Cookie-Jar Giving

1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up so when I come no collection will have to be made” (NIV). Observation: Paul’s request was consistent with what he also asked of...

What’s in the West Wing?

Genesis 9:22-23 “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s nakedness” (NIV). Observation:...

Volunteering for Death

1 Corinthians 15:31 “I die daily.” Observation: This simple statement comes in the midst of a discourse by Paul on death and resurrection—on the differences between those who have eternal life in Christ and will be given new and imperishable bodies in the...

The Problem with Restraint

Judges 4:2 “So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan” (NIV). Observation: Ehud delivered Israel from its Moabite enemy. He had personally killed the Moabite king and then led the Israelite army to victory over Moab, ushering in an eighty-year...

The Old Heave-Ho

I Corinthians 8:12 “When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ” (NIV). Observation: In this short chapter Paul warned of problems caused when we act from our knowledge base without first bathing our actions...