Tag: discipleship
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Borrowed Light – Genesis 1:14-19
Genesis 1:14-19 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and…
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The Elder Who Started the Conversation – Revelation 7:13
Revelation 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? There is something beautiful tucked into this verse. One of the elders answered, even though John had not asked a question. That catches my attention because it is often exactly what…
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Outside the Camp with Jesus – Hebrews 13:13
A man can stay in the camp his whole life and still never really come to Jesus. He can love the structure, the familiarity, the smell of religion, the visible symbols, the old routines. He can feel safe there because everything is recognizable. The camp has walls. The camp has ceremony. The camp has approval.…
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From Milk to Meat — Hebrews 5:12–13
Hebrews 5:12, 13 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word…
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Truth Worth Repeating — Titus 3:8
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Paul now says something that might surprise people who think spiritual teaching is supposed to be new…
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A Faithful Son — Titus 1:4
Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Paul begins this verse by addressing the man who would carry the weight of the work in Crete. “Titus.” We do not know as much about Titus as we…
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Going Farther in the Faith — Titus 1:1
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; Paul begins this letter by telling Titus who he is. Not a title meant to impress anyone. Just a clear description of his life. A…
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Every Word Matters — 2 Timothy 3:16–17
2 Timothy 3:16–17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Paul now makes one of the most sweeping statements about the Scriptures found anywhere in the Bible. All…
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The Wisdom of the Scriptures — 2 Timothy 3:15
2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Paul reminds Timothy of something deeply personal here. Timothy did not come to the Scriptures late in life. He had known them since he was…
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Continue in What You Learned — 2 Timothy 3:13–14
2 Timothy 3:13–14 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. Paul is writing these words late in his life. He has seen enough of the world to…
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Run the Right Direction — 2 Timothy 2:22
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Paul gives Timothy a very practical instruction. Flee. Notice he does not say argue with temptation. He does not say analyze it, manage it, or see how close you can…
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What Kind of Vessel — 2 Timothy 2:20–21
2 Timothy 2:20–21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and…
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Life Through Letting Go — 2 Timothy 2:11
2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: Paul begins with a phrase that catches my attention. “It is a faithful saying.” I like that. It means this is something solid, something you can lean on when life gets confusing. Then comes…
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Passing It On — 2 Timothy 2:2
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Paul gives Timothy a simple pattern for ministry. Take what you have received and pass it on. In school we are taught to avoid copying…
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Faith That Travels Through a Family — 2 Timothy 1:5
2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Paul remembers something beautiful about Timothy. His faith did not appear out of nowhere. It had been living in his family…
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A Father and a Son — 2 Timothy 1:2
2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul is not writing to a church here. He is writing to a man he loved deeply. To Timothy, my dearly beloved son. Years earlier, during Paul’s first missionary journey through Lystra, Timothy…
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The Good Confession — 1 Timothy 6:13
1 Timothy 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. Paul reminds Timothy that his life and ministry are not lived in private. They unfold in the sight of God Himself, the One who gives life to…
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Keep Your Eyes on Eternity — 1 Timothy 6:11–12
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God… That phrase appears only a few times in Scripture. It is not handed out casually. When the Bible calls someone a “man of God,” it speaks of a person whose life is oriented toward the Lord rather than toward the noise of the world. Paul addresses…
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Start at Home — 1 Timothy 5:7–8
1 Timothy 5:7–8 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Paul does not soften his words here. He tells Timothy to teach these things clearly…
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Watch Your Life — 1 Timothy 4:16
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. Paul ends this chapter by bringing Timothy back to something very personal. “Take heed unto thyself.” Before looking around at everyone else, look at your own life.…
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Give Attendance to the Word — 1 Timothy 4:13
1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Paul keeps it simple again. “Till I come, give attendance to reading.” In other words, stay with the Word. Read it. Keep it in front of the people. Do not let it drift into the background. In the early church, the…
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Lead by Example — 1 Timothy 4:12
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Timothy was young, and Paul knew people might notice that before they noticed anything else. In those days age carried weight. A young leader could easily…
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Say It and Live It — 1 Timothy 4:11
1 Timothy 4:11 These things command and teach. Paul does not soften his words here. “These things command and teach.” Timothy was not called to mumble truth or suggest it politely. He was to speak it plainly and then explain it patiently. Command and teach. One speaks with authority. The other brings understanding. Put them…
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The Full Orb of Blessing — 1 Timothy 2:15
1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. That verse has puzzled people for centuries. “Saved in childbearing.” It cannot mean that childbirth guarantees eternal salvation. Nor does it mean a promise that no godly woman will ever suffer loss in that…
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A Quiet Strength — 1 Timothy 2:11–12
1 Timothy 2:11–12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. These verses have stirred more debate than almost any others in Paul’s letters. At first reading, they can feel sharp. Restrictive. Out of step…
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Steady in the Storm — 2 Thessalonians 3:3–4
2 Thessalonians 3:3–4 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. Paul does not deny the chaos. He does not minimize the opposition. He already mentioned unreasonable and…
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One Heartbeat – Philippians 2:19–20
Philippians 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you……that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. Paul does not move pieces on a ministry chessboard. He trusts in the Lord Jesus. Even something as simple as sending a young man to check on a…