Life Without Hope

Ephesians 2:12b

A generic confession of faith in God will not do for salvation but only belief in the one true living God, the covenant Lord of Israel and Father of Christ Jesus. Let us not fall into the cultural trap of ...Read More

Wisdom in the World

Colossians 4:5

One commentator has said that things would be drastically different on the mission field at home and abroad if believers felt the same urgency to reach others with the gospel as they do to secure their own welfare. The wealth ...Read More

Praying for the Mission

Colossians 4:2-4

Praying for other Christians is also a way to manifest our love for them, as true love for Paul would motivate the Colossians to intercede for the apostle. John Calvin says that “it is not in vain that the Lord ...Read More

Christ’s Word and the Believer

Colossians 3:16-17

Paul closes out Colossians 3:17 by reminding us to do everything in the name of Jesus. This entails not merely an action accompanied by an audible expression of “in Jesus name”; rather, to do something in His name is ...Read More

Proclaiming Christ

Colossians 1:28-29

God calls all of us to take part in the teaching ministry of the church, though not all of us have the same role. Some will be ordained teachers. Others will help their children memorize Scripture. Still others may support ...Read More

The Light of God’s Face

Psalm 4

Those people upon whom God shines the light of His glory, kindness, and love cannot help but reflect this light to those around them. Over time, as we grow in the grace and truth of Christ Jesus, we will shine ...Read More

The Music of the Covenant

Psalm 101

Reformed Christians are sometimes referred to as the “frozen chosen” on account of their demeanor in worship. Of course, everyone expresses joy differently, but our joy as Reformed Christians should be readily apparent in our worship no matter if its ...Read More

The Taste of Worship

Psalm 34

God designed the elements of the Lord’s Supper to teach us specific things about His salvation, so it is appropriate for us to think carefully about what we learn from the taste of the bread and the wine as ...Read More

The Sound of Worship

Psalm 150

The importance of music in shaping our worldview and theology means that we must never sing songs without carefully considering the meaning of the lyrics. As we participate in worship each week, let us always think carefully on what we ...Read More

The Beauty of Worship

Exodus 25:1–9

There are several ways that we can encourage beauty in worship. If we sit on planning committees for new church buildings, we can make it our aim to include visual beauty in the structures that are being designed. We can ...Read More

A Reasonable Response

Romans 12:1–2

God is not interested in just a portion of our time, energy, thoughts, or money; rather, He wants it all. This does not mean that we cannot enjoy what He has given us, but it does mean that we must ...Read More

An Honorable Offering

Genesis 4:1–16

There are many demands upon us all, and it can be tempting to offer God only what is left over of our time, energy, and funds. But we do this because we do not revere Him as we ought. Yet ...Read More

Entering into Your Priesthood

What are you doing to help those around you who are in distress? Are you keeping yourself clean from the world’s pollution, as James admonishes?Read More

Watching the Teaching

1 Timothy 4:16

Take some time today to look over 1 Timothy as a conclusion to our study of this epistle. Thank God for the gift of His Word and for its transforming message. Make sure that you are in a church that ...Read More

Guarding the Deposit

1 Timothy 6:20-21

None of us is seeking to live in conflict with the people around us, and so we are always tempted to make the gospel inoffensive in order that we might preserve the peace. But the gospel is a “stumbling block ...Read More