Emotional Widows

1 Timothy 5:3 “Honor widows who are widows indeed.” Observation: Paul here counsels regarding widows within the church. He draws a distinction between younger widows whom he advises to remarry if possible, and widows above the age of sixty. Each widow, he says, should...

Deep Mining

1 Timothy 4:4 “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude.” Observation: Paul wrote his letter to Timothy more as a coach than an evangelist. Still, in this passage I see his devotion to consistent themes that...

The Circumcision Fairy

Colossians 2:11-12 “And in Him you were circumcised by a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working...

Groupies Galore

Philippians 2:20 “For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.” Observation: Paul was an exhorter. Most of his letter to the Philippians was to stir them to greater zeal, encouraging them in their walk, affirming them in...

Snowball Defenses

Ephesians 6:13 “Having done everything,…stand firm.” Observation: Beginning with Ephesians 6:10, Paul focused on how to achieve full protection from attacks of the enemy: by putting on the full armor of God against Satan’s schemes. Then Paul said this: “Take up the...

Tripping Before Traffic

Romans 10:13 “For whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Observation: These middle chapters of Romans find Paul using a rich variety of metaphors to describe those who are God’s versus those who are not; those who cleave to Him, and those who do...