Tag: Jesus
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When Credentials Are Not Enough
In John 3, Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee, approaches Jesus at night, reflecting his uncertainty. Jesus challenges him by declaring the necessity of being “born again,” emphasizing that true life comes from divine initiative, not human effort. This encounter highlights the transformative nature of faith, inviting individuals to embrace radical renewal rather than mere self-improvement.
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Bible Study: “Faith of the Heart” — Persevering Belief Through the Gospel of John
https://youtu.be/TLs4MGTTXRU?si=dpnSDDfzX6tVWzBz Stanza One Theme: Decision to Believe Before Evidence The opening theme declares resolve. Faith is chosen before outcomes are visible. The heart commits even when the path ahead is uncertain. John establishes this immediately: “To all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John…
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2025
Tomorrow will not be a reset. It will be a continuation. Another day to show up, to serve, to love well, and to walk faithfully with the One who holds time itself.
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One Faithful Step: Filling the Jars with Water
One Faithful Step: Filling the Jars with Water An application from John 2:1–25 There is a quiet detail in the opening chapters of the Gospel of John that has stayed with me. At the wedding in Cana, nothing dramatic is asked of the servants. Jesus does not tell them to pray harder, believe louder, or…
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God is Near
As Jesus’ birth approached, Bethlehem was bustling due to the Roman census, with families arriving, including a pregnant Mary and Joseph. Accommodations were scarce, and shepherds tended their flocks nearby. Amid this chaos, God’s promise was unfolding, as the Messiah was near, though not yet revealed.
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Showing Up When the Work Is Quiet
There is a particular kind of weight that comes with leadership in a small rural community. It is not loud or dramatic. It does not announce itself. It settles in quietly and stays. You carry it when you unlock buildings early in the morning, when you answer questions no one else has time to answer,…
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The Most Important Question of Life
Every human life, whether quietly or loudly, is shaped by a single, foundational question. Most people never stop long enough to name it, yet it governs their priorities, their decisions, and their understanding of meaning. The question is not, “What do I want out of life?”It is not, “How can I be successful?”It is not…
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Line of evidence for the reliability and accuracy of the Protestant canon
1. The New Testament canon is earlier than Constantine A common modern claim is that “Constantine or Nicaea created the Bible.” Historically, the Council of Nicaea (325) dealt with Christology (Arian controversy), not a canon list, and there is no historical record of Nicaea deciding the New Testament contents. Phoenix Seminary+2The Gospel Coalition+2 What we…
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The Ethiopian Bible
Source, Authorship, and Reliability 1. What People Mean by “The Ethiopian Bible” When people refer to “the Ethiopian Bible,” they are usually referring to the canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which is the largest biblical canon in Christianity. It includes: This canon reflects local church tradition, not a universal early-Christian consensus. 2. Historical…
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THE SHEPHERDS’ CANDLE: JOY
Zephaniah 3:14–20 • Isaiah 12:2–6 • Philippians 4:4–7 • Luke 3:7–18 Introduction Today we light the third candle of Advent—the Shepherds’ Candle—the candle of Joy. Its color is different for a reason. Joy is not merely another virtue in the Advent lineup; it is the evidence that the world is already being changed by God’s…
John Hargrove Seeking Truth and Reality 