The Kingdom of Heaven | Matthew 4:17

SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1-2) When your days are fulfilled and …

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The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part three

Yet even if hedonism and religious legalism are both truly dead ends, we are forced to ask once more why people pursue these ends. Why do we relentlessly chase after the pleasures of hedonism to the degree of ignoring our God-given conscience? Why practice the asceticism found within religious legalism so that precious little happiness …

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Wrestling with God

Jacob & Esau: Two Roads | Genesis 35-36

SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” (Genesis 35:1) God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. And God said to …

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The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part two

A belief that I hold is that there are two paths to hell. If eternal judgment is your desired destination, rest assured that you have at least two choices to take: the road of the “sinner” or the road of the “religious.” You see, the only method of actually securing the eternal wrath of such …

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Wrestling with God

Dinah & Shechem | Genesis 34

SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and …

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The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part one

Back in 2012, I taught through the books of Ecclesiastes and Philippians together, attempting to show how they both present that true joy is only found in Christ. Below is part one of an essay I wrote to explain this connection. I pray that you will find it illuminating and helpful. The nature of joy …

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The NIV Lifehacks Bible

For the uninitiated, lifehacks are tips and tricks for doing mundane tasks more effectively and efficiently... at least, that’s their aim. And whether it’s getting the most out of a 7 minute exercise or amplifying your phone’s speaker with a cup or bowl, the internet is filled with hacks designed to make life simpler. But …

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Wrestling with God

Jacob & Esau Reunite | Genesis 33

SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION  Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. (Genesis 33:11) And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his …

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Like Jacob

And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you …

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Power Through Prayer

  Would you call yourself a prayerful Christian? How much of your time do you give to prayer daily? Do you enjoy praying? Questions like these can be difficult to answer because honest answers might prove to be painful as we quietly hope that no one is really supposed to enjoy praying. The reality is that prayer …

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