I want to bring out a couple of things from today’s Bible reading*. First, in Acts 8:9-25, we see the miracles performed through the hands of Philip. In addition to many others, Simon the Sorcerer (a man who got his magical power from the occult/demonic influence) was saved. When Simon saw that people received the…
Preachers are always concerned about how their sermons will be received. We agonize over the Biblical text, wanting so much to be true to what God says. We want our hearers to receive the Word as good soil. (Matthew 13:23) “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit….
As you read today’s Bible reading*, note how Peter and John connect the dots between the Gospel they preach and Jesus’ Resurrection. You may have heard me say before that “the Sadducees were sad, you see, because they didn’t believe in the Resurrection”. Oftentimes that sect clashed with Jesus because of this central doctrine and…
Have you ever done something and realized halfway through it that you forgot one of the most important parts? Maybe it was buying a dozen eggs to make that cake for the sick neighbors. You have just enough time to mix the ingredients and pop it in the oven. You lay out all of the…
At the end of today’s Bible reading*, we read about the religious leaders questioning of Jesus’ authority: Where does it come from? (Mark 11:27-33) Jesus offers to answer their question if they will answer His own question. “Regarding John the Baptizer, where did his authority come from?” The religious leaders knew that Jesus had just…