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
Scripture Reading — Romans 6:15-23 If 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
Scripture Reading — Matthew 1:18-25 His 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 com
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:14-18 The 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 trut
Scripture Reading — Romans 8:28-39 We 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; love
Scripture Reading — Romans 8:15-17 See 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 als
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 40:18-31 God 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 ma
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:1-10 By 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 corr
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:10-18 Those 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 wh
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 9:27-28 You 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 s
Scripture Reading — Romans 3:9-18 The 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
Scripture Reading — Romans 1:16-23 If 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 a