Simply Gospel

May my steps be worship. May my thoughts be praise.

  • Jesus the Loving Healer

    Mark 5:21-24, Jesus is approached by a man named Jairus whose daughter is fatally ill. While Jesus travels to Jairus’ home, in verses 25-34, a woman, possibly a hemophiliac or suffering from a form of plague, touches Him for healing. For twelve years, nothing had helped her. In fact, physician intervention had only made her condition worse, but she expresses faith that Jesus can heal her. When she admits to touching His garments, Jesus blesses her for her faith. From here, Jesus proceeds to Jairus’ home to raise his daughter from death. Jesus responds to this one seeking Him out… Continue reading

  • Kingdom Righteousness

    In Matthew 4:23, we see Jesus teaching about the kingdom while healing those with diseases and disabilities. Great multitudes follow him to a mount where he begins to deliver a lesson we commonly call the Sermon on the Mount. Back in Matthew 4:23, the apostle calls this the gospel of the kingdom. One of the topics of this lesson is one of righteousness. What does it mean to live righteously in Jesus’ kingdom? A Righteous Character This topic begins in the Beatitudes when Jesus says, in verses 6 and 10: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for… Continue reading

  • Sincere Discipleship

    In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus states: Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Superficial discipleship is not a recent invention. In today’s terms, we might call these posers or pretenders,… Continue reading

  • Our Heavenly Father

    Our children will find a father in their God if they can see God in their fathers. Our heavenly Father is our model for earthly fatherhood. In the four gospels, Jesus uses the expressions “our Father” and “you Father” some sixty-eight times. He wants them and us to see in God all of the characteristics and attributes we look for in an earthly father. In this lesson we’re going to look at the way God’s fatherhood is portrayed in a few of Jesus’ parables; how He responds to us and how we should respond to Him. The Prodigal Son’s Father… Continue reading

  • Loving Controversy: Revisited

    Recently, I spent some time looking at the problem with loving controversy. That, along with some other stuff I’ve recently read online, prompted me to write a bit about online arguments on my personal blog. This, of course, brought me back here and studying about a Christian’s attitude toward arguing. Before I jump into some scripture, I want to give you some of the background that keeps this in my mind, so you understand where my concerns are coming from. Please note, I’m going to open up here and let you have a peek into the real me. If that… Continue reading

  • Our Internal Inventory

    Many Christians are familiar with Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. This is one of the three prison epistles, Paul writing these words in various states of captivity as a political prisoner. As he closes this letter from his prison, he calls on the Philippians to think, or meditate, on these things he describes in chapter 4:8. The greek for “think” or “meditate” in this verse literally means… Continue reading

  • A Cultivated Heart

    Any farmer, landscape artist, or gardener will prepare the soil before giving their work. A builder will prepare a foundation. A carpenter prepares their tools and wood. We know to prepare when working in our given specialties. The canvas must be prepared for the craftsmanship, and we must prepare our hearts if we are going to be properly receptive the gospel. We see such preparation in the character of Ezra. Ezra is a leader of the Old Testament who grows up in captivity. Jerusalem is destroyed. Judah is a captive people to Babylon, and this is all Ezra knows until… Continue reading

  • Loving Controversy

    I once had a fellow Christian say to me, upon stirring up some political argument or another, “I love controversy.” Now, we all create controversy at times, especially if we have opinions on anything. The very act of teaching Christ’s word can cause controversy among some, but I’m not sure we are necessarily supposed to love the controversy. The wisdom literature has little kind to say about one who stirs up controversy and contention. Proverbs 18:19 warns that contentions are like the bars of a castle. Proverbs 15:18 says it is a wrathful heart that stirs up strife. Proverbs 10:12… Continue reading

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  • The Tao of Christ

    We don’t often study world religions and philosophies in our Bible studies and classes, and, often when we do, we study these faiths merely to disprove them. We are dismissive of the belief systems around us. I believe, however, that we can learn a great deal about ourselves when we look at these faiths openly and honestly. In Ecclesiastes 3:11, the Preacher passingly remarks that God “has put eternity into man’s heart.” I take this to mean that God has placed an awareness of the divine nature in man, enabling us to be aware of the divine even before we… Continue reading

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  • God, the Promise Keeper

    In Titus 1:1-2, Paul refers to God as one who never lies or as one who cannot lie, depending on your translation. The point Paul is making is that God keeps His promises. In this passage, he writes of God’s promise of eternal life and the faith we can have in such a promise. We have more than Paul’s word to take on this, though, for we can look through His word and see Him keep His promises time and again. He is a promise keeper. The Blessing of the Nations Genesis 12:1-3 records God’s threefold promise to Abram regarding… Continue reading