Category: Bible Study

NUTS ABOUT FRUIT

“My Father has been glorified in your bearing much fruit and becoming My disciples.” —John 15:8 It’s late tonight and I’m tired. In my prayer for this teaching, I’m telling God I want sleep now rather than asking for fruitful words to write so He can be glorified (Jn 15:8). I don’t want to hear about being pruned (Jn 15:2). Does this sound familiar? The battle over bearing fruit really shows who is lord of our lives, Jesus or us. We can bear any fruit God requires of us, because the energy required to produce the fruit comes unfailingly from...

ABBA-POWER

“I solemnly assure you, the man who has faith in Me will do the works I do, and greater far than these.” —John 14:12 The Lord promises us that we will do far greater works than He did (Jn 14:12). We know of Jesus raising people from the dead, healing countless sick people, driving out legions of demons, walking on water, multiplying the loaves and fish, transforming the most hardened hearts, etc. How can we do these things? How can we surpass these works? The answer Jesus gave to these questions is: “Because I go to the Father” (Jn 14:12)....

EXTEMPORANEOUS

” ‘Brothers, if you have any exhortation to address to the people, please speak up.’ So Paul arose, motioned to them for silence, and began.” –Acts 13:15-16 Imagine visiting a church. You’re a total stranger. After the reading of the Scriptures, everyone sits down. Suddenly the priest or minister looks at you and asks if you would give the sermon. What would you do? This happened to St. Paul when he visited the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia. When Paul was put on the spot, he was ready. He even gave the assembly a tour through the history of the...

AN OPEN-BOOK TEST

“If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save it. Whoever rejects Me and does not accept My words already has his judge, namely the word I have spoken – it is that which will condemn him on the last day.” –John 12:47-48 “If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save it. Whoever rejects Me and does...

ETERNAL LIFE IS…

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” –John 10:28 Jesus promised to give us eternal life, that is, the quality of life that is lived in heaven forever. Jesus kept His promise when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. We received His gift of eternal life when we were baptized. We live eternal life when we give our lives to Jesus and love Him with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strength (see Lk 10:27). By faith, are we living eternal life right now? If we’re not...