OUTLINE:“Stay close to the Word, always!”God’s Word Never FailsGod is with us every step of the way, ensuring our salvation, and that once saved, we remained saved by never losing saving faith! For example, He sends ministers to strengthen us in time of need. To whom much is given, much is required. (Lk 12:35-48)Jas 2:10For […]
Part 52 – The Book of Hebrews Read More »
There’s an account of Jesus praying in Gethsemane described in multiple Gospels in the Bible that has always made me take pause. Here’s Mark’s version: And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and
Our Father’s Salvific Plan Read More »
There’s a big difference between doing something wrong in God’s eyes when you’re ignorant and doing so when you know better. The apostle Paul is a perfect example of someone who zealously sinned against God and His chosen people, even murdering them in His name! Paul was utterly against Jesus before he was converted on
Ignorant vs. Willful Sinning Read More »
We wouldn’t dream of drinking poison; yet we poison ourselves every day.I’ve recently cut back on my salt and caffeine intake. Why? Well, I noticed for the first time in my life that my blood pressure was significantly higher than normal. One look at my diet and I found at least one of the primary
OUTLINE: The Rhetoric in Hebrews – Prologue: v1:1-4 – Thematic Statement: v1:5-4:16 – Statement of Plausibility: ch5-6 – Demonstration of Proof: v7:1-10:18 – Closing Inspiration: v10:19-13:25Godly EncouragementEncouragement often begins with pointing out a weakness (or at least examining oneself for the possibility of weakness). When properly given, encouragement should come across as constructive. Humble people
Part 25 – The Book of Hebrews Read More »
When people hear the word ‘discipline’ in a familial context, a certain kind of pain and suffering often percolates up in the soul. For example, when a child is disciplined, it typically involves some form of punishment, whether emotional or physical. In either case, said discipline implies discomfort. I think most of us would agree
What Is Biblical Discipline? Read More »
Most of us exist in a bubble. We’re comfortable there. The older we get, the smaller the bubble becomes, in general. We cordon off aspects of our lives that either no longer interest us or pose a threat to our peaceful little existence. By the end of our lives, most of us will be pretty
Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone Read More »
As you may already know, I am a physical therapist and work in skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The typical patient I treat is someone who has been hospitalized with illness or injury and deemed not yet safe to return home. My job, along with the occupational and speech therapists, is to
When I was a kid, random noises were nigh debilitating to me when focusing on a single task. This “handicap” affected all aspects of my life, including my work and behavior at school, my athletic endeavors (try making a free throw when you can’t focus on the hoop), and even my relationships. I’m convinced, as
OUTLINE:Why It’s Easier to Encourage a Mature Believer (Blog – 9/16/22)As a pastor, I have been given authority to teach Holy Scripture. I have authority to teach obedience. A mature person understands that whenever I’m teaching obedience, I’m actually encouraging them into the sphere of God’s love.Authority-OrientationThe human flesh hates the idea of submitting to anyone
Part 7 – This Is My Commandment, That You Love One Another Read More »