Why Was Jesus Crucified? The Foolishness of the Cross
Why was Jesus crucified? As a ransom and penalty for our sin. But God also choose to use the foolishness of the cross to save those who would believe.
Sacrifice
A Chosen People, A Royal Priesthood – 1 Peter 2:4-5; 9-10
Is there any reason that we should not joyfully and gladly submit to his Spirit’s work within us? If we truly recognized the privilege we have as God’s children, we would respond with gratitude to everything he calls us to do. Instead of clinging so tightly to the know and comfortable, we would lose it all for the sake of the call (Phil. 3:7-11).
The Widow’s Offering: When Less Is More – Mark 12:43-44
How much we give, whether of our money, our time, or our talents, is not important. What matters is the generosity with which we give. The one who gives sacrificially of the little he has, has given more than the one who gives abundantly, but at little real cost to himself.
The Mark of True Worship – Romans 12:1
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. – Romans 12:1 CSB What is worship? To most of us it is something we do on Sunday mornings in a ‘worship’ service. We sing ‘worship’ songs, listen to a sermon, maybe give an offering, and visit with other church members. But is that what worship really is? While I believe there is an element of worship in what we do on Sunday mornings, I believe that worship …
Pleasing Sacrifices, A Sacrifice of Praise – Heb 13:15-16
Whenever I do good, helping another person or sharing with them, God considers that as a sacrifice to him and is pleased. Offer yourself as a living sacrifice, praising God with your speech and in your actions. That is what pleases him.
Easter and the Torah
Hebrews 10:1 says that “the law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.” So now, on the other side of the Law, we should be able to see some of these ‘realities’ that the law pointed to, including the extensive use of blood.
The Exultation of Jesus – Philippians 2:5-11
One of my favorite passages of scripture is in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which appears to be a quote of an early Christian hymn or creed. And since Philippians was written by 62 AD, it would have indeed been an early hymn. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a …