Episodes
Friday Sep 16, 2016
Command #88 - Show Mercy
Friday Sep 16, 2016
Friday Sep 16, 2016
How far into eternity will God's mercy extend? It is one of the great historic theological conundrums.
Thursday Sep 15, 2016
COA #60 - Place No Stumbling Blocks In the Way of Another's Faith
Thursday Sep 15, 2016
Thursday Sep 15, 2016
The term "stumbling block" is familiar to most Christians. We use it in a variety of ways to indicate anything we do or say that in some way hinders or blocks or impedes or "stumbles" the spiritual growth of another.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2016
Command #87 - Let People Injure You Without Retaliating
Wednesday Sep 14, 2016
Wednesday Sep 14, 2016
This is surely one of the Bible's most well known verses. Its succinct proverb is a part of everyday conversational idiom everywhere. The command might therefore have been rendered in its more familiar form as simply: Turn the other cheek.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2016
COA #59 - Associate With the Lowly
Tuesday Sep 13, 2016
Tuesday Sep 13, 2016
The Bible's commands are so wonderfully diverse...and often unexpected. From the lofty heights of Yield to God and Grow in righteousness, we crash to earth with such unbelievable practicality as, "Associate with the lowly." Truly, the biblical writers leave the self no place to hide. No facet of attitude, character, or conduct is left untouched by the demand of Christlikeness.
Monday Sep 12, 2016
Command #86 - Speak Graciously With Words of Peace
Monday Sep 12, 2016
Monday Sep 12, 2016
Curiously, Jesus did not address the mode and manner of how we are to conduct ourselves in the normal flow of daily conversation. His comments about speech are very specific.
Friday Sep 09, 2016
Command #85 - Do Not Doubt
Friday Sep 09, 2016
Friday Sep 09, 2016
We have spoken several times about Jesus' use of hyperbole, exaggeration, and metaphor. We do not actually "eat his flesh" when participating in a communion or Eucharist service. He does not really want his followers to "cut off" their hands or "pluck out" their eyes to rid their lives of sin. These are symbols and images which Jesus used skillfully to get his points across.
Thursday Sep 08, 2016
COA #58 - Don't Judge
Thursday Sep 08, 2016
Thursday Sep 08, 2016
One of the most striking aspects of the command against judgment is that the entire Old Testament image of God was as a fierce and unyielding Judge.
Wednesday Sep 07, 2016
Command #84 - Let Your Yes Be Yes and Your No Be No
Wednesday Sep 07, 2016
Wednesday Sep 07, 2016
Again we encounter Jesus making a point with overstatement. No one seriously expects us to go through life saying nothing but yes and no. Jesus himself did not do so either. Once more we gain further insight into his words from the Lord's brother James, who gave this command in its more familiar form: Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. (James 5:12)
Tuesday Sep 06, 2016
COA #57 - Control Anger
Tuesday Sep 06, 2016
Tuesday Sep 06, 2016
Paul's word in Ephesians 4:26 are unlike anything we read elsewhere in the New Testament.
Monday Sep 05, 2016
Command #83 - Acknowledge Your Discipleship
Monday Sep 05, 2016
Monday Sep 05, 2016
It is easy to hear words such as, "He who is ashamed of me and my words...of him will the Son of Man be ashamed." (Mark8:38, Luke 9:26), and read ourselves right out of the text.