Just a short background on 1 Thessalonians before I share a few of my thoughts from today’s reading: It is thought by many scholars that this is the oldest of Paul’s letters (or epistles) to the churches. Thessalonica was the major city in Macedonia when Paul wrote to the church there. The church had as…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
The main verse that just caused me to almost stand up and cheer was chapter 3, verse 2. Here it is again: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Remember, yesterday I spent the entire day writing and producing an episode of the Lifespring! podcast dealing with the SCOTUS decision…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
Before we begin, I thought you might like to know a bit of background. It’s always good to know the context, right? This is one of the letters that Paul wrote from the Roman prison. Colosse seems to have been an important city in what would now be the southwest corner of modern-day Turkey. Only…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
Would you agree with me that we live in turbulent, troubled times? Every few weeks we hear about people being murdered, either because of their race or religion. We hear about supposed man-made climate change. About a looming economic crisis. About all kinds of injustices around the world. We worry about the direction our culture…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
First a little background about the book. Philippi was an important city in the western part of Macedonia, which was generally in the area of modern Greece. Paul wrote this letter from his prison cell in Rome. The Philippian church was started by Paul, so he had a particular fondness for them, considering them his…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
Paul spends most of these final two chapters discussing how different groups of people should behave. And then his last words, apart from the farewell at the very end, he talks to all believers about the spiritual warfare we are in, and how we can be ready for battle. Make no mistake, my friend. We…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
As I read this today, my attention was drawn to the first couple of verses of chapter four, where Paul talked about how believers, Christians, should walk in unity. The scripture says, “I beseech you…” Do you understand what “beseech” means? It means to ask someone urgently and fervently to do something; to implore; to…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
The first couple of chapters here in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians are a wonderful restating of the Good News, the Gospel, the message of how a loving God made a way to save his beloved creation from an eternity of separation from Him. If you are ever in doubt, come and read and reread…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
Paul begins this chapter by telling the Galatians that they are foolish to listen to the false teachers who are telling them that they need to follow the Mosaic Law. And then he proceeds to tell them why God gave the Law. The Law was given, not as a way to earn a place in…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
Paul had spent some time with these people on one of his missionary journeys, and they had received him well. However, after he left them some false teacher had come in who told them that Paul was not to be respected as an apostle, and they began teaching the Galatians that they had to follow…
Read MorePodcast: Play in new window | Download