Biblical Studies / Bible Figures

  • Power for the Impossible

    Isaiah 51

    Matthew Henry comments on today’s passage: “Think how Abraham was called when he was but one, and yet was blessed and made many; and let that encourage you to depend on the promise of God.” When we are discouraged ...Read More

  • The Call of Abram

    Genesis 12:1–9

    Jesus says to us: “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). The kind of faith that God blesses is the faith that is willing to leave everything behind ...Read More

  • Solomon’s Wise Request

    1 Kings 3:1–15

    Solomon’s life illustrates the need to persevere in the wisdom of God. Of course, all those who have truly put their faith in His promises through Christ will not die bereft of this wisdom and thus, salvation; but the ...Read More

  • The Son Versus the Servant

    Hebrews 3:1–6

    Like Moses, we too are servants of God, and we want the Lord to pronounce us as good and faithful servants on the last day. While our service can by no means earn us a place in the kingdom and ...Read More

  • None Like Moses

    Deuteronomy 34

    The grace of God is large enough to cover all of our failures and sins. This great truth ought not be abused by us (growing callous toward sin); rather, it is to comfort us when we have sinned, for it ...Read More

  • Apostolic Fellowship

    Galatians 2:7–9

    The truth of the gospel binds believers together, and by the Holy Spirit we are empowered and enabled to love those who are in Christ even if they are different than we are. It is the love of one another ...Read More

  • Paul’s View of the Apostles

    Galatians 2:6

    Critical to today’s passage is the understanding that the Jerusalem apostles added nothing to Paul’s gospel. Paul was called later, but that did not make his preaching deficient. At any rate, in the final analysis there are no ...Read More

  • False Brothers in Jerusalem

    Galatians 2:3–5

    It is the duty of all believers, not just our pastors and other leaders, to contend for the faith. We must be especially wary of incremental steps to undermine biblical authority and the historic Christian faith. Denominations do not typically ...Read More

  • Paul Returns to Jerusalem

    Galatians 2:1–2

    Many of the problems we have in the church arise from the misunderstandings we have about other Christians and the work they are doing. Teachers, especially, can run into difficulties when their words and intentions are misrepresented. As Christians we ...Read More

  • The Glory of God’s Grace

    Galatians 1:21–24

    We should be thankful to the Lord for the grace that He pours out upon us as well as the grace He has shown to other people. We should also believe that no sinner is beyond His grace, for if ...Read More

  • Paul Meets Peter and James

    Galatians 1:18–20

    As a minister of Christ Jesus, Paul knew that he could not succeed in his calling all by himself. And if an apostle needed fellowship with others to fulfill the commission Jesus gave to him, how much more do we ...Read More

  • Paul’s Conversion

    Galatians 1:15–17

    It is incredible to realize that God has not only chosen us for salvation, He has also given us each to a vocation designed to bless His church. What is your calling? Are you appointed to be a teacher, to ...Read More

  • Paul’s Former Life

    Galatians 1:13–14

    Not all of us have had a dramatic conversion experience like Paul had, and by God’s covenantal grace, many of us may not even remember a time when we did not know Christ. Nevertheless, all who have turned from ...Read More

  • Maligning Paul’s Character

    Galatians 1:10

    The context of Galatians 1:10 refutes any notion that Paul was a people-pleaser. Would a man concerned to win the acclaim of all people call down curses upon some of them (vv. 8–9)? Paul’s becoming “all things ...Read More

  • To the Churches of Galatia

    Galatians 1:1–5

    Our study of Galatians will be enhanced if we all take a moment this weekend to read through the book of Galatians. As you read this letter, consider some of the themes that Paul returns to again and again. Note ...Read More