Monday Colossians 1:1-8; Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 21:5-7 The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians—along with Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon—comprise his “prison epistles.” Most date these concurrent with Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, 60-62 AD. As we will be spending much of the next 13 weeks in Colossians, let’s consider the context of this book whose central...
Monday Psalm 139:1-12; Hebrews 13:5-6 It is one of those days you just wish would hurry up and end. Nothing is going according to plan. You are stressed, overwhelmed, emotional, and no one apparently wants to know or care about who you are, how fragile you are, or what you need. Your cry is for...
Monday Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Chronicles 29:15; John 17:14-16 Perhaps you’ve heard that Christians are to “be in the world, but not of the world,” partly paraphrasing what Jesus said in John 15:19 and 17:14-16. Paul develops this theme in Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:22-24. Ephesians 2:19-22 starts here: “So then you are no longer strangers...
Monday Hebrews 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 “Why does God make it so hard? Why can’t He just come down, clearly show us who He is, and then we can believe?” asked my unbelieving nephew, Greg. Isn’t it interesting how skeptics often express frustration and criticism regarding a God in whom they profess disbelief?...
Monday Read Genesis 1 & 2; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11 Creator God “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Everything created started the same way—with a design. A design is an idea of how to make something—a chair, a flower, or a book. You can build your own design...
Monday John 16:25-33 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.” —Jesus (John 16:25) Jesus’ comment to His disciples as He wrapped up His instructions to them (John 13-16) and prepared to pray for them...
Monday Luke 19:1-10 – Jesus Saw Zacchaeus This week we consider five encounters with Jesus as we follow Glenkirk’s VBS daily curriculum. Today’s appointment is with the outcast tax collector, Zacchaeus. Rome’s occupation of Israel began in 63 BC, more than 90 years prior to today’s story. Roman governance in ancient Israel included both Roman...
Monday John 16:16-24 Jesus tells His disciples that very soon they will no longer see Him. His death will cause them such intense pain that it will be a time of great weeping and mourning. However, they are not to lose hope because in time their deep sorrow will be turned into joy. The disciples...
Monday Read John 16:5-15 “Witnessing to Jesus Christ, glorifying Him by showing His disciples who He is, and making them aware of what they are in Him is at the core of the Spirit’s ministry. All God’s work in us is done by the Spirit.” (J.I. Packer) An earnest Christian friend of mine admitted that...
Monday Read John 15:18 – 16:4 “Man’s feelings are always purest and most glowing in the hour of meeting and farewell.” —Jean Paul Richter Last words are often held and remembered as treasured possessions. Throughout this last meal before Jesus goes to the cross (John 13-16), He has demonstrated and commanded that we are to...
