The Family Bible Journey Podcast

The parable of the vineyard is used by Isaiah, and at least three times by Jesus, as a warning not to use God's love and mercy as the excuse to indulge sinful selfish desires. We live in a world that celebrates ungodliness. We may be tempted to use God's forgiveness as an excuse to indulge our sinful desires. Resisting this temptation, let us strive to live in the Lord's way, as unpopular as that...

Philippi was a town full of citizen soldiers. They enjoyed the blessings of being citizens of a favored Roman colony. They also knew the price that must be paid, often by others in blood, for the blessings of citizenship. As we read this chapter, we are encouraged in our valiant fight for Christ, and encouraged by the promised resurrection and life everlasting that are ours in Him.

Despite Judah's rank idolatry, God still loved His people. He promised, in the midst of their spiritual rebellion against Him, that He'd love them. Instead of treating them as they deserve, He will would send a Savior to them.

By the time God sent Isaiah to Judah, they had fallen deep into spiritual depraivity. His judgment began at home, and extended to the godless nations around them. God had grown tired of their hypocrisy, which favored self and friends over foreigners and enemies.

Paul encourages us to embody the spirit of Christ, which is a spirit of sacrifice, service and humility. The world seeks its own glory and praise. We seek the glory and praise of another, knowing that when we do, all those around us are blessed.

Not only does Isaiah utter many prophecies about Christ, he also prophecies the rise of the Church. Christian or not, it is hard to deny the fact that the Church has been the most influential, and in many ways most influential earthly institution.

Isaiah stands as a mighty prophet to the kingdom of Judah through earthly prosperity and spiritual poverty. He lived under good and evil kings. His words are just as applicable to us today, because we live in a time that is materially rich and spiritually poor.

Paul affirms his love for his dear children in faith of Philippi. This city was home to many of the first converts to Christianity in Europe. As Paul encourages these Christians by pouring his heart out to them, we think of those that we love, who we want to encourage in their faith.

The book closes with an easy tie to Christ's undying love for us. We appreciate this book as a unique and powerful description of love and look forward to the day we will live in such love forever!

The wondrous love described for us in this book is but a foreshadowing and foretaste of the uninhibited love we will enjoy in heaven. Try hard as we might, we can't even begin to imagine the love we will have with each other and know with God in His presence.

The final chapter of Paul's epistle to the Ephesians concludes his twin themes of the righteousness we have in Christ Jesus and the continual work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which leads us in godliness. His very familiar parable comparing the gifts of the spirit to Roman armor is a beautiful depiction of the blessings that we have as God's people. We are well fitted and well suited for spiri...

Solomon is captivated, no, intoxicated by the beauty of his wife. Here we explore some of the poignant metaphors describing his love for her.

The Song of Solomon is an epic romantic poem, penned by young King Solomon, before he wandered far and wide from the Lord's will. It is a description of human and divine love, a picture of God's love for you! Although it may make some uncomfortable with its frank and detailed account of Solomon's relations with one of his many wives, its lessons are timeless.

Husband and wives are called in this chapter to surrender their desires their wants, and their needs and to sacrifice for their spouse. It is hard for us to love those who hurt us, but that is exactly what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. In this section talking about serving one another in Christ, we learn how marriage, in particular, is a wonderful display of God's work in the world.

There is no better time than the present to honor God! This is what wisdom teaches. God's Wisdom keeps us on the straight and narrow and blesses us in every season of life. Thanks be to God for His unending patience and everlasting love!

There is a pervasive "paralysis of analysis" gripping many, institutions, and a great number of churches. When we are in preservation mode, we operate out of fear, not faith. Instead of waiting for everything to be just right, Solomon encourages us to invest and get to work.

All Christians share a common calling to speak the truth in love. Even though distinct offices are mentioned in this passage, we do well to focus on our shared calling. When we grow spiritually, we are conformed by the Holy Spirit's power to the likeness of Christ, to be a blessing to others, even as God in Christ Jesus has blessed us.

The Parable of the Woodcutters is a modern leadership paradigm, the seventh principle of Steven Covey's famous leadership book about highly effective individuals. Abe Lincoln is also rumored to have taught this parable, but we learn it here from the lips of Solomon. It enourages us towards effectiveness and efficiency in all that we do by applying wisdom to every aspect of our lives.

The common Hebrew toast at weddings and celebrations is, "L'Chayim!" It means, "to life," or "for life!" It is an encouragement and blessing for us to enjoy the blessings God gives us in this life. Amidst all that subtracts from our joy and peace, it is good to thank God for the blessing of this life by enjoying it as the gift it is. "L'Chayim!"

Paul leaned into his calling as an apostle, encouraging the Ephesians in their faith. The same God who calls His children to faith calls faithful pastors to serve in His Church. We will discuss this holy calling and consider how God's blessing of ministers is a blessing for the entire church.

Solomon recognized that God's mercy is often used by men to justify doing more sin, more wrong, more injustice. The temptaion to judge God is purely human, and comes from the part of us that wants to be god, wants be the judge. Recognizing this sin within ourselves, we seek the Lord in faith and thank Him for His mercy.

As a preacher, I know that I have my audience's attention much more at a funeral than at a wedding. It may seem or sound morbid, but it is absolutely true, because all the distraction and noise is dead silent when the congregation is looking at an urn or casket. Solomon also knows that God has our attention in times of sadness and encourages us to think with sober judgment about this life, so that...

There was a literal wall that separated gentile believers from the Jewish believers in the Temple area. It was a physical barrier of exclusion. It demonstrated the separation of God and men by sin and the religious and ethnic divisions between the Jewish people and others. Paul uses this feature of the Temple to describe God crossing all barriers in Christ Jesus.

Paul teaches that we weren't saved to become bumps on a log. Rather, we've been saved to be productive as members of God's family. God has created good works for us to do, that we might walk in them. It is a calling and challenge from God to put our faith to good work.

A much depressed old King Solomon warns us against the evil of seeking lasting fulfillment and satisfaction in the fleeting pursuits of this life. The same vices he fell headlong into, pride, greed, lust, these are still what the world is selling as the keys to a happy life. May we learn from one who was the richest, most powerful and influential man of his time, that none of these things satisfy....