Posts with the tag “week-50”

December 16th2 Timothy 2:1-4:18.  “Sending Forward the Spoken Word”         Every time I read Second Timothy I can’t help but be reminded that these were Paul’s last words.  I can’t imagine how young Timothy must have read them over and over.  As Paul sat alone in the cold Roman prison waiting his execution, he knew they were his final words (4:6).  It’s wonderful to read Paul’s conclusion; “I hav...  Read More

December 15th1 Timothy 6:11-21; 2 Timothy 1:1-18; Titus 1-3.  “Promote Right Teaching”         The spoken word is powerful, yet to be most powerful it must ring true.  It is vital that we speak and teach truth and only truth.  The first portion of Titus 2 emphasizes the importance of promoting right teaching.  “This is the content of our faith.  Believers must be grounded in the truths of the Bibl...  Read More

December 14th1 Timothy 3:1-6:10.  “False Teaching is a Waste of Time”         The Apostle Paul gives young Timothy a great deal of instruction concerning false teaching.  Most often when we hear the term “false teaching” we think of descriptions such as “those who are teaching wrong doctrine” (1:3), “those who deny truth” (6:3), or “teachings that come from demons” (4:1).  However, Paul actually s...  Read More

December 13thJames 4:1-5:20; 1 Timothy 1:1-2:15.  “Prayer Spoken”         A young minister, learning that a woman from Boston who was visiting in town had been taken ill, stopped in to cheer her up.  “I’d like to say a brief prayer for your recovery,” he suggested.  The woman responded, “That won’t be necessary, young man, I’m being prayed for in Boston.”         James has addressed a variety of t...  Read More

December 12thJames 1:1-3:18.  “Speak Wisely”         In just these three chapters James has written volumes of material to consider pertinent to this week’s theme—the power of the spoken word.  Yet he has also addressed the quandaries lying therein.  He has informed us that “those who control their tongue can also control themselves in every other way,” but then, “no one can tame the tongue” (3:2,...  Read More

December 11thPhilippians 2:12-4:23.  “Shining Brightly”         The past few weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who are far more intent on pointing out what is wrong rather than looking for what is right.  In this passage Paul essentially informs us that this is normal.  He tells us that people will see what is wrong with your life before they see what is right.  So, he informs...  Read More

         This week’s passage focuses our attention on instruction, teaching and the power of the spoken word.  The tongue has the power of life and death (Prov. 18:21).  People have risen or fallen because of their spoken word.  People have won or lost, have conquered or been defeated in life, have prospered or stagnated depending on their spoken word.  People have achieved great things or nothing in life because of the spoken word.  We will learn the importance of discerning truth in what we hear and in making sure it is what we speak.  Read More

December 10thPhilippians 1:1-2:11; Philemon 1.  “Messages and Motives”         “Whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice” (Philip. 1:18).          The Apostle Paul declared his imprisonment was a tremendous opportunity to share the Gospel.  With pure motives he preached the Good News of Jesus Christ.  However, others prea...  Read More