Through the Bible for Skeptics and Seekers

1 Corinthians 2 - Are You Accessing the Wisdom of God? Paul acknowledges he did not rely on persuasive human wisdom or clever rhetoric to proclaim the message of Jesus. Instead, he emphasizes the simple message of Jesus Christ crucified. His intention is to let the power of God be revealed through the message, rather than relying on human eloquence. Paul highlights that the wisdom he shares is not...

1 Corinthians 1 - Are You Aware You Are Holy in Christ? Paul expresses gratitude for the Corinthians' faith in Jesus and encourages them that they have been enriched with spiritual gifts and are not lacking in any spiritual blessing and holy in Jesus. Unfortunately, the Corinthians were divided by following different leaders and boasting about human wisdom. Paul highlights that the message of...

1 Corinthians Overview These devotional videos are intended to help those reading the New Testament for the first time, those reading with doubts, those reading with unanswered questions, those reading along with a friend or family member they are helping, and those simply wanting to grow. To get the most of the experience, try this: Pray: "God, show me what you have for me in this passage to...

Paul and the Bema Seat from Acts 18 The apostle Paul suffered a great deal as he traveled the Roman world telling Jews and Gentiles that the Messiah had come inaugurating a new Kingdom through his death and resurrection from the dead! In spite of the many trials, tortures, stonings, and imprisonments, Paul still experienced miraculous intervention from time to time including the story found in Act...

A Roman Road in Ancient CorinthWe can actually walk along the same road built by the Romans that Paul walked along. Felt rather beautiful to do so and reminded me of what Paul wrote the Corinthians:“Follow me as I follow Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 11:1 (Modern English Version)#newtestament #corinthians #ancientcorinth #jesus #faith #spirituality #Christianity #bless #mission #outreach #evangelism #d...

The Greek city of Corinth was demolished by the Romans in 146 B.C.. All that remained was the Temple to Apollo which the Romans left intact so as not to anger the god. The rest of the city and the remains we find are from when Corinth was rebuilt by the Romans and made the capital of Greece. By the time Paul arrives as recorded in Acts 18, Corinth was a cosmopolitan city with people who had arrive...

Romans 16 - Are You Wise About What is Good and Innocent About What is Evil? At the end of his letter, Paul sends greetings and commendations on a long list of people - including several woman who were serving in prominent roles in the early church. He begins by commending Phoebe, a deaconess from the church in Cenchreae, and asks the Roman believers to welcome her and provide any assistance she m...

Romans 15 - Do You Demonstrate Humility? Paul focuses on the need for mutual encouragement, the example of Christ's humility, and extending the message of Jesus to the Gentiles. He calls strong believers to bear with the failings of the weak and seek to build them up and encourages those who follow Jesus to live in harmony with one another, imitating Christ's example of selflessness and hu...

Romans 14 - Are You Willing to Sacrifice Your Freedoms to Help Others? Paul shares guidance on how believers should navigate differences in matters of opinion and live in harmony with one another by tackling the issue of food and drink preferences. Some believers have certain dietary restrictions or observances based on their personal convictions, while others have the freedom to eat anything. He...

Romans 13 - Are You a Good Citizen? Followers of Jesus are called to submit to governing authorities and live as responsible citizens. All governing authorities are established by God and serve as instruments of His authority that are ultimately accountable to Him. The purpose of governing authorities is to maintain order, punish wrongdoing, and promote the well-being of society. We are to do what...

Romans 12 - How Are You Renewing Your Mind? Those who follow Jesus should live differently. As living sacrifices to God, surrendering our lives and dedicating ourselves fully to serving God and others leads to a renewed mind and personal transformation. With humility, those who follow Jesus serve others with our unique spiritual gifts like a body where each member has different functions and roles...

Romans 11 - Do You Look Down On Others? Paul addresses the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles in God’s redemptive plan. He begins by asking if God has rejected His people, referring to the Israelites. He emphatically declares that God has not rejected them, explaining that he himself is an Israelite and a follower of Jesus Christ. Paul presents the idea that there is a remnant of Israel,...

