Scripture Reading — Matthew 7:21-29; Romans 10:9“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”— Matthew 7:21It takes me just a second to say “Jesus is Lord.” Lord means “owner” or “master.” I also belie
Scripture Reading — Romans 6:15-23If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.— Romans 10:9When one of our daughters was young and we told her to do something, her response was sometimes swift: “You’re not the boss o
Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:18-25His mother Mary . . . was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.— Matthew 1:18There are lots of misunderstandings about what may happen to us after we die. Many people think that babies who die become angels, for example, and it’s common to see artwork about
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:14-18The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth. . . .— Colossians 1:15-16Who is Jesus? Many different answers are given to this question. The truth is that Jesus is the e
Scripture Reading — Romans 8:28-39We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.— Romans 8:28Life can be hard, even brutal. Wars rage; diseases kill; disasters strike; accidents maim and take lives; loved ones betray. The list
Scripture Reading — Romans 8:15-17See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!— 1 John 3:1It is a stunning truth: God the Father is not only the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but he is also the Father of each one
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 40:18-31God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky . . . and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”— Genesis 1:26-27Around the world there are many different religions a
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:1-10By grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. . . .— Ephesians 2:8The Bible teaches that when Adam and Eve—the parents of all humankind—sinned against God, their human nature became corrupt. And this corruption
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:10-18Those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness [will] reign in life through . . . Jesus Christ!— Romans 5:17Sin will be punished. God is a God of justice. Does this mean there is no hope for all of us who sin? No. Two thousand
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 9:27-28You are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence.— Psalm 5:4-5Imagine that you have purchased a new car. Then one day you find deep gouges in the fender and scratches in the paint. Y
Scripture Reading — Romans 3:9-18The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.— Romans 6:23Sin is a topic that many people tend to avoid. Others make light of it. Las Vegas, for example, is sometimes called “Sin City,” and foods that are tasty but not healt
Scripture Reading — Romans 1:16-23If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.— 1 John 1:8-9According to psychologists, we all live in denial at som
