Have you ever discovered after-the-fact that you had offended another Christian? Maybe what you said or did was not intended in an offensive way, but you found out later it was misunderstood or taken out of context. Maybe you should have known at the time that your conduct was offensive, but you tend to be […]

In Romans 6:2, the Apostle Paul says that all believers have died to sin. At the time of our conversion, through our response to the gospel, we were united to Jesus. And in union with him we died and we were buried with him (Romans 6:3-4). Our old man was crucified with Christ, setting us […]

What do you hope becomes of your children when they are teens? If honest, some of you want your child to be a top athlete. Others might admit they hope their children do well academically and earn college scholarships. Those wishes are not necessarily bad. Most importantly, I trust that you really hope your teenage […]

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matt. 16:13-14). There apparently was much confusion and speculation among the masses concerning his identity. He then asked, “But who do you say […]

There are 8.2 billion people in the world. According to the 2025 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 2.65 billion claim to be Christians — only 32.3%. That number incorporates four main groups who identify as Catholic (1.27B), Orthodox (0.29B), Evangelical (0.42B), and Pentecostal/Charismatic (0.67B). It is hard to be sure but based on these numbers […]

After so often exhorting Timothy verbally and in written form over fifteen years or so, it’s as if Paul summarized it all when he wrote this to his son in the faith: “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Timothy could wake […]

Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world. So, like a wise and loving father who assembles his young children around his deathbed to prepare them for life without him, Jesus gathered his disciples to equip them to be his effective witnesses in the world following his departure. In this affectionate discourse, we […]

At the end of his life, Paul wrote these warm words to Timothy: “As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy” (2 Timothy 1:4). When Timothy first joined Paul’s team (cf. Acts 16:1f), Paul was about 50 and Timothy was perhaps 20. When Paul wrote these […]

Have you read, listened to, or watched the news recently? It is full of bad reports concerning war, diseases, natural disasters, crime, political corruption and turmoil, economic inflation, unemployment and poverty. Such is life under the sun in a fallen world where sin and its consequences are known and felt. As followers of Jesus we […]