All posts by JT

Christian. Husband. Dad. Preacher. Baseball fan. Music nerd. Bookworm.

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 20, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 103/260: Read Hebrews 3

We are reminded at the outset of the third chapter of Hebrews that this epistle is written to “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling.” This is not a letter intended to persuade non-believers to become Christians, but rather the writer wants his recipients to remember who they are, and whose they are.

The Christians here struggled with the temptation of leaving the gospel and returning to the Old Law. The entire letter is written to spotlight Christ’s superiority over the Old Law, while not denigrating the service that Moses performed.

Moses deserves a great deal of respect for the work he accomplished among the people of God. He was faithful in the execution of the duties God assigned to him. Yet, God had bigger plans for His children, and Jesus is “worthy of more glory than Moses.” Why?

First, because Jesus is the Creator, but Moses is simply created. Second, because Jesus is God, but Moses is simply a man. Third, because Jesus is the Son of God, but Moses is simply a servant of God.

The Old Law served a very specific purpose, but now we live under a better law, given by a better lawgiver, with better promises. We should not seek to return to something lesser that is no longer in effect. Embrace that which is better.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Hebrews 2:1. Therefore we must give the most earnest ________ to the things we have heard, lest we ________ away.

Pray

Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the better covenant that Jesus established when He died on the cross.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 19, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 102/260: Read Hebrews 2

Why must we give “the more earnest heed”? In the Spider-Man mythos, Uncle Ben told his nephew Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Could it not also be said that with great knowledge comes great responsibility?

Our Lord said, “And that servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47-48).

To what must we give “the more earnest heed”? The writer says “to the things we have heard.” Hearing is often referenced in God’s plan for saving man (Romans 10:17), and yes we must face the decision of obedience when we initially hear the gospel. Yet, it does not stop there! We must continue to hear and grow in the faith throughout life! Consider James 1:22-25 and 2 Peter 3:17-18 on this point.

Finally, it is important to heed what we have heard, “lest we drift away.” Those who turn away from God rarely do so boldly and dramatically and all at once. It is more often a gradual drift, with a little neglect here, a little inattention there.

Don’t let it happen to you! “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

Hebrews 2:1. Therefore we must give the most earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

Pray

Pray for diligence in your studies and your application of God’s Word to your life.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 18, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 101/260: Read Hebrews 1

Jesus, the Son of God, is the definitive spokesperson for the will of God. In addition to that, though, He has been “appointed heir of all things.”

Satan promised to give Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” if Jesus would worship him (Matthew 4:9-10), but Satan’s promises were empty. The temptation was real, but he never could have truly delivered. In contrast, the Father could deliver on that promise.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:8-10).

While on this earth, Jesus said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20).

Joseph Bryant Rotherham wrote in the early twentieth century, “He who had not where to lay his head is now placed in possession of the Universe.”

Throughout the book of Hebrews, the word “better” should ring through the readers’ minds. Jesus is better. His Priesthood is better. His covenant is better. Why would anyone turn their backs on He who is better?

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

Hebrews 2:1. Therefore we must give the most earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

Pray

Pray for stronger faith in the One who was and is better than any other option.

Sermon Outlines

Forgiveness and Healing (Luke 5:17-26)

May 17, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Luke 5 17 26 The Healing of the Paralytic

Luke 5:17-26

I. The influence of faithful friends (Luke 5:18-19)

II. The immensity of Jesus’ power (Luke 5:20-25)

III. The importance of a proper response to Jesus (Luke 5:25-26)

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 15, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 100/260: Read Philippians 4

If someone were to ask your neighbors to describe you in one word, what word would they use? Would gentleness be among those words chosen?

Paul said, “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” How you treat the people around you—not only those with whom you agree, but all men—is extremely important.

The church in Corinth, full of problems, needed to repent. Paul said he was coming to them, and gave them a choice: “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21).

Gentleness is a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). It should be the attitude we exhibit as we seek to restore our erring brethren (Galatians 6:1). It should be an identifying mark of our Christian walk (Ephesians 4:1-3). It is a qualification for the leaders of the church (1 Timothy 3:3).

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25).

