The concept of a corporation or organization having a mission is central to its existence. In the past few decades, even greater emphasis has been placed on developing and publishing “mission statements” at various levels within corporations, even down to work teams. A mission statement tells the purpose or function for which an organization or … [Read more…]
If you had the opportunity to preach to a governor, what would you preach? Such opportunities were given to Jesus’ apostles. Jesus said to His chosen twelve, “and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to Gentiles” (Matthew 10:18). These things were true even for … [Read more…]
After Jeroboam had established himself as king of the northern 10 tribes, he reasoned, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of … [Read more…]
James says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). We have an idiom “save face” which means to cover your reputation and avoid others losing respect for you. Public confession of public sin may be avoided by some to “save face”. Saving face is … [Read more…]
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both … [Read more…]
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” But He said to them, … [Read more…]
To be sanctified is to be set apart, separated or holy. The word and its derivatives are variously translated sanctify, hallow, be holy, holiness, and sanctification. Sanctification involves being separated from one thing and being dedicated to another. Sanctification for the Christian means to be separated from the world and consecrated to the service of … [Read more…]
The fashion clothing store sign reads: “New arrivals weekly”. We would rightly say that’s just good advertising. There are many things about “new” that can be exciting. Depending on the product, “new” may imply updated, stronger, faster, better suited to purpose. Think of computers and phones. But what about “new” in the realm of religion? … [Read more…]
“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” (Exodus 32:1) Moses delayed coming, … [Read more…]
In the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22, Jesus teaches about the preparation of the kingdom and God’s punishment of those who reject it. While the parable has a primary application to Israel’s rejection of the kingdom, we can also learn of four different and yet equally disastrous responses to the call of … [Read more…]