Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 8:2-10; Matthew 4:1-14 

We are self-assured, aren’t we? We think we can handle just about anything on our own. Sadly, many Christians think this way. In fact, I would argue that many Christians think that the course of the Christian life goes something like this — I trust Jesus for salvation, but the rest is left up to me. 

Salvation belongs to God, but we are on our own when it comes to our sanctification. Right? Wrong! The greatest temptation is self-governance apart from the enabling power of God. What are our resources? [Read more…]

Focal Passage: James 1:13-18  

To be tempted to sin is the universal experience of humanity, both for Christians and non-Christians. 

The difference between the two is that the Christian has the awareness and the tools to overcome a variety of temptations, the unbeliever does not. Let’s do an autopsy on temptation through James 1:13-18 so that we might see how it works in order to conquer those temptations that come our way. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 20:1-2, 11-18 

Christianity is a historical religion. While there are many historical events recorded in Scripture for our benefit, two events form the basis of the Christian faith — the substitutionary, atoning death of Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. Apart from these two historical events there is no Christian faith. 

As I Corinthians 15:12-19 notes, if Jesus has not been raised from the dead: (1) Jesus is still dead, (2) our preaching is meaningless, (3) our faith is in vain, (4) we are still in our sins, (5) all who died believing were fooled and are still dead and 6) we are to be pitied among all people. But then, in I Corinthians 15:20, Paul writes, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (died).”  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 19:16-19; 28-30, 38-42 

The great Puritan theologian John Owen once wrote that through the death of Jesus Christ the death of death has been accomplished. 

Even more, because of the death of Jesus Christ the sins of all who would believe — past, present, and future — would be forgiven. The One who knew no sin bore the penalty for our sins so that we might be given the righteousness of God (II Corinthians 5:21). It has been called the “great exchange” — our sin for His righteousness.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 9:1-7; 32-33, 35-38 

Why? This is one of the primal questions of life, along with How? When? Where? Who? We want to know why things happen, especially if those things cause suffering. Often, God will give us whole or partial answers to these questions. At other times, God remains silent reminding us that He has reasons for how He providentially cares for His creation that are above our “pay grade.” 

But why would I raise the issue of asking Why? The events surrounding the healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam raises the question of why so that we can see through the lens of this event to the truth of who Jesus Christ is.

God the Son glorifies God the Father (John 9:1-7.) On observing a man blind from birth, the disciples asked Jesus who had sinned to cause this man’s blindness — him or his parents. The thinking at that time (and still is) was that all suffering was a direct result of sin. To be clear, we can suffer because of our sins (Galatians 6:7-10). But not always. God may have other purposes in our sufferings (II Corinthians 12:1-10). [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 8:2-11 

Though we sing and preach about it all the time, we don’t know much about grace. Yes, we might say, God’s grace is the undeserved, unmerited favor of God. But when it comes down to it, most of us have been raised to believe that unless one works for something we haven’t earned it.

Yes, we are to work for our wages. But when it comes to our relationship with Jesus we can’t work for our salvation; it’s all grace. We could never deserve our salvation. We are the recipients of God’s undeserved kindness (Ephesians 2:1-10). We do not work for our salvation; we work for God because of our salvation. The extra-canonical, John-like story of the woman caught in adultery is a perfect example of God’s grace. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 5:2-11, 19-21 

Words like restoration, restitution and reparations are “hot topic words” these days. 

Often, they are used in ways that are harmful and unrealistic. At other times, they are mocked as impossible goals. These words have been politicized. Though Jesus seemed to be uninterested in using political means for spiritual ends, He was consummately interested in restoring the lives of broken people. Take for example the paralyzed man of Bethesda.

Restoring the helpless (John 5:2-7). Paralyzed for 38 years, this unnamed man of Bethesda was living by a pool near the Sheep Gate of the city. He was not only physically impaired, but he was spiritually dead, putting his hope in a myth that at the stirring of the pool by an angel he could slip in and be healed. It never happened.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 4:7-18; 25-26 

Have you ever met a famous person? If so, you might remember how it made you think or feel at the time. In some small way, that encounter changed your life, an encounter that became a talking point for you in future conversations with friends. 

John 4 tells us the story of Jesus with the nameless, but needy “woman at the well.” Her encounter with Jesus would prove to be the single greatest event in her life, an event that met her need and changed her life forever. What happened in this encounter with Jesus that still happens to this day whenever the repentant sinner encounters the righteous Savior? [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Colossians 3:1-14 

Since Jan. 22, 2023, the Bible Studies for Life have been focused on the issue of discerning the voice of God. Issues such as biblical faithfulness, convictional living, in addition to trusting and honoring God have all been in focus. But what’s the ultimate purpose of this series? The final lesson in this series sums up the intent of the series — discerning the voice of God leads us to be more like Jesus. But how? Colossians 3:1-14 is instructive.

God’s voice, our thoughts (Colossians 3:1-4). Being more like Jesus is not just a matter of the heart, but of the mind as well. Often, we ask, “Have you given your heart to Jesus?” We rarely ask, “Have you given your mind to Jesus?”  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 17:1-9 

God’s voice always leads us to glorify Him and accomplish His purposes. We can glorify God by honoring God in how we speak and live. But what specifically needs to be a part of how we speak and live that would honor God? In what has been called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer on the eve of His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and subsequent resurrection reaches the zenith in what honors our heavenly Father.

Honoring God in the gospel (John 17:1-3). We honor God when we know, believe, and share the good news. While the entire prayer is remarkable, the first three verses is stunning. Jesus asked His Father to glorify Him in His death so that Jesus might glorify the Father through His obedience. The good news grounded in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a demonstration of Jesus’ authority over all people, so that He might “give eternal life to everyone you have given Him” (v. 2).

These monumental truths set the stage for what John 17:3 states: “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the One you have sent — Jesus Christ.” Jesus’ death and resurrection makes way for us to personally know the Father in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is by this gospel that repentant sinners are given eternal life. We honor God when we know, believe, and share this gospel. [Read more…]