A “gentle and quiet spirit…is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:4). Perhaps that is why Christ described Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” when He offered an invitation to those “who labor and are heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

Philippians 2:4. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Pray

Pray for a gentle spirit, and opportunities to show your gentleness to your friends.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 14, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 99/260: Read Philippians 3

How important are your accomplishments to you? Did you graduate at the top of your class? Did you get a scholarship to the school of your choice? Do you own your own business? Do you live comfortably with more than enough money set aside for retirement?

All of these things are good, and there is certainly nothing wrong with striving for success in this world…as long as it does not hinder your journey to heaven.

Saul of Tarsus had everything a Jewish male desired when it came to status. He had fulfilled his duties as they related to the Old Law and was a zealous Pharisee, persecuting the church that threatened the Jewish way of life. But when he learned the truth, he was willing to set all of that aside. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.”

In eternity, your grade point average does not matter. God doesn’t care which college gave you a diploma, or how many employees are under your rule. Your bank account means little to the Lord if you’re not using it in His service.

Perhaps the most impactful statement of Paul in this chapter is this: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Don’t let the things of this life pull you away from your ultimate goal: eternity in heaven. Everything we do in this life, including the opportunities we have in this country, must be done with our eternal citizenship in mind.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Philippians 2:4. Let each of you __________ out not only for his own __________, but also for the __________ of others.

Pray

Pray for perspective in keeping first things first.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 13, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 98/260: Read Philippians 2

Paul writes in Romans 12:8-10, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Isn’t it interesting that this same inspired apostle also bases the doctrine of unity within the church on love as well? In the second chapter of Philippians, as he addresses the importance of “being of one accord, of one mind,” look at what that is based on: “having the same love.”

And he is not addressing some pie-in-the-sky ideal. He is urging them to seek after that unity in a very practical way: by esteeming each other as better than self, and by looking out for the interests of others.

We will not agree on everything in matters of opinion, but if we keep in mind that opinions don’t really matter in the long run, and things don’t always have to be my way, we can achieve this divine unity that is commanded in the Scriptures.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Philippians 2:4. Let each of you look out not only for his __________ interests, but also for the interests of __________.

Pray

Pray for Biblical unity based on love in the local church.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 12, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 97/260: Read Philippians 1

Isn’t it amazing how God works? How He takes things that seem devastating to us, and use them to the “furtherance of the gospel”? That’s what happened with Paul when he was arrested. We may view an arrest as a black mark against our character, but God was able to use Paul’s time under guard to convert other people to His cause!

Romans 8:28 proclaims, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” No, it doesn’t say all things are good, but rather all things work together for good. Whatever situation you find yourself in, God can use it for His purpose.

Isn’t that what happened when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers in the book of Genesis? God used Joseph where he was. He turned a bad situation into a blessing for His people.

What about you? What is your current situation? Are you able to do something good for God, despite your circumstances?

The people that you come into contact with every day will notice how you respond to the ups and downs of life. Do you act like a Christian should act, even when you are disappointed or downtrodden? Are you only “faithful” when you are “in a good place” and happy?

Paul says that “it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.” His character showed them who he belonged to. Does yours?

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

Philippians 2:4. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Pray

Pray for strength of character even during the storms of life.

Daily Devotional

Read the New Testament in a year, one chapter a day, five days a week

May 11, 2020 JT Leave a comment

Day 96/260: Read Ephesians 6

Paul believed in the power of prayer. In the final chapter of his Ephesian epistle, the apostle asked his readers to pray for him and his ministry, “that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

What is boldness? It is “preach[ing] the word…in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). It is reported that Marshall Keeble paraphrased that as “when they want to hear it, and when they don’t.” There are times that one must boldly stand for the truth, recognizing that there will be opposition.

Boldness is “declar[ing] the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). That is proclaiming the entire gospel from beginning to end, not leaving anything out for fear of offending another.

Boldness is “contend[ing] earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). It involves passionate persuasion of “the faith which was once delivered to the saints.” It has not changed since the first century; what was true then is still true today.

Notice also, however, what boldness is not.

Boldness is not rudeness. When we spread the gospel we are to be “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We are not trying to win arguments; we are trying to win souls for Christ. Be gentle, yet uncompromising. Be patient, yet persistent. Be compassionate, just as Christ was (and is).

Be bold.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

Philippians 2:4. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Pray

Pray for boldness in your speech and service.

Sermon Outlines