I’ve spent a fairly significant amount of time lately thinking about what Jesus said when he talked about the kingdom of God being like a man who found a treasure in a field and then sold everything he owned so that he could buy the field to be able to obtain the treasure. Or in […]
I was reading through Ezekiel 11 and 12 today, according to the Bible reading plan that our team is using. The instructions for our time say that we should pick out the verse that speaks the most to us. But today, instead of thinking about this, I was trying to think about what God was […]
Yesterday, I created a post on the Search Party website describing a plan that we are adopting as a team here in Catania to stay connected to the Word of God and in prayer, both individually and as a team. Our challenge has routinely been that we knew that we needed to make time as […]
Paul has been explaining to Timothy in his letter that there are people who desire to cause division, that like to quarrel and cause strife and constant friction between people. They value the things of this world such as money and power over the things of heaven. But Paul warns Timothy that he should pursue […]
Paul addresses a challenging issue with Timothy in this chapter in that he points out which widows should be helped financially by the church and which should not. In this time, there isn’t a governmental support system or other programs, so the church would be the best opportunity for someone to receive support when they […]
I don’t think that people necessarily would say this out loud, but I do believe that we certainly think it. The situation goes something like this: I made a sacrifice for God. I go to the church / mosque / temple every day / week / month / year. I read the Bible every day. […]
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Paul has been writing to Timothy to keep […]
Paul is continuing to charge Timothy with his duties as Timothy continues his work in Ephesus. He reminds Timothy of the great truth about God’s desire to bring all people back to himself: This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one […]
Paul is writing to Timothy, the first leader that he ever began to develop as part of his traveling apostolic team from the churches that he planted. It seems that his intent is to remind Timothy of the work that Paul has sent him to do, but in starting his reminder of the work, Paul […]
As Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Colossians, in the last chapter, he asks the Corinthians: And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Colossians 4:3 Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles, the […]