Romans 10 - Are You Sharing About Jesus With Others? Paul addresses the theme of salvation and the role of faith in a person's relationship with God and emphasizes the accessibility of salvation and the importance of following Jesus. Paul expresses his deep desire for the salvation of his fellow Israelites. He explains that salvation comes through faith in Jesus who is the fulfillment of God&#...

Romans 9 - To Whom Do You Have Trouble Showing Mercy? The apostle Paul addresses the issue of God's sovereignty and human responsibility in the context of salvation. He begins by expressing his deep concern and sorrow for his fellow Israelites, who have not fully embraced the message of Jesus as the Messiah. Paul explains that the promises and blessings given to the Israelites are significant...

Romans 8 - What Can Separate You From the Love of God? Paul begins by stating that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This means that through faith in Jesus, believers are forgiven of their sins and are no longer under the guilt and judgment that sin brings. Instead, they have been set free. Paul then introduces the concept of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers....

Romans 7 - Why Do You Do the Things You Don’t Want to Do? The apostle Paul discusses the struggle between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit. He begins by explaining that the law of Moses, which includes the Ten Commandments, is good and holy, but it reveals the presence of sin within us. Paul shares his own personal struggle with sin, acknowledging that even though he desires...

Romans 6 - Should You Go On Sinning? The apostle Paul addresses the concept of how believers should understand their relationship with sin and the transformative power of Jesus Christ. Paul begins by asking the question, “Should we continue sinning so that grace may increase?” He emphatically answers, “No!” and explains why. Paul explains that when a person chooses to follow Jesus and is baptized,...

Romans 5 - How Does God Demonstrate His Love For You? Since we’ve been made right with God through faith, we experience peace with God through Jesus who gives us access to God’s unconditional love - His grace. In a relationship with God, we now see everything differently. For example, our suffering in life helps us learn how to persevere which helps us develop character which helps us grow to have...

Romans 4 - How Are You Made Right with God? The apostle Paul writes about Abraham from the Old Testament. Abraham lived a long time ago and is considered an important figure in the Bible. Paul explains that Abraham was justified or made right with God, not because of his good deeds, but because of his faith. Paul gives an example and explains that if someone works and earns money, their paycheck i...

Romans 3 - Are You Righteous On Your Own Without Jesus? In light of the controversy in the Roman church, what’s the advantage in being Jewish? The Jewish people were entrusted with the words of God through which we are all made aware of our sin and our need for God! Paul emphasizes that both Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin and stand guilty before God. Paul quotes several Old...

Romans 2 - Do You Judge Others? Just after the list Paul writes describing the ways we have fallen short in our thoughts and our actions, he writes in Romans 2 about not judging others. He points out that it was God’s kindness in our lives that led us to turn to him. In other words, when we understood God loves us in spite of our sins, we willingly repented. We asked him for forgiveness. As follow...

Romans 1 - Do You Worship Created Things Rather Than the Creator? Paul writes to the Romans about his desire to come and visit and his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles, a messenger and witness that Jesus is the Son of God as demonstrated by his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This “gospel” or “good news” is that we can be made “right with God” by faith. In other words, when...

Romans - An OverviewWe meet Saul in the book of Acts. He begins as someone who opposed Christianity but becomes known as Paul and starts multi-ethnic churches throughout the Roman Empire. His letters were passed around from church to church and have become part of the New Testament. Understanding the context of his letters helps us understand what was happening so we can apply what we read to our...

Acts 28 - How Will You Handle Adversity? With Kimo Lai of Gateway South Austin As we conclude the BLESS Challenge, have you been able to see God at work in your life and through your life as you’ve looked for ways to begin to pray, listen, engage, serve, and share your story with your neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends? What we see in the life of the apostle Paul is someone always looking...

Acts 27 - How Do You Respond to the Storms of Life? With Melanie Ortiz from Gateway South Austin Paul and others set sail from Caesarea to Rome, and despite the warnings from Paul about the dangers ahead, the centurion in charge of the voyage decides to continue. The journey becomes treacherous as they encounter strong winds and a violent storm. During the storm, the ship is severely damaged, and...