Through the Bible for Skeptics and Seekers

James 3 - Have You Tamed Your Tongue? James warns us that the tongue is a dangerous part of the body that remains difficult to tame. An untamed tongue can do a great deal of damage like how a tiny spark can become a forest fire. Followers of Jesus should avoid selfish ambition, bitterness, and envy. Instead we should seek God for His wisdom which is “pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, fu...

James 2 - Is Your Faith Alive? We should not show favoritism by treating those who are wealthy differently than those who have very little. Followers of Jesus love our neighbors as we love ourselves. When we refuse to do the right thing, it’s like breaking all of the law. Faith without works is dead. We cannot earn our way into God’s presence. Jesus often rebuked the religious leaders because they...

James 1 - Do You Lack Wisdom? The half brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem was one of the first martyrs for his faith. James shares wisdom for how to live in our broken world. He shares that we should have a different perspective when facing trials. Some trials come because we live in a fallen world, but God can bring good from this such as developing perseverance. We can avoid...

Hebrews 13 - Are You Forgetting to Do Good? The author of Hebrews ends the letter with important reminders on how followers of Jesus should live. We are to love each other as brothers and sisters, to show hospitality to strangers, to live pure lives by keeping our marriage bed pure, to avoid the love of money but remaining content, and to remember our leaders by imitating their faith. We can trust...

Hebrews 12 - Are You Persevering? “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the rig...

Hebrews 11 - Are You Living By Faith? In Hebrews 11 we discover one of the most succinct definitions of faith along with several heroes of faith - men and women who trusted God and lived out what they believed. Some experienced the blessing they hoped to experience on this side of eternity. Others were persecuted or even killed because of their faith. They received what God promised on the other s...

Hebrews 10 - Will You Shrink Back? “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬, ‭14) Because we can enter into God’s presence and because Jesus gave His life for us, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assur...

Hebrews 9 - Are You Serving the Living God? The religious ritual of sacrificing an animal as a way to atone for our sins is a common understanding around the world. There’s something within the human spirit. That knows deep down that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Fortunately for us, “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.” When we turn to God and ask w...

Hebrews 8 - Do You Know the Lord? After Jesus gave His life on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice, He rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God. The ascension was his coronation as the King of Kings, the fulfillment of Daniel 7 which was the prophecy that one day there would be a human who would be worthy of worship. As Timothy Keller said: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful a...

Hebrews 7 - Is Jesus Your High Priest? The author of Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a king and priest from ancient times. He was an example of what one day would be true of the Son of God. Jesus gave his life as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the priests and all people. The new covenant in Jesus allows us to leave the past. We no longer need the daily sacrifices in the Temple becaus...

Hebrews 6 - Will You Turn Away? The letter to the Hebrews contains several “warning passages” that have confused many over the years. Remember any time we come across passages that are hard to understand, look at the context and allow other clearer Scriptures to interpret the less clear Scriptures. Some feel the author is warning these Jewish Christians that if they turn away from faith in Jesus a...

Hebrews 5 - Are You Mature? Jesus became the ultimate high priest. Before Jesus the high priest was selected from among the people and was appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He was able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself was subject to weakness. Jesus was chosen by God, and He never sin...

Hebrews 4 - Are You Experiencing God’s Rest? There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God. Access to this rest comes through faith. Sadly the unbelieving people of Israel who had been freed from slavery refused to believe and did not experience the rest offered in the Promised Land. This rest is like the way God rested on the 7th day of creation. Nothing in all creation is hidden from...

Hebrews 3 - Will You Harden Your Heart? The author of Hebrews continues to remind followers of Jesus why He is worthy of their complete devotion. Jesus is greater than Moses, one of the most revered figures in Israel’s history. Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house, but Jesus is faithful as the Son over God’s house.“ Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if...

Hebrews 2 - Are We Ignoring Salvation? We need to listen to the message of Jesus rather than drift away. “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” God made humans in His image and gave us the responsibility to co-labor, co-rule with Him. However, our sin keeps us from fully living out our calling, but Jesus...

Hebrews 1 - Do You Realize Jesus’ Superiority? The author of Hebrews was writing followers of Jesus who were facing tremendous persecution. He or she wanted to remind them why following Jesus was worth the suffering. Jesus is the heir of all things, and the Creator of all things. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerfu...

Philemon - Will You Let My People Go? Paul wrote Philemon about his former slave Onesimus. More than likely Onesimus had run away from Philemon, a crime punishable by death. While in prison, Paul led Onesimus to faith in Christ. Paul sent him back and asked Philemon to give Onesimus his freedom as a fellow brother in Christ. The Scriptures reveal God as the One who frees the enslaved. N.T. Wright...

Titus 3 - Are You Gentle With Everyone? Paul reminds Titus of the importance of living differently from the rest of the world. We honor and pray for our authorities. We are productive and caring for each other. All of us fall short of the life God has for us, but He offers to rescue all of us. This offer is not because of the good things we have done but because of His mercy and kindness. He renew...

Titus 2 - Are You Saying “No” To Those Things Which Are Destructive? Paul reminds Titus to spend time with those who are older and those who are younger. There should be healthy interaction between all the generations. All are welcome and all have a part to play. The secret to move broken people to become spiritual leaders is grace. It’s God’s unconditional love that helps us say “no” to those thi...

Titus 1 - Are You Managing Your Household Well? Paul encouraged Titus to straighten out the church in Crete where there were many who were rebellious and teaching Gentiles needed to become Jewish before they could follow Jesus. His goal was to raise up spiritual leaders who have healthy families, were blameless, not given to drunkenness, and living a transformed life so that they could help bring...

Titus: An Overview Paul left Titus in Crete in order to appoint elders - spiritually mature servant leaders in the church. The challenge was that he was working with people who were referred to as “liars, evil brutes, and last gluttons.” In other words, Titus’ goal was to help lead broken people to become trustworthy leaders. Discover how to do this through this letter from Paul. #NewTestament #Bi...

2 Timothy 4 - Are You Prepared? In what may be his last letter, Paul encourages Timothy that he can be faithful to do what he is called to do in spite of the opposition and those abandoning their mission. Paul writes that “God will safely deliver me into his heavenly kingdom.” We like the idea of God safely delivering us from our challenging circumstances, but that is not promised to us. Believers...

2 Timothy 3 - Are You Willing to Live a Godly Life? Paul warns Timothy that he will be persecuted because he is seeking to live a godly life. He reminds Timothy of the great faith of his mother and grandmother and the wonderful times they had together on the journey they experienced planting churches. There will be tough days when people who claim to be followers of Jesus try to tempt others away...

2 Timothy 2 - Are You Strong in God’s Grace? Paul encourages Timothy to raise up others who are reliable to serve along with him. He reminds him that serving in God’s Kingdom is hard work like a farmer, athlete, or soldier. Timothy needs to stand up against false teachers to protect his church family. The word “elect” is a word that is often misunderstood. This does not mean that some are chosen a...

2 Timothy 1 - Are You Timid? Paul writes Timothy reminding him that he has the power of the Spirit of God which helps us love and have self-discipline. He does not want him to shrink back due to the challenging circumstances he faces. Paul has been abandoned by many of his former coworkers and is suffering for his faith, and he wants Timothy not to forget him. He wants Timothy to continue in the w...