Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:1-11 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”— Matthew 22:37-38My wife and I recently attended a symphony. Seventy-five musicians on the stage gave th
Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:16-26 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.— Galatians 5:25On our first visit to the Grand Canyon we made our way to the guardrail and peered down to the Colorado River some 5,000 feet below us. Considered to be one o
Scripture Reading — Luke 17:11-19 Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?— Romans 6:1-2We have been saved by grace and not by works. But does that mean we do not have to do good? The a
Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:15-20 “Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves. . . .”— Hebrews 12:5-6Jesus teaches that there is a broad road that leads to destruction and a narrow roa
Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?— 1 Corinthians 10:16It has been said that the Lord’s Supper, or
Scripture Reading — Romans 6:1-10 In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.— Galatians 3:26-27In the church we have two sacraments given to us by Christ: baptism and the Lord’s S
Scripture Reading — Revelation 21:1-5 “For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”— Malachi 4:2On the dairy farm where I grew up, it was always fun to watch young calves when the
Scripture Reading — Romans 12:1-8 God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body. . . .— Ephesians 1:22-23Maybe you have heard someone say, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” This is true. Many
Scripture Reading — John 16:5-14 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”— John 14:15-17One Friday each month, the college where I serve as campus minister cele
Scripture Reading — Acts 1:1-11 Jesus Christ . . . has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.— 1 Peter 3:21-22Years ago, I attended an air show. A military jet flew low over the runway and then turned its nose skyw
Scripture Reading — Matthew 28:1-10 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.— Matthew 28:9Can an event that took place two thousand years ago benefit humanity today? When Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, his
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” o