A ministry of the Word
https://soundcloud.com/david-istre/seeking-god-acts-101-43 SETTING: v. 1-8 Luke’s narrative of the Acts of the Apostles introduces us to an important character who will move Luke’s narrative forward into the redemption of the gentile world. Caesarea is of both practical and symbolic importance in the Acts narrative: Caesarea had been the provincial capital and place of residence of …
1 John 2:28–3:10 (CSB) — 28 So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of him. …
Continue reading "Theological Reflections: 1st John 2:28 – 3:10"
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (CSB) — 1 If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but …
Continue reading "Why Our Evangelism Doesn’t Work: 1st Corinthians 13:1-3"
Philippians 2:5-18 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, …
Continue reading "The Incarnate Glory of Christ: Philippians 2:5-18"
James 2:14–17 (CSB) — 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, …
Continue reading "The Mission of Love: What Good is Dead Faith?"
I know this will upset many Christians, but my heart burns within me because our pulpits have deceived so many people into thinking that their dead faith will save them (See James 2:26). Brothers and sisters, if you say that you love Jesus and don't love your brothers or sisters in Christ, you are a …
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY There are two charges against Stephen: Speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God Speaking in Jesus’ name against the temple and the law His rivals stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes against Stephen and brought him to stand trial before the Sanhedrin. Stephen’s answer, in essence, responds …
https://soundcloud.com/david-istre/the-ministry-of-love-acts-61-15 INTRODUCTION Acts 6:1– 8:3 are an important transition in Luke’s account of the Apostles as he begins to turn from the early beginnings of the Church in Jerusalem to its maturing, growth, and spread throughout the known world. The significance of these chapters can be seen in the fact that the longest speech …
I prayed and asked God to teach me the love of Christ. He gave me an incredibly hard day, filled with physical pain and emotional discouragement, and put in my path selfish and unlovable people - I don't think I encountered a single "normal" person today. I'm going to say something that is counterintuitive: I …
Titus 3:4–5 (CSB) — 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a supernatural experience that cannot be accomplished …
