3 John 1 by Pastor David Groendyk   Although this short letter is written regarding a very specific incident in the church, it provides a much broader application for all of us now. The apostle John (the same John who wrote the Gospel of John as well as 1–2 John) is writing to a man in the church named Gaius. Gaius is commended for his faithfulness (vv. 1–8) while another church leader named Diotrephes is…

II John Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson             Please read this chapter before you read this devotional (we urge you to always read the Scripture first).  What two words stand out to you?  The first one is easy because the occurrences begin in vs. 1-4.  The second word occurs a bit later, first appearing in v. 1 and the second time in v. 5.  And these two words placed side by side are not what…

2 Peter 3 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence   In the previous chapter the apostle Peter warned the Church against the false teachers; now, he warns her against the scoffers.  These men do not merely pervert the Scriptures but utterly deny them acting as open adversaries of Christ and His gospel.  Desiring to walk in freedom without any constraint from God’s law they say, “Where is the promise of his coming?  Things are continuing just as…

2 Peter 2 by Pastor David Groendyk   Chapter 1 of this letter is theologically rich, encouraging, empowering, and generally quite uplifting. Chapter 2 is a little more sobering, but it becomes quite apparent what the pressing issue is for the Christians that Peter is writing to. False teachers are present, they are dangerous, and they must be avoided at all costs. We haven’t heard exactly what it is these false teachers are teaching yet…

II Peter 1 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson   II Peter 1:16-21 is an important section in the New Testament that teaches the authority of Scripture. Let’s briefly look at this passage and then tease out a few implications for us.  Peter needs to make it crystal clear that His words are from God Himself.  Peter writes, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming…

1 Peter 5 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence  “Likewise…clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” Surely, we remember that this is the same man who boasted that even if all the other disciples fell away from Christ, he would never fall away, before…

1 Peter 4 by Pastor David Groendyk   The big themes of this book can be described by lots of ‘s’ words: salvation, sanctification, submission, suffering, stewardship, shepherding. Two of these words in today’s chapters are stewarding and suffering. What Peter describes as stewardship in verses 1–11 is summed up in one sentence in 1 Peter 2:16: “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as…

I Peter 3 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson I would like to choose 3 passages that might be difficult to understand in this chapter.  First, 3:1-7; second, 3:18-20; and third 3:21.  The first seven verses would not be well received by many in our country, let alone the world.  Let’s try to make sense of these verses.  What does “be in subject” mean?  First, we know that Christ teaches us that all of us are…

1 Peter 2 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence            Why is it that some Christians grow up in their faith considerably over the years, whereas others seem like they’re still only immature professors of Christ?  It all has to do with their time spent in God’s Word.  In contrast to all the evil, poisonous things mentioned in the first verse of this chapter, Peter recommends only one healthy desire that all Christians should have and…

1 Peter 1 by Pastor David Groendyk   This letter is written by the apostle Peter generally to Christians throughout a number of provinces (v. 1) around the year 62 A.D. The purpose for this letter is to encourage this group of Christians who are being persecuted on account of their faith. Notice as you read over the next few days that Peter jumps back and forth in his writing between descriptions of our salvation…

Exodus 40 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson             “This Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.”  How many times have we read this verse or something similar?  Herein lies the greatness of Moses.  This is what God wants for all of us.  To do or say according to all that the Lord commands us.  Faith shows itself through obedience. Obedience is the other side of the faith coin. Moses…

Exodus 39 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence This chapter is almost verbatim the same as that which is written in Exodus 28:6-43 except for a few omissions.  The purpose of this chapter is to show that the men who were appointed by Moses to design the holy garments for Aaron and his sons created them exactly as the Lord had commanded in order that the priests might safely enter into their daily service before the Lord…

Exodus 38 by Pastor David Groendyk   As we continue our tour through the construction of the tabernacle and its contents, let’s remind ourselves of the significance of each of the pieces that are under construction in this chapter. The altar of burnt offering (vv. 1–7; see also Ex. 27:1–8) was the place where all the sacrifices would be offered. You can read about all the different kinds of sacrifices in Leviticus 1–7, but the…

Exodus 37 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson             In Exodus 37 we see the construction of the Ark in vs. 1-9, a fulfillment of Ex 25:10-20.  Ex 37:10-16 we find the construction of the tabernacle table, a fulfillment of Ex 25:23-29.  In Exodus 37:17-24 the construction of the lamp stand a fulfillment of Exodus 25:31-39.  Finally Exodus 37:25-28, we find broad guidelines for the incense altar, a fulfillment of Ex. 30:1-5, and the composition of…

Exodus 36 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence Bowlin         Bezalel and Oholiab were master craftsmen highly endowed by the Holy Spirit with both knowledge and skill.  God had gifted them in this way in part that they might be able to construct God’s holy tabernacle and all its furnishings.  Of course, they didn’t carry out all the work themselves, but they trained and equipped other gifted individuals to work with them in this marvelous endeavor.  And together…

Exodus 35 by Pastor David Groendyk The golden calf incident now over, the rest of Exodus describes the actual building of the tabernacle. God’s dwelling with his people has not been forfeited but is being accomplished as planned. The theme for this chapter is “giving to the Lord”. Moses is commanding the people of Israel to give to the Lord everything that is needed for the building of the tabernacle. That begins with the various…

Exodus 34 Devotional by Pastor Mark Hudson In his commentary on Exodus Brevard Childs writes, “Chapter 34 is one of the most difficult chapters in Exodus to analyze and opinions diverge widely” p. 604.  Chapters 32-34 seem to be one unit. We see a covenant renewal in this chapter after the golden calf incident in chapter 32.  In the following sections, we see God intending to withdraw His presence from Israel.  Moses is terrified at…

Exodus 33 Devotional by Pastor Lawrence   After the Israelites had angered the Lord by fashioning their golden calf and bowing down to it, the Lord told Moses that He would still send his angel ahead of them to drive out the Canaanites in the Promised Land, yet He would not go with them personally lest He destroy them.  Hearing this news, the people mourned and Moses ministered on their behalf interceding for them.  He went…

Exodus 32 by Pastor David Groendyk Our chapter today is easily one of the most tragic stories in the Bible. In the midst of God giving Israel his plan for how he will dwell with them (Exodus 25–40), Israel nearly forfeits the blessing of having God’s presence among them by making the golden calf. Despite the fact that Israel had seen God on the mountain (Ex. 20:18–21) and despite the fact that Israel had promised…

Exodus 31 Devotional By Pastor Mark Hudson         This chapter easily divides into two sections.  31:1-11 about Bezalel and Oholiab and 31:12-18 on the Sabbath.  I want to focus on the first 11 verses of this chapter.  I love this section because God is calling gifted men who know how to work with their hands to serve Him in the fabrication of items for worship.   This seems like a contrast to what…