Have you ever used phrases like "you are asking for trouble," "playing with fire," "rocking the boat?" I wonder if the disciples ever felt like that as they followed Jesus into difficulty. At the end of Mark 4, Jesus whisks the disciples away from the multitude and takes them directly into the mess. In chapter 5 they go from that mess, to a maniac (demoniac) named legion. The Gospel on the Ground ...  Read More

Families are knit to God’s heart. In fact, they were His design from the start. When God created man, He said, "It is not good for man to be alone," so He created woman (Genesis 2:18). Then, He blessed them and told them, "Be fruitful, and multiply" (Genesis 1:28).In Mark 3:20-35 the scene opens with much familial disruption. Even close relatives and religious insiders were nonplussed by what Jesu...  Read More

Legalism, legalistic, judgemental, and self-righteous are all words that make me feel nauseous. How about you? I grew up in a time in which in many circles that was the feeling about churches. Men began to take their eyes off the Bible and preach man-made ideas as if it was truth.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. In Mark 2 and 3 we see a verba...  Read More

Revelation 1:5 “and from Jesus Christ ... to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood...”Revelation 1:18 “and the living One (Jesus). I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”Revelation 2:3 “I know you are... bearing up for my name’s sake”Revelation 2:10 “...Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.”Revelation 2:17 “....  Read More

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians during a time of persecution. They were encouraged not to return to the practices of the old Jewish covenant. The encouragement was to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith.” (Hebrews 13:1-3)The race is the challenge to persevere, pick up our cross daily and strive to be more like ...  Read More

Have you surrendered ALL to the Lord? Those words from the pulpit cut like a knife through my bitter heart. I started thinking "Why am I so tired if I have surrendered it ALL to him? Why am I hesitant to take things to the cross?" The Holy Spirit reminded me of the book of James saying count it ALL joy when you go through trials. How do I do that? It's not possible, I thought. I can't control what...  Read More

Colossians 1:9-14 became my favorite verses in 2021. I was reading through the Old Testament and when I got to the first chapter of Colossians I continued to read that chapter every day for the next week. I was so drawn to it and desired to know it and live it. So much so that they have been the verses that I specifically pray over each of my family members and close friends daily, since 2021. The...  Read More

The Apostle Paul, a man of profound theological insight, penned the epistle to the Philippians from a prison cell. Yet, his words exude not despair, but a radiant joy that defies earthly circumstances. This joy, he insists, is not contingent upon external factors, but rather, it is a fruit of the Spirit, cultivated in the soul of the believer.Paul's joy springs from a deep and abiding faith in Chr...  Read More

In Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia, he (in classic Paul style) was writing to correct false doctrine that had crept into the church and to remind them of the truth of the gospel and our identity as followers of Jesus. In Galatians 4:4-7 he writes, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so ...  Read More

Did you know the term "discipleship" is not found in the Bible? Yet, if you ask most churches what area they hope to grow in during 2025 many will say resoundingly discipleship. In the Bible, we never see Jesus teach a seminar, conference, or hold a convention teaching churches how to disciple, yet everything He did in His earthly ministry was in fact discipling disciples.  Jesus began his earthly...  Read More

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 says, "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He wa...  Read More

We have heard people ask, “Would a loving God send someone to hell?” The answer is in the Gospel! Romans 1:16 states, “The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”  Romans 3:23 tells us that we are all sinners. “But God demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) God has provided a way of escape for those who will ...  Read More