2 Corinthians 5:16—6:2 The community work team was rehabbing a playground in a depressed area of town. It was a mess. Weeds in the play area. Missing swings on the swing set and missing bases on the softball field. Today, that would change. A fresh coat of paint on the…
2 Corinthians 5:8-15 I was sitting in a packed auditorium, and the man at the front was talking about the newest rollout of a popular computer software. It would be a massive overhaul of the software. Early in his presentation, the speaker shared with us his job title. He was…
2 Corinthians 5:1-7 I tried for years to make gravy. Drippings with flour and milk. Drippings with flour and water. Drippings with flour and butter and milk. Something had to work. However, for me, gravy seemed impossible. Years later, I learned that I was doing it wrong. I wasn’t working…
Jeremiah 31:31-34 In Jeremiah, we see God telling His people that there will be a day when a new covenant is made with them. We have this image of the sinful heart that has had difficulty keeping the Mosaic law being remade into a new heart that desires to know…
James 1:16-25 It has been said that the gospel can be boiled down into one word: love. We use the word love in so many contexts: “I love pizza; I love video games; I love my dog; I love my spouse; I love my children.” You get the picture. If…
Galatians 3:11-22 There are so many wonderful hymns of the church that depict breaking the chains of sin. While we may never know what it’s like to be a prisoner to drugs, alcohol, or gambling, these are not the only vices that can tear lives apart. Envy, greed, lust, gluttony…
Romans 10:8-15 In Romans 10, Paul writes that salvation’s only requirement is that we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. The confessing part seems pretty easy to understand. We use our voice to tell people that Jesus is Lord. The words we use…
Romans 8:1-9 Paul is a minister of the new law, the new covenant. In Romans 8, the church is reminded that the Mosaic law leads to death. Life lived by the new law of love is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. By that power, we are…
2 Corinthians 3:9-18 The new law is love and it isn’t easy. Here’s some good news: Because of the new law, we can see and reflect the one true God. As we do, we will shine bright with a glow that will not fade. Unlike the glow from Moses (the…
2 Corinthians 3:1-8 Are you a list maker? Do you add things to your list just to check them off? Each check mark brings the feeling of accomplishment. The Corinthians knew about checking off lists. Paul reminded them that there was no list in existence that would lead to eternal…