God’s grace embodies the idea of blessing and must include discipleship, the cross, and Jesus. The term “cheap grace” was first used by German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer defined “cheap grace” as grace without discipleship, the cross, and Jesus. As believers, we are the recipients of grace poured out on us by our heavenly Father. Let…

Just as a human relationship can lose its warmth if we do not actively maintain it, our hearts can gradually toughen if we do not seek closeness with God. Main Text: Psalm 103:1–18 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Jesus tells us that those who put His words into practice are like a wise person who built their house on a rock. When storms came, the house stood firm. Main Text: Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

If you primarily think of God as your Father and Him as such, you have Jesus to thank. Jesus has given you this right as an adopted child of God. God delights in His children, so make good use of this grace. Main Text: Romans 8:15 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

It is crucial to be fully present and attentive when God communicates with us so that the Holy Spirit can work within us. Active listeners attend church with the intent of eagerly listening to the sermon and internalizing its teachings. They actively seek insight from the message by asking themselves, “What is God trying to tell me through this ser…

As discussed last time, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 is genuinely a narrative of faithfulness: God’s faithfulness, David’s faithfulness, Samuel’s faithfulness, and Saul’s lack of faithfulness. We left off with the idea that David had an excellent foundation to build his life because he recognized God above everything else. David was found faithful, even in the…

Nearly 3,500 years ago, God carried His people out of bondage in Egypt. What should have been a ten-to-eleven-day journey on foot turned into a forty-year journey by foot. While there are many lessons to learn from the Children of Israel’s wandering, one that we often overlook: Forward motion is not always progress. Main Text: Exodus 15:22-18:27 (E…

Nearly 3,500 years ago, God carried His people out of bondage in Egypt. What should have been a ten-to-eleven-day journey on foot turned into a forty-year journey by foot. While there are many lessons to learn from the Children of Israel’s wandering, one that we often overlook: Forward motion is not always progress. Main Text: Exodus 15:22-18:27 (E…

Today, there are many rich lessons we can learn from the Old Testament’s half-shekel’ Atonement Money.’ Main Text: Exodus 30:11-16 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Today, we can learn many rich lessons from the Old Testament’s half-shekel’ Atonement Money.’ Main Text: Exodus 30:11-16 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Imagine traveling on foot for three days without finding water to drink. How desperate would you be by the third day? What if, on the third day, you found water, but upon tasting it, you found it unfit to drink? What would be your reaction? Would you panic? Would you trust God to provide? Truthfully, we would probably panic. Main Text: Exodus 15:23…

1 Samuel 16:1-13 is genuinely a narrative of faithfulness: God’s faithfulness, David’s faithfulness, Samuel’s faithfulness, and Saul’s lack of faithfulness. In chapters nine through sixteen of 1 Samuel, we see Saul repeatedly fail in his faithfulness to God until finally, God takes the kingdom from Saul and gives it to David. Main Text: 1 Samuel 16…

Jesus tells us that if you want to be My faithful follower, you must give up your way, take up your cross, and follow Me. Hanging on to your life will cause you to lose it, but if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. When I think of Jesus’ words, several things strike me. Main Text: Matthew 16:24-27 (ESV)…

As Christians, we are called to support missions and missionaries. There are many ways we can provide support. We can give financially, we can give physical resources, we can pray, and we can send cards of encouragement and support. Regardless of how we provide, the important thing is that we give. So why are supporting missions so vital? Main Text…

Last time, we discussed Herbert J. Taylor, a business executive who set out to save the Club Aluminum Products Distribution Company. His recovery plan started with changing the ethical climate of the company. The prophet Micah was also in need of an ethical yardstick when prophesying against the leaders of Jerusalem and Samaria. Micah denounced the…

Herbert J. Taylor was a business executive who, in the early 1930s, set out to save the Club Aluminum Products Distribution Company from bankruptcy. The first job, Mr. Taylor thought, was to set policies for the company that would reflect the high ethics and morals God would want in any business. Mr. Taylor prayed and reflected on Jesus’ Sermon on …

The writer of Hebrews reminds the Christian to consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). We must consider how to spur others on—the Scriptures command us to do this. Think about the term ‘consider.’ When one considers, they think carefully about a thing before deciding. In other words…

Psalm 42 is a beautiful portrait of learning to always have peace with God. This psalm helps assure the believer that even in the most dire situations, we can confidently say, “It is well with my soul.” Main Text: Psalm 42:1-11 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

Worry robs our attention from God. Worry zaps our Kingdom benefits: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Do you need more peace and joy? Then turn away from worrying and start setting your focus on God first and foremost. Main Text: Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Do you find yourself worrying? In Matthew chapter six, Jesus puts a prohibition on worrying. Jesus reminds us not to worry. Worrying is a sin. We lose valuable time in worry, and Jesus knows this. Think about all the time wasted worrying about things that never happened. Imagine if we had spent that time seeking God’s Kingdom; how might life be dif…

Do you find yourself worrying? In Matthew chapter six, Jesus prohibits worrying and reminds us not to worry. Jesus uses the word, or a derivative of the word, ‘worry,’ four times as He speaks. Jesus warns us not to worry about everyday life needs. Jesus assures us that God will meet our daily needs, but He also conditions God’s meeting our needs. M…

