The Sign of the Savior’s Birth (Luke 2:1-20)

Have you ever thought about how obscene was the power of Caesar Augustus?  The description of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel of Luke begins with a man, the emperor of Rome, decreeing that a census is to be taken of people he has never seen, nor will ever meet.  Luke 2:1-7 reads, “1   In thoseContinue reading “The Sign of the Savior’s Birth (Luke 2:1-20)”

The Three Miracles of Christmas that Changed the World (Luke 1:26-38).

Why is Christmas so important? The Christmas season points to a historical event that has changed our world, the birth of Christ. Surrounding this birth are three miracles that define why Christmas is so important. These miracles point us to God’s remarkable work for you and me.

Longing for a Better World and the Meaning of Christmas

The year 2020 has been a year of great pain and distress. In our hurt, we long for a better world. The Christmas season is a reminder that it is into this world of hurt Christ was born and not only shares our heartache, but he also exchanges it with his joy.

Four Questions to ask your Soul (Galatians 6:1-10)

Several years ago, I read a book called Christianity Rediscovered, an Epistle to the Masai by Vincent Donovan.  The book is about a missionary who went about the work of evangelism and church planting in a very different way among the Masai tribe of Kenya.  What Donovan did was to go to a village andContinue reading “Four Questions to ask your Soul (Galatians 6:1-10)”

A Place of Refuge (Galatians 6:1-2)

“Brothers,if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2)” Whenever I teach the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, or Joshua, I likeContinue reading “A Place of Refuge (Galatians 6:1-2)”

An Everyday Prayer of Faith and Thanksgiving. (Psalm 118)

One of the great Psalms of the Bible is Psalm 118.  Several things make this Psalm exceptional.  Psalm 118 talks about God’s steadfast love, it describes the Lord’s salvation, it is a Psalm that calls us to worship and give thanks, it is often quoted in the New Testament, and it is the Psalm theContinue reading “An Everyday Prayer of Faith and Thanksgiving. (Psalm 118)”

The Christian Ethic; Faith, Hope, and Love. (Galatians 5:1-6)

Galatians 5:1–6. “1   For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the wholeContinue reading “The Christian Ethic; Faith, Hope, and Love. (Galatians 5:1-6)”

The Allegory of Two Women, Two Sons, Two Covenants, and Two Cities (Galatians 4:21-5:1)

In Galatians 4:21-5:1, Paul does something that he very rarely does; he uses allegory.  Allegorical interpretation of scripture is not normative for Paul, and for that matter, should not be normative for us.   An allegorical interpretation is when a story becomes a symbol that represents something else.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an allegory by C.S.Continue reading “The Allegory of Two Women, Two Sons, Two Covenants, and Two Cities (Galatians 4:21-5:1)”

The Father’s Embrace through the Spirit. (Galatians 4:1-7)

“1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.  4 ButContinue reading “The Father’s Embrace through the Spirit. (Galatians 4:1-7)”