Outsiders describe Pentecostals as people of the Spirit. After all, we practice spiritual gifts regularly. Our distinctive doctrine teaches that tongues is the initial physical evidence of Spirit baptism. People of the Spirit is even the title of an official … Continue reading Saved, Delivered, and Healed | Book Review
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 2:21–40 Several years ago, I was working at a church in Costa Mesa, California. For Pastor Appreciation Day, the church gave each staff member a generous gift card to a nearby restaurant. Two or three weeks … Continue reading The Hardest Part | Luke 2:21-40
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 2:1–20. In Luke’s Gospel, the Christmas story begins on a throne and ends in a manger. As we read the unfolding of its plot, we learn valuable lessons about sovereignty, humility, value, worship and evangelism. … Continue reading Strength and Humility | Luke 2:1-20
Today’s Scripture reading: Luke 1:67–80. In this passage, Zechariah teaches us something important about Jesus Christ and something important about ourselves. Yesterday, we looked at what he teaches us about Christ. Today, we will look at what he teaches … Continue reading Through Us, Not Without Us | Luke 1:67-80
Today’s Scripture reading:Luke 1:26–38 Luke pairs the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5–25) with the story of Mary so that, among other things, we can compare and contrast them for our spiritual benefit. Let’s begin with the comparisons. In … Continue reading Responding to God with Simple Faith | Luke 1:26-38
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 1:5–7 Christmas is a singing season. Its catalogue of music includes an A to Z of joyous, hopeful tunes, both sacred and secular. Every song from “Away in a Manger” to “White Christmas” finds its proper … Continue reading Silent Beginnings | Luke 1:5-7
The word amen is Hebrew for “So be it!” We use it at the end of our prayers as an expression of hope that God will answer our requests. Used at the end of a doxology, however, the word has a different connotation. It is not so much an expression of hope as one of confidence: “It most definitely is!” rather than “So be it!” The reason for the difference between the amen of hope and the amen of confidence is that in our ignorance, immaturity, and iniquity, we too often ask for things we should not have or cannot … Continue reading An Outline of the Christian Faith, Part 4: Sovereignty (Revelation 1:8)
SCRIPTURE READING Ephesians 3.7–13: Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly … Continue reading Grace as Salvation and Spiritual Gift (Ephesians 3.7–13)
SCRIPTURE READING Ephesians 1.3–14 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT After I proposed to Tiffany, we called everyone we knew to share our good news. We couldn’t stop talking about our engagement. After we got married, we couldn’t stop talking about how enjoyable our wedding and reception were. To this day, any mention of our wedding will spark a long, excited conversation between us. And why not? Good experiences should be talked about. In Ephesians 1.3–14, Paul writes about salvation. But his words are not dry or academic. They are a Niagara Falls of praise, gushing forth excitedly and spilling over the boundaries of … Continue reading Of God, By God, For God (Ephesians 1.3–14)
Sin has a powerful grip on us humans, which we do not have the power to break free of. Only God has that kind of power. So how does he break the grip of sin on our lives? Answer: through the death of Jesus Christ. We find a brief description of how God overcomes sin through Christ in 1 John 2:1-2: My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice … Continue reading Liberator, Defender, Sacrifice (1 John 2:1-2)
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