Category: Bible Study

HOMETOWN FOLK

“No prophet is without honor except in his native place, among his own kindred, and in his own house.” –Mark 6:4 At the beginning of His public ministry, the people of Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth attempted to murder Him by trying to throw Him over a cliff (Lk 4:29-30). Later, some of Jesus’ relatives, probably from His hometown, “came to take charge of Him, saying, ‘He is out of His mind’ ” (Mk 3:21). This may have been more traumatic than the attempt on His life. Nevertheless, Jesus went back to His hometown and taught “in the synagogue in a...

The children of Abraham…

Galatians 3:5-7 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. (WEB) Abraham was an amazing man. He packed up and left his home town just because God asked him to. He wandered around in a strange country for years not knowing where he was going simply because God was leading...

A FAST MONTH

“When the day comes that the Groom is taken away, then they will fast.” –Matthew 9:15 After a brief moratorium on fasting, Jesus promised that His disciples would fast with such zeal that they would not have been able to withstand it unless they had received a new wineskin, a new life in the Spirit (Mt 9:17). Now is the time for vigorous, rigorous, powerful, loving fasting in the Spirit. The Lord has decided to drive out certain demons only in this way (Mt 17:21, NAB). Pope John Paul II prophesied that by prayer and fasting the demons behind abortion...

The giver of good things…

Matthew 7:7-11 7 “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven...

ADMIT YOUR STRENGTHS

“His answer was, ‘I will never believe it without probing the nailprints in His hands, without putting my finger in the nailmarks and my hand into His side.’ ” –John 20:25 St. Thomas fell into the sin of doubting because he had fallen into the sin of pride. He was tempted to pride not because he was weak but because he was strong. The temptations stemming from our strengths are probably the most dangerous. Thomas was smarter than the average apostle. When Jesus went to the dead Lazarus, He risked His life. Thomas understood this and made the great profession...