Altered State

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? James 2:20  NASB Useless – According to this translation, James doesn’t say, “faith without works is false belief.”  He doesn’t say, “faith without works is carnal.”  He doesn’t say, “faith without works is hypocrisy.”  According to this translation, he says…

Do You See Me? (1)

“O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish.” Matthew 15:28 Faith – If love is what we all want, rejection is what we all fear. There is nothing quite as damaging as being told that you don’t belong. “Don’t bother me. Can’t you see I’m busy?” “What are you…

Taking A Stand

Do we nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. Romans 3:31 Establish – Put yourself in Rome in the first century. You are part of a small group of believers. You have heard the good news of peace with God through Yeshua, the Messiah. How did…

Dictionary Definitions

If you will not believe, surely you will not be established. Isaiah 7:9 Believe – What is faith? Ah, it seems like such a simple question until you try to give your definition. Faith is _____________. You’ll probably need a pretty big blank space to fill in. Just remember faith is a verb, so don’t…

Why Go To School?

But now that faith has come, you are no longer under a tutor.  Galatians 3:25 Tutor – Aside from the fact that education in some countries is compulsory, why would you want to go to school?  Do you spend your time in school only to occupy your day?  Do you feel as though you are…

Direction Signals

for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God  Hebrew 11:10 Looking For – You could say that Abraham was a man without direction.  He spent most of his life following a God toward a place he never arrived.  He demonstrated his faith by obedience in spite of…

“Not my problem, man”

“You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” James 2:24 Thursday night, 7 PM.  The weekly Bible study at our home.  We’re making our way through Genesis, one verse at a time.  We read the passage where God establishes the covenant with Abram.  We followed the reference as it…

Black Eye Faith

“yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wears me out.” Luke 18:5 Wears Me Out – The unjust judge had a dilemma.  What would he do if this old woman got so furious at his insensitivity that she hit him in the eye?  He would…

Cause of Death

But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.  2 Corinthians 11:3 Should Be Led Astray – Diphtheria used to be one of the leading causes of death in children.  Thanks to vaccines, that is no…

Consequently

conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth 1 Peter 1:17 In Fear –  A graduate student made the following insightful remark in class:  “Faith is not believing in spite of the evidence.  Faith is obeying in spite of the consequence.”  That’s worth reading again.  Too often we are told that…