Manhattan First

We see warning signs around us daily, keeping us out of dangerous situations. The writer of Jude gives his readers clear signs that will also keep us out of spiritual danger. Do you heed the warning?

The writer of Jude warned his readers 19 times that their lives were to reflect their confession. Are you heeding the warning?

Fathers day is a joyous occasion that honors our dad, but sometimes it can be complicated. Not all of us had a great relationship with our fathers, but that doesn't have to cripple us for life. There is a way to overcome a bad past relationship.

People would like to believe that we are born "good," but unfortunately, that isn't the case. When we become believers, it's even more apparent that we need to overcome these traits. Jesus gives a great life lesson to his disciples, focusing on how we are to be, and it is in complete opposition to how... Read More

When false teachers enter a church it can be devastating to a local congregation, but it doesn't have to be. When being trained to spot counterfeit bills they study the real bill so well that spotting a counterfeit becomes very easy. We can see false teaching just as easily if we know the real thing... Read More

Believing that God loves us can be very difficult, especially when we look at ourselves from the world's perspective. God's character is entirely different from our own, and we need to understand how much he loves us and in what ways. Knowing this becomes a liberating knowledge and gives us a new view of ourselves.

Many people claim that they are "saved," but what are they basing that on? The writer of Jude gave his audience a reminder and a warning. It reminded them of the times God's judgment fell and warned his readers to look deeper than just the surface. How do we look deeper, and what do we... Read More

Most people desire to do the things they want to do without restrictions. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be perilous when that desire creeps into the church as teaching. How did Jude, in his book, deal with this heretical teaching?

There has always been tension in the Church between grace and works. How are we to view grace? There is a view that says we have the freedom to do what we want because God has saved us, but is that true? Does God want us to bear any responsibility for the way we live?

We use barometers as indicators of the conditions around us, but are there spiritual barometers? James points out to his readers that there were people within the church that weren't what they seemed. How did he know that? How do you know where you stand concerning the same indicators?

When we try to do things on our own, we sometimes experience success, but when it comes to pleasing God, we can become resistant to him or fall into depression because we don't measure up. Have you tried to get to heaven in your own strength? Jesus has already accomplished everything you need for success.

Easter is a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, but is it just a tacit acknowledgment of a religious ceremony? Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" How you respond to that question becomes the key to your relationship with God. Who do you say that he is?

We use terms in our everyday lives that may not express the depth of these terms when used in scripture. When we say "God is Love,"  or he is merciful, sometimes it is just a colloquialism and becomes trite. We need to understand what the New Testament writers were trying to get across.

God is Love. Simply said but profoundly comforting is that He also loves us. His love comes to us freely and eternally. How do we respond to his love, or is a response required? The price he paid for us should elicit a response.

How do we "know" that were saved? The book of Jude is a simple book but has spiritual insights into how we can know and then live in that assurance. Are you still unsure?

When we think of slavery, it makes us think of all the instances that people abused and dehumanized other people, and yet Jude, among other writers of the new testament, called themselves "slaves of Jesus Christ." Was Jude saying that we should be abused and dehumanized by Christ, or was there another way to look... Read More

Jesus had brothers and sisters, and during his life on earth, they didn't believe he was who he said he was. But as time went on, they did come to believe in him and had even written books included in the bible. What changed their mind?

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Is your perception skewed? We tend to see ourselves differently than how Jesus sees us. Our perspective needs to be changed to see ourselves correctly. Only God has the proper perspective.

Understanding water baptism is vital to our lives as believers in Jesus Christ. Misunderstanding and false teachings are damaging and sometimes lead to a false sense of security. What does the Bible teach about it?

When we have pride in our children or take pride in our work there is nothing wrong with that, but when we have the kind of pride the bible refers to in such scriptures as "Pride goes before a fall" or "God resists the proud" there is a definite problem that needs to be addressed.... Read More

How we respond to the call to give can be an indicator of the condition of our hearts. God doesn't need your money but he is concerned about the motives of your heart. Do you struggle with the call to give?

" Love is the commitment to act in the wellbeing of another."

"Happy or inwardly content no matter the outward circumstances are the gentle, meek, humble and kind person."

"Inward contentment no matter the outward circumstance, that comes from the comfort that God gives us when we are deeply grieved by our sinful condition and that of the world."

Jesus wants us to learn "true happiness," an inward contentedness that is not affected by circumstances.