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Hebrews 1 - The Ministry of Angels!

Today we start the book of Hebrews. It is a very interesting book as it teaches how the Jewish faith is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Here is a link to read an overview of Hebrews. It would be worth it for you to read before we begin our journey through Hebrews. Introduction to Hebrews Insight for Living Hebrews 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary God’s Final Word: His Son 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. The writer to the letter of Hebrews begins by showing the superiori...
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Philemon - The Value of Relational Capital!

Philemon - NIV Philemon Introduction - Insight for Living Enduring Word Commentary 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,  To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:  3 Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This short letter from Paul differs from his more doctrinal letters like Romans and Galatians. Paul says he is a " prisoner of Christ Jesus ", which will have meaning because in this letter Paul is asking Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus. The term "prisoner" is a word similar in nature to "slave" in the bible.  But in this letter, as in previous ones, Paul is a prisoner in Rome.  Paul converted Philemon when he was in Ephesus, but Philemon's home was the city of Colossae. Philemon was wealthy enough to own a slave, but also his home served as a house church. It wasn't ...
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Titus 3 - Come Holy Spirit!

Titus 3 Enduring Word Commentary Saved in Order to Do Good 3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. Paul again reiterates that Christians are to be subject to the governing authorities. All authorities have been appointed by God to exercise rule and order in the temporal realm. In our day it is often called, " the rule of law ".  Paul says in Romans 13 that if a Christian disobeys a law they deserve to be punished like anyone else. Elsewhere Paul calls it the " power of the sword" . While the authorities in govern the secular world (government, police, teachers, ...), the church has authority in the spiritualrealm to announce the forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name. Luther called it the " power of the keys ".  The way a Christian behaves in the world affects the witness he or she can have....
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Titus 2 - Right Belief and Right Living are Inseparable!

Titus 2 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel 2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.  3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Paul points to the importance of the older part of the congregation being an example to the younger generation of what it means to be a Christ follower. This is not only by what they teach, but maybe more importantly, by the way they live their lives. He lifts up different qualities for the men and women to show in their daily lives. This reminds us that men an...
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Titus 1 - To the Pure All Things Are Pure!

Titus 1 - NIV Insight for LIving Intro to Titus Enduring Word Commentary 1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,  4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:  Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Paul writes this letter to the believers on the island of Crete, who Titus is now pastoring. Paul is both a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. He has given up his life to be a messenger of the gospel. Paul was once in bondage to trying to measure up by obeying the letter of the Law, but when he met Jesus and experienced his grace it set him free. He wanted to make sure that the church kept the purity of t...
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2 Timothy 4 - The Greatest Book Ever Written!

2 Timothy 4 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your min istry. Paul continues to encourage Timothy to carry out his duties as the pastor of the church Ephesus. Paul reminds Timothy that ultimately he will be accountable to Jesus, when he returns to judge the living and the dead.  Therefore, Paul challeng...
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2 Timothy 3 - What is the Purpose of the Bible?

2 Timothy 3 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. Many times throughout history Christians have felt like they were living in the " last days ". As we look at the traits which characterize people in the "last days", we observe these types of people living today. Paul gives a laundry list of traits which generally typify the sinful nature we have all inhabited from Adam. Then Paul says they have a form of godliness but denies its power. What does this mean?  This can be the case when people may seem godly on the outside but ...
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