One of the precious promises to the believer is God’s promise of protection. Over and again in Scripture, one finds records of how God has provided for His children. Main Text: 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Briton Rivière was a British artist who lived and worked in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He exhibited various paintings at the Royal Academy but committed much of his life to animal paintings. One of Rivière’s animal paintings is the 1892 oil on canvas titled “Daniel’s Answer to the King.” In the image, one finds the posture for success.…

Psalm 42 is a beautiful portrait of learning to always have peace with God. This psalm helps assure the believer that even in the most dire situations, we can confidently say, “It is well with my soul.” Main Text: Psalm 42:1-11 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman

Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reminds the Christ-follower that God can fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him so that we can overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 contains an encouraging promise, but with this blessed promise comes a great deal of responsibility. Paul is not saying that God …

Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reminds the Christ-follower that God can fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him so that we can overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 contains an encouraging promise, but with this blessed promise comes a great deal of responsibility. Paul is not saying that God …

Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reminds the Christ-follower that God can fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him so that we can overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 contains an encouraging promise, but with this blessed promise comes a great deal of responsibility. Paul is not saying that God …

Horatio G. Spafford, a Presbyterian from Chicago, was a successful businessman and devout Christian. After losing his fortune in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and tragically losing his son, he faced further hardship. In 1873, his wife and four daughters set off to England, but their ship sank. Only his wife survived. He penned “It Is Well with My …

Mark’s gospel contains an interesting verse. The verse states that Jesus appeared in a different form to two of His followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. Main Text: Mark 16:12 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

By Peter Corry

The miracle of raising Lazarus is undoubtedly one of the most dramatic miracles performed by Jesus. Unlike other miracles, such as the wedding in Cana where only a few people knew that a miracle had occurred (John 2:7–11), or feeding thousands where it took time for people to realize what was happening (John 6:9–11), in the case of Lazarus, Jesus i…

By Keith Underhill

By Josh Higham

By Graeme Back

Wherever you are graduating to college, graduating to parenthood, or graduating to retirement, I am convinced that we can all be encouraged and reminded by focusing on several critical habits of successful people. While there are more key habits than those I mentioned, I want to share ten that have impacted my life: ‘Successful people put God first…

Habits of Successful People (Pt 1 of 5)Wherever you are graduating to college, graduating to parenthood, or graduating to retirement, I am convinced that we can all be encouraged and reminded by focusing on several critical habits of successful people. While there are more key habits than those I mentioned, I want to share ten that have impacted my…

Wherever you are graduating to college, graduating to parenthood, or graduating to retirement, I am convinced that we can all be encouraged and reminded by focusing on several critical habits of successful people. While there are more key habits than those I mentioned, I want to share ten that have impacted my life. Main Text: Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV…

Wherever you are graduating to college, graduating to parenthood, or graduating to retirement, I am convinced that we can all be encouraged and reminded by focusing on several critical habits of successful people. While there are more key habits than those I mentioned, I want to share ten that have impacted my life. Main Text: Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV…

By Steve Draper

By Ciprian Aioanei

Wherever you are graduating to college, graduating to parenthood, or graduating to retirement, I am convinced that we can all be encouraged and reminded by focusing on several critical habits of successful people. While there are more key habits than those I mentioned, I want to share ten that have impacted my life. Main Text: Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV…

In 2 Kings chapter 6, Elisha’s helper leaves the house and witnesses a tremendous earthly army at their doorstep (v.15). He is panicked. “Elisha, what can the two of us do?” I imagine him asking. While this was an instance from history, it speaks timeless truth. We can as quickly be swept away with fear and panic when we only use our physical eyes.…

In Proverbs 6, Solomon lists seven things the Lord hates. The seven things: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Main Text: Proverbs 6:17-19 (ESV)…

In the first century, rabbis used parables to communicate profound truths to their followers. When the follower of a rabbi understood the truth being shared, the rabbi would say, “You’ve heard, and you’ve heard; you’ve seen, and you’ve seen.” What clarity this brings to Rabbi Jesus’ words when He said that you people will listen and listen, but you…

In the first century, rabbis used parables to communicate profound truths to their followers. When the follower of a rabbi understood the truth being shared, the rabbi would say, “You’ve heard, and you’ve heard; you’ve seen, and you’ve seen.” Main Text: Mathew 3:14-17 (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

Scripture does tell us that The Rabbi, Jesus, said to Levi, “Follow Me.” Immediately, Levi left his work as a tax collector and followed Jesus. Levi could leave his old life behind and start afresh. Levi had been chosen as a bright young man to follow and replicate The Rabbi Jesus in every way—leaving the old and embracing the new. Main Text: Mark …

By Ray Trainer

By Paul Kinnaird

Some Biblical scholars believe that in the first century, it was deemed the highest of honor for a young man to be chosen by a rabbi. If the rabbi thought you were bright enough to follow his lead and do precisely as he did, he would say, “Follow me.” Main Text: Mark 2:13-17. (ESV)By Chuck Hartman

I once heard someone say that anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a daddy. In Deuteronomy 6:5-9, one can find excellent instruction on being a good daddy and a good father. Main Text: Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NLT)By Chuck Hartman