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Courage in Persecution
“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” 2 Thessalonians 1:4 July 27, 2023 Conspiracies can be very attractive. They have a way of explaining the inexplicable. Be careful. They can be loaded with deceptions…
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Scattering the Gospel
“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles….Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” Acts 8:1,4 July 26, 2023 Jesus told a parable about scattering…
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Blows Against Christ
“And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’” Acts 9:5 July 25, 2023 We should not be surprised that there is a high cost for following Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said there would be a price to pay (Matt. 10:16ff.). Persecution takes us to the very…
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The Persecuted
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10 July 24, 2023 People persecuted are to be envied. Does that not sound strange? But that is what Jesus is saying in this beatitude. It challenges contemporary errors in the church: that Christianity delivers from suffering, that…
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Love and Hate
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 July 21, 2023 In the conflict with evil and those who are our enemies we must be on our guard as kingdom citizens. The danger is one of sliding into an unholy hatred of those who are against…
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Loving Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-44 July 20, 2023 The Old Testament does not say to hate your enemies, but supposed religious scholars had found a way to…
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The Way Up is Down
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 July 19, 2023 First, the story. Jesus told a parable, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, which reveals how humility shows up in life situations (Luke 14:7-11). Invitations were sent to attend a wedding feast. There…
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Humility
“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4 July 18, 2023 A standing bit of humor was an imagined book entitled, My humility and how I attained it with life size pictures. Of course, such a thought reeks with vanity and is the opposite of humility. We…
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The Cost of Discipleship
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 July 17, 2023 Does it cost anything to receive eternal life? No! There is no charge for the salvation that…