Jesus before the Council, in Luke’s Gospel

Bible Study series: Luke 22:66-71. Jesus told the truth. He really was the Son of Man who was about to come into the glory of the Right Hand of Power (God). His inquisitors considered this truth blasphemy, which carried the death penalty.

Continue reading →

Jesus Predicts His Coming-in-Judgment on Jerusalem and Temple, in Luke’s Gospel

Bible Study series: Luke 21:5-33. This is not his earth-shattering and global Second Coming. This is his judgment on the temple and Jerusalem, after his ascension, in his generation. The Roman generals stomped all over it in A.D. 70, committing the abomination of desolation, similar to what Antiochus IV did, in 167 B.C.. What kind of Messiah and prophet would he have been if he had not predicted such a monumental upheaval in the religion of Moses?

Continue reading →

Parable of Bags of Gold (Talents) in Matthew’s Gospel

Bible Study series: Matthew 25:14-30. A talent was a huge monetary amount. So modern translations correctly update the term. The main point is how will you work for the kingdom, work that he has tailor-made for you?

Continue reading →

Sadducees Question Jesus about Resurrection in Matthew’s Gospel

Bible Study series: Matthew 22:23-33. “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God,” That was a serious charge against the Sadducees.

Continue reading →

Parable of the Marriage Feast

Bible Study series: Matthew 22:1-14. The parable predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple establishment. Then  ordinary Jews and Gentiles will be included in the new community.

Continue reading →

Paul and His Team Sail to Rome

Bible Study series: Acts 27:1-12. Paul, Luke (author of Acts), and Aristarchus (a Christian from Thessalonica of Macedonia) set sail from Caesarea, under guard. The centurion was Julius of the Augusta cohort. None of them clearly foresaw the near-fatal journey to reach the goal (but see v. 10, below). Time to trust God!

Continue reading →

Don’t Do Little Work and Demand Loud Applause

Bible Study series: Luke 17:7-10. You got to do your work before the Lord, not to get the applause of people. Get his approval, if you do his work and complete his mission. He may ask you to do the hard thing, too.

Continue reading →

Parable of the Vineyard and Wicked Tenants in Matthew’s Gospel

Bible Study series: Matthew 21:33-46. Another shot at the Jerusalem and temple establishment. This was God’s plan–to get his Son on the cross to die for the sin of the world. His Son spoke only the truth, which was enough to fulfill this plan.

Continue reading →

Parable of the Prudent Manager

Bible Study series: Luke 16:1-13. Sometimes he is called the “dishonest manager.” What does this mean? Why would Jesus tell such a parable? It is becoming my favorite because of its moving parts and subtleties. It should be read in conjunction with the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

Continue reading →

Romans Soldiers Rescue Paul, Again

Bible Study series. Acts 23:12-35. The Romans whisked him out of the court (23:10); then they escorted him out of Jerusalem with a large military contingency because of a plot to kill him.

Continue reading →

The Cost of Discipleship

Bible Study series: Luke 14:25-33. You have to “prefer” Jesus over all other rivals, even parents, if they oppose you joining his new movement.

Continue reading →

Jesus Teaches on Marriage and Divorce in Matthew’s Gospel

Bible Study series: Matthew 19:1-12. Marriage is a covenant. His teaching on divorce is designed to protect women in an easy-divorce society. A quick summary of his healing ministry is included.

Continue reading →

Paul and His Team Arrive in Jerusalem and a Riot Soon Breaks Out

Bible Study series: Acts 21:15-40 The team did not provoke the riot, nor did Paul. Some Jews from the provinces identified him and stirred up the crowd. In this chapter, we see Paul completing his third missionary journey.

Continue reading →

Paul and His Team Go to Jerusalem

Bible Study series: Acts 21:1-14. They stopped along the way in various cities. They met Christians, like the prophet Agabus and his team and Philip and his four unmarried, prophetic daughters.

Continue reading →

Jesus Causes Division in the Household

Bible Study series: Luke 12:49-53. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. In a Jewish context, the follower of Jesus can expect opposition. Is he ready for it? (Today, division can also happen in a Muslim household.)

Continue reading →

Warning to Kingdom Leaders

Bible Study series: Luke 12:41-48. “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find doing thus when he comes.” But the opposite is true. If a kingdom servant is abusive, the punishment will be severe.

Continue reading →

The Resurrection of Jesus

Bible Study series: Mark 16:1-8. The crucifixion of Jesus ratified the New Covenant, out of which flows great blessings (e.g. salvation, redemption, and reconciliation). Now the resurrection is the vindication of God’s Son and the confirmation of the New Covenant.

Continue reading →

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection and Rebukes Peter

Bible Study series: Matthew 16:21-28. Jesus understood his mission. Peter did not. “Let him deny himself and pick up his cross and follow me.”

Continue reading →

Paul Ministers in Macedonia and Greece

Bible Study series: Acts 20:1-6. He has to complete his third missionary journey before he goes to Jerusalem. A table of Paul’s travels in Acts 18-25 is included in this post.

Continue reading →

Peter’s Declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God

Bible Study series: Matthew 16:13-20. What does it mean that Jesus will build his church on “this rock”? What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Continue reading →

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Bible Study series: Mark 15:21-41. This is what we proclaim when we take communion. Every blessing (e.g. salvation, redemption, reconciliation, peace with God, and so on) is embodied in and flows out of this one globe-changing act.

Continue reading →

Seven Sons of Scaeva Defeated and Ephesian Believers Renounce Occult

Bible Study series: Acts 19:13-20. When I first read that believers were the ones who needed to renounce the occult, I realized how important discipleship is.

Continue reading →

Watch Out for Hypocrisy

Bible Study series: Luke 12:1-3. Hypocrites will be exposed. “There is nothing that has been hidden away that will not be revealed, and concealed that will not be known.”

Continue reading →

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand Men, Plus Women and Children

Bible Study series: Matthew 15:32-39. Jesus’s miracles had a purpose: to help people in practical ways. He did not perform them just to show off. That’s too dangerous, for deceivers, later on, could exploit people (e.g. gold dust and “angel” feathers).

Continue reading →

Paul Proclaims the Kingdom of God in Ephesus

Bible Study series: Acts 19:8-12. When he did this, miracles broke out, including through facecloths and work aprons.

Continue reading →

Jesus Appears to Thomas

Bible Study series: John 20:24-29. Doubting Thomas believes and confesses that Jesus is Lord and God, reflecting the opening to John’s Gospel. “The Word was God.” Then Jesus speaks to us: “Because you see me, do you believe? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Continue reading →

Summary Passage: Jesus Heals Many People near Lake of Galilee

Bible Study series: Matthew 15:29-31. “Then the numerous crowds came to him, having with them the crippled, blind, lame, mute, and many others, and they placed them at his feet, and he healed them.”

Continue reading →

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Bible Study series: John 20:11-18. She was the first one to see him alive. She evangelized the apostles about the resurrection. Her name appears in all four Gospels, at this crucial time. This indicates she was a valued leader and preacher in the early Jesus Movement.

Continue reading →

Paul’s Hasty Visit to Ephesus and then Back to Antioch

Bible Study series: Acts 18:18-23. Paul finishes up his second missionary journey in v. 22 and begins his third in v. 23. He went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia.

Continue reading →