the scenes from Luke’s gospel, highlighting times that Jesus is said to be travelling. We’re going to start with the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, after His baptism and temptation. They Knew Him When And Jesus returned [from being tempted…
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you…
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two…
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart…

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26) In our first post in this series (“A Better Word than Abel“), we talked about why a New Covenant was needed. Beginning with this post, we’re going to look…