From the Tax Booth Imagine a busy seaside road in the region of Galilee. Beside the road sits a small table equipped with a ledger, a set of scales, a Roman seal, and a box for coins. Levi, the son of Alphaeus, is collecting tolls and taxes for the Roman Empire at his booth. Although... Continue Reading →
Three Strikes Against a King: Impatience, Pride, and Partial Obedience
I. Saul’s First Mistake: He Did Not Wait on God (1 Samuel 13:1-23) We all know how difficult it can be to wait on God. We probalby know how hard it is to wait on a job offer, a diagnosis, or direction in life. Waiting tests us like nothing else. 1 Samuel 13 is about... Continue Reading →
A Song for the Night Sky
Introduction to Psalm 8 If you have ever been camping far from city lights you may have experienced the beauty of the star-filled night sky. In moments like these, you feel your smallness, the short breath of your life. And if you're paying attention, you feel something more: wonder. King David must have felt that... Continue Reading →
The Prayer of The Falsely Accused
INTRODUCTION: Let me take you back to a prison cell in Egypt. A young Hebrew man sits in the dark. He has been betrayed, forgotten, and condemned. Not because he was guilty, but because he was righteous. His name was Joseph. You may recall the story. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, served... Continue Reading →
Christ the Word (Logos)
Introduction: The Gospel of John stands apart from the other Gospel accounts. While the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) provide detailed historical narratives of Christ’s life and ministry, John’s Gospel focuses on the spiritual and theological significance of Christ’s identity and mission. Theologians like John Calvin have described John’s gospel as the “soul” of... Continue Reading →