Posts from 2021 (Page 11)

Titus, Day 3 Titus 2:1 – 10 One of the statements I have heard students say to each other over and over throughout my years in ministry is, “You can’t do / say that in church.” I always chuckle a little when I hear that statement because the intentions of the student saying it are usually good. They are trying to help their friend act appropriately. However, it also implies that the action is acceptable in other situations. We have…

Titus, Day 2 Titus 1:10 – 16 Tell It Like It Is Being a pastor is a tough job. Actually, I don’t like to call it a “job,” or even a “career.” True pastors are paid for what they do, but that’s so they don’t have to do something else. Pastoring is a calling from above, and a dangerous one at that. It’s not just the controversy, opposition, and potential for persecution, that pose dangers — It’s the weight that…

Titus, Day 1 Chapter 1:1 – 9 THEME “The theme of Titus is the inseparable link between faith and practice, belief and behavior. This truth is the basis for its critique of false teaching as well as its instruction in Christian living and qualifications for church leaders” (ESV Study Bible). Paul opens up the 3-chapter book of Titus as a “servant” of God. The Greek word for servant is doulos. He also identifies himself as an “apostle” of Jesus Christ.…

2 Timothy, Day 4 Paul’s Final Words to Timothy: An Eternal Legacy (I Timothy 4:6 – 22) In the last few paragraphs of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we are given an inside look at the leadership ups and downs in Paul’s life at the latter part of his ministry. This was to be his last letter to the church, and he ends it with a long list of leaders who were making an impact, and one man who had…

2 Timothy, Day 3 Paul’s Instruction on Relationships #2 (2 Timothy 3 – 4:5) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16 – 17). At the beginning of this chapter, Paul is describing the end of the church age with Timothy and it seems very solemn and depressing. Paul mentions symptoms like…

2 Timothy, Day 2 Paul’s Instruction on Relationships, Part 1 PAUL CHALLENGES TIMOTHY TO STAY COMMITTED 2 Timothy Chapter 2 Paul begins Chapter 2 by requesting Timothy to be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ. He goes on to tell Timothy that he should pass on to others the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant doctrines that have been put into place by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Paul has shown and taught Timothy —…

2 Timothy, Day 1 2 Timothy 1 Introduction The letter of 2 Timothy was written by Paul to Timothy during Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome. Not long after the writing of this letter, Paul would be executed by the Roman government. Some commentaries believe Paul could sense this and that is why this letter has a sense of urgency.1 In this letter, you read Paul writing with a sense of compassion and care for Timothy while also making sure to…

1 Timothy, Day 5 1 Timothy 6:3 – 19 | Being a 4F Christian Soldier  In army-speak, “4F” means that a person has failed to meet the medical requirements — either mental or physical — for joining the army. It means one is unfit to be a soldier, even if one should don the uniform (which must have been acquired improperly). Fun fact: This dates back to the Civil War, when recruits who did not have 4 front teeth to…

1 Timothy, Day 4 | RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CHURCH Scripture Reading: I Timothy 5:1 – 6:2 The title of today’s devotional is, “Relationships in the Church.” But it would also be appropriate to add to that “and Family” after reading the Scripture passage for today. A lot of problems in our society today could be solved if we lived by the instructions included in our reading. We can start with the first 2 verses and glean much from them. We…

1 Timothy, Day 3 So, you want to be a pastor . . . (I Timothy 4)  “I always say to young fellows who consult me about the ministry, ‘Don’t be a minister if you can help it,’ because if the man can help it, God never called him. But if he cannot help it, and he must preach or die, then he is the man” (C.H. Spurgeon, 1834-1892). Nothing like a Spurgeon quote to begin a devotional focusing on…