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Faith Accounted Unto Righteousness
Degrees of Faith Genesis 15:6 is quoted three times in the New Testament in Romans, Galatians, and James. It is a verse that challenges us to examine the faith we claim to have, how that faith is expressed in our lives and how faith influences our actions and attitudes. The degree to which we develop Continue reading
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Taming Our Tongues
James 3 talks about the importance of how we use our tongues as well as the challenges and benefits of controlling our tongues. Matthew 12:33-37 reinforces this point, speaking of the quality of fruit reflecting on the tree from which it comes. Likewise, James 3 describes the impossibility of a fountain producing both good and Continue reading
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Spiritual ADHD
Have you ever told your kids to do some chore or another, but they get distracted along the way? Likewise, have you ever done this yourself, wondering what it was you meant to do before you got distracted? We sometimes joke that we may suffer from an attention deficit disorder, but, in our Christian lives, Continue reading
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Faith Is the Victory
In our Bible classes, we have been studying from Hebrews and James, and Hebrews 11-12 and James 1 encourage us to press forward despite all odds, despite all trials. Toward the end of Hebrews 11, the author begins to quickly cover several examples of individuals overcoming through faith. They trusted in God and found victory Continue reading
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Meditations on the Crucifixion
Sacrifices and Perspective We live in a country, that despite some of the economic difficulties we face, is currently one of the most affluent in history. Most of us live in luxury when compared to the world population, but, as great as we have things, Jesus comes from a better place. John describes, in humanly Continue reading
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A Pure Conscience
Returning to the book of Hebrews for this lesson, one of the themes of the book is the difference in how the old and new testaments make an impression on our consciences. Our conscience is the instrument given to by God to prove or disprove the actions we are about to take. It is that Continue reading
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Honoring Our Time With God
Confidence In the New Covenant As the Hebrew author concludes his book, he calls upon his readers to “bear with the word,” that they will be prepared to accept what he has had to say and will be able to apply them. In the latter half of chapter 10, he speaks of the confidence they Continue reading
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Heroes of Faith
Throughout the Bible we esteem individuals referred to as heroes of faith., and, as we lift someone as hero, we tend to ignore their flaws and challenges while we elevate their successes. George Washington, Babe Ruth, Martin Luther King, and others are idealized in our culture as people like Abraham, Moses, or David would have Continue reading
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The Power of Choice
There are times when you and I feel powerless to do anything to affect the world around us. We may feel powerless against the price of gas, tragic world events, family tragedies. Despite things like these, we have power over self due to our power of choice. We can choose our companions, our occupation, our Continue reading
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The Patience of David
Psalm 27 is one of David’s works, and it concludes on the ideas of patience and fortitude after describing distress in his life and hope in His Lord. Several Psalms put us in wonder of David’s attitude during the trials of his life. I Samuel 21 records David meeting with Ahimelech for help but needing Continue reading