Mark 1:9-13 (Part 6)
The baptism of Jesus is a moment of divine affirmation—the heavens open, the Spirit descends, and the Father speaks words of love and approval. Yet, immediately after this glorious event, Jesus is driven into the wilderness, facing trials and temptations. This passage in Mark 1:9-13 presents a powerful picture of the Christian journey: moments of…
Read MoreActs 1:12-26 (Part 5)
After Jesus’ ascension, the apostles gathered in prayer, seeking God’s guidance to replace Judas. Peter, pointing to fulfilled Scripture, led the group in selecting someone who had witnessed Jesus’ ministry and resurrection. Through prayer and casting lots, Matthias was chosen, showing the early Church’s trust in God’s sovereign direction. ACTS 1:12-26 12 Then the apostles…
Read MoreApril 28 | Life-Giving Corrections
Proverbs 15:31, “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” My Mom is Italian and my Dad is Polish. Both of their grandparents came from the mother country. My parents were the first generation to marry outside of their nationality. Up until that time, their parents married within their own culture. So…
Read MoreLesson 3: Offerings are Generous Gifts to God.
Definition The offering is a gift to God after our tithes. Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians 9:6, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Main Points GENEROUS: To be generous means to “give freely in abundance.” Being generous is the opposite of being selfish and stingy. At the…
Read MoreApril 27 | Success With Advisers
Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” One of the hardest failures that I faced as a pastor was moving into a large facility and having to break our lease because of the lack of finances. Words cannot describe how defeated and discouraged I felt. I had worked…
Read MoreApril 26 | Gentle Words
Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Often times King Solomon teaches us God’s wisdom in generalities. He is describing what will happen in most cases. He is not writing specifically to every situation. For example, in Proverbs 6:20 he writes, “My son, keep your father’s command…
Read MoreApril 25 | Exalting a Nation
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Solomon was the third King of Israel after his father David died. King Solomon had learned first hand the disgrace that came to Israel because of his father’s sin (2 Samuel 12:11). Sadly, this didn’t stop him from making some of…
Read MoreApril 24 | Disciplining Children
Proverbs 13:24, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” Today as parents we have a choice to either obey what God said in His eternal unchanging Word or follow the ever-changing trends of our godless culture. In the past, corporal punishment (spanking) children was…
Read MoreApril 23 | Walking With the Wise
Proverbs 13:20, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” I grew up in the suburbs of Fort Wayne, Indiana. It’s a city with about 300,000 people. My parents were from the Chicagoland area but chose to move to a smaller city for a better place to work…
Read MoreApril 22 | Why We Strive
Proverbs 13:10, “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” In today’s proverb King Solomon gives the root cause of strife, pride. Think about it, pride has been the source of all strife since the beginning of time. From Satan’s fall from heaven, to the Jewish leaders…
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