“At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got.   But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence.    You […]

“Here’s how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God.”   1 John 4:2, 3 MSGStraightforward […]

 “Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.    There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”Philippians 1:3, […]

“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.     That means we will not […]

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus.   The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.   ‭‭John‬ ‭1:40-41 ‭MSG‬‬ What’s the very first thing you do […]

“We look at this Son (Jesus) and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created.     For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels— everything got started in him and finds its purpose in […]

“Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced.    But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.”Hebrews 7:23-25 MSG There is Someone who is on your side, […]

“We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us.    As it turned […]

“There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep.      Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has […]

“For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ.    Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.    Can’t you see the central […]