Lord, we like to take it easy.

Lord, we like to take it easy. We like to have a comfortable life. we don't want to be too committed. We've become half-hearted. Where does this apathy come from? Does it come from You? Are You not calling us to be whole-hearted? Lord, lift us out of a life pf paying lip-service to You …

Wholehearted followers of Jesus

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13).  …

The Name of the Lord and the Word of the Lord becomes precious to us, the love of the Lord becomes real to us, the strength of the Lord is given to us, and the enemy is firmly resisted.

Daniel 11:2-35; 1 John 4:7-21; Psalm 138:1-8 Daniel 11 is concerned with conflict. This is part of our spiritual experience as well as Israel's military experience. There is an enemy who opposes the Lord and His people. Nevertheless, "the people who know their God will firmly resist him" (Daniel 11:32). How are we able to resist …

The Word and the words (5): We give our testimony – and Jesus speaks through us.

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony ... because of his words many more became believers" (John 4:39,41). We read, here, about the woman's testimony - and we read about the words of Jesus. When we preach and teach God's Word, there are two things happening. We …

The School of Discipleship (15): Learning from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, “The Cost of Discipleship”

What can we learn from Bonhoeffer's book, The Cost of Discipleship? This book was first published when Bonhoeffer was only 31 years old. Page references are to the edition I was using at the time I wrote these notes. I've included the page references. It will give you a rough idea of the part of …

The School of Discipleship (14): Strengthening the faith of all the disciples

“Paul … strengthened  the faith of all the disciples” (Acts 18:23). Strengthening the faith of all the disciples: This is such an important ministry. We are not to be content with the faith that we have. We are to press on to a stronger faith. What do we mean when we speak about a strong faith? …

The School of Discipleship (13): We are not to be secret disciples.

Luke 11: 29-54 Christ is 'greater than Jonah' (32). Jonah was preserved alive (Jonah 1:17-2:10). Christ 'died...was buried' and 'was raised' (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Through His resurrection, He has been 'declared with power to be the Son of God' (Romans 1:4). We are not to be secret disciples (33): Believe in your heart that God …

The School of Discipleship (12): The Life of Discipleship

In John 8, there are three very important verses, which teach us a great deal about the life of discipleship. These verses are John 8:36 “If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed”; John 8:32 “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”; John 8:31 “If you continue in …

The School of Discipleship (11): A Circle of Friendship, Discipleship and Apostleship

John 15:12-17 Jesus' circle of friendship, discipleship and apostleship: first friends, then disciples and, after that, apostles. * Friendship - the foundation of discipleship and apostleship Personal - Discipleship and apostleship are not based on an impersonal contract of employment. It’s based on love. It’s about people - not numbers. They were known by name. …

The School of Discipleship (10): Salvation and Discipleship

Jesus brings us salvation - “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5) - and He calls us to discipleship - “Follow Me” (Mark 2:14). We cannot be His disciples without, first, coming to Him for salvation. We must emphasize that salvation leads to discipleship. Our discipleship demonstrates the reality of our salvation. We must hear …

God’s Way Is The Best Way.

“As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30). The Lord knows what He has planned for each one of us. There are no surprises for Him. The Lord doesn’t leave us to travel on our own. He’s with us every step of the way. When we wonder about what’s happening in our lives, He …

At the time of harvest

Ruth 2:1-16 It wasn't always harvest. Remember Ruth 1:1 - "There was a famine in the land." In today's world - for some, there is harvest. For others, there is famine. At the time of the harvest, we give thanks to God and we share with people in need. Do not forget the Lord (Ruth …

The School of Discipleship (9): We grow as disciples, as we build our lives on the truth of God.

We grow as disciples as we build our lives on the truth of God. Jesus emphasizes this point very strongly in John 15:7 - “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.” If we are to grow in prayer, we must …

Cleansing from sin

In Numbers 19:9, we read about “cleansing … purification from sin.” This is what Jesus came to do for us. He’s “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

The School of Discipleship (8): Looking beyond the beginning of the end to the end of the beginning

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith …

The School of Discipleship (7): Fixing our eyes on Jesus, let us move forward into the great future he is preparing for us.

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen …

The way of obedience is the way of blessing.

Deuteronomy 29:1-29 -  God has done great things for His people – ‘in the land of Egypt… in the wilderness’ (2,5). Acknowledging Him to be the Lord their God, they were to live in obedience to Him (6,9). The way of obedience is the way of blessing. Moses warns the people that they must not …

It is by grace you have been saved.

Romans 2:1-29 None of us can 'escape the judgment of God'. None of us can 'presume upon the riches of His kindness'(3-4). We dare not come to God like the Pharisee, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men...'. We can only come to Him with the prayer of the tax collector, …

Search The Scriptures: Matthew’s Gospel

MATTHEW Jesus was also called Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23). Emmanuel means ‘God with us.’ This is the great message that comes to us from the first chapter of the New Testament. God has not remained in heaven. He has come to earth. Along with the Name, Emmanuel, there is the better - known Name - Jesus. …