Simply Gospel

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

  • Partaking the Bread of Life

    In the gospel of John, Jesus makes several “I am” statements, and, in John 6:1-13, we read of Jesus miraculously feeding several thousand individuals five barley loves and two fish. The people respond to this miracle by concluding that Jesus is the fulfillment of Deuteronomy of 18:18, and they want to make him a political ruler. Jesus withdraws, and verse 22 records the crowds still looking for Him, even following Him to Capernaum. When they find Jesus, He tells them that He rebukes them and makes one of His famous “I am” statements. He calls Himself the bread of life… Continue reading

  • God’s Vineyard

    The Vineyard Song The first few verses of Isaiah 5 are referred to as the Vineyard Song. The song describes a vineyard planted on a fertile hill. It is tended to and cared for, but this vineyard produces thorns and wild grapes instead of the harvest that was expected. Jesus, in Mark 12, recalls this passage as a backdrop for a parable about workers who mistreat their masters messengers and murder the master’s son. Both Isaiah and Jesus deal with how God’s people respond to His care and protection. Notice the care put into this vineyard. The planter picks a… Continue reading

  • Jesus: Mediator, Advocate, and Redeemer

    Job’s Faith His Redeemer Lives In II Timothy 1:12, Paul expresses confidence in God and His promises, despite being imprisoned in Rome. In Hebrews 5, Jesus is portrayed as our priest in that He mediates for us and He atones for us. The term “redeemer” is used over twenty times in scripture, and all but one instance of the word refers to God or the Messiah. We have access to God through Jesus. Job 19:25 provides inspiration for the song “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” and, in the subsequent verses, Job expresses hope that He will see God one… Continue reading

  • Separation Between Us and God

    The Oscillations of Israel In a way, the book of Hebrews tells the entire Bible story throughout its text. In Hebrews 3 and 4, the author records the trials God’s people put Him through, and it is amazing to us how quickly these individuals were willing to turn away from God. Stephen notes this in Acts 7:51-53 as he delivers his final testimony to the Jewish leaders, condemning them of murdering God’s messengers before they kill him in turn. In contrast, Exodus 14:30-31 records Israel fearing and believing in the Lord after He delivers them from the Egyptian pursuers. Exodus… Continue reading

  • Moses: A Template Of Christ

    Colossians 2:16-17 records Paul referring to the customs of the old law as shadows of Christ, and Hebrews 8:4-5 refers to the Levitical priesthood as a shadow of things to come. Likewise, Hebrews 10:1 calls the old law a shadow of good things to come. We’ve examined how the Sabbath days and years are shadows as are the implements of the temple. Even individuals serve as shadows of Christ, and, in Hebrews 3, Moses is one of these individuals. Parallels Between Moses and Jesus The first six verses of Hebrews 3 draw parallels between Jesus and Moses. In this, there… Continue reading

  • Be the Change You Look For

    Pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus is not an individual many of you may be familiar with, but you are probably familiar with his assertion that “change is the only constant.” While there indeed may be “nothing new under the sun” in God’s eyes, we live in a culture that is ever-changing, that is always in motion. The concept of change has been a prevalent topic this year due to one of our presidential candidates whose campaign platform is built upon the notion of change. Barack Obama uses the slogan: “Change You Can Believe In,” and on February 5, 2008, he… Continue reading

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  • The Price of Spiritual Liberty

    From childhood, we know what July the Fourth is about – fireworks and cookouts. Under these festivities, though, we are commemorating the freedoms we have in this country as individuals as well as the price those freedoms carry. Sometimes this message may be lost, and we may fail to appreciate the price that had to be paid for the liberty we have. It is a message we don’t allow to resonate within us because, in many cases, it was someone else who paid the price. In John 8:12, Jesus is preaching that He is the light of the world, and,… Continue reading

  • Shamgar and an Imperfect Tool

    Numbers 32 records the children of Israel beginning to occupy Canaan, but the tribes of Reuben and Gad  have found contentment in the land east of the Jordan River. Moses, though, rebukes them for thinking about abandoning their brethren in t heir efforts to move forward. Likewise, a lack of participation in God’s work can discourage or hold back our brothers and sisters. We convince ourselves that we are incapable of adding anything significant to God’s mission. However, in this lesson, we’re going to take a look at a relatively insignificant Bible figure who has a large impact. From Joshua… Continue reading

  • Saul and the Witch

    A few weeks ago, we considered the life of Samson and the consequences sin inflicts upon his life, and we noted that sin deceives us, separates us from God, and costs us our souls. After this, we looked at Saul’s attitude toward sin when he denies the problem in his life, his rationalizations for his actions, and the temporary remorse he feels for his actions regarding the Amalekites. Seeking Out a Witch In I Samuel 25:1, Samuel dies, and, in I Samuel 28, we read of the Philistines gathering for war against Israel. Their forces cause Saul to fear in… Continue reading

  • Faith and Risk

    In Children of Dune by Frank Herbert, a character merely known as The Preachers asks this question of the multitudes looking for some form of religious satisfaction: “Is your religion real when it costs you nothing and carries no risk?” In this question, he challenges his listeners to examine what they are investing in their religion versus what they expect to get out of it. We live in a world where ideas of service, self-sacrifice, and personal risk are avoided. It is easier to sit passively in a “moving” worship experience safe and secure than to puts one’s self at… Continue reading

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