In Matthew 21:10-11, we see Jesus being recognized by the people as the prophet from Nazareth. They had already witnessed His prophetic abilities, His divine teaching, His miracles, and His authority, but that was not enough for them to fully understand who He truly is. Jesus didn’t just possess the ability to teach or heal; He is divine, fully God, and must be exalted as the King of kings, Lord of lords, and the one true living God.

The lawyer had already secured his earthly life by being a lawyer. That is a respectable profession with good income. Being a successful lawyer can provide a very comfortable life. But earthly success does not answer the deeper spiritual questions of life.

Now this is good news: we don’t have a God who is driven by fire and brimstone - that’s a situational truth. The greater truth is that God is gracious, kind, loving, and full of mercy. He is a good God, a generous God, and a God who calls His people back.

Sometimes, Christians struggle to understand the New Testament in light of the Old Testament. Some think that in Christ we are now completely free from the Old Testament. That is not correct if we miss some key principles drawn from the Old Testament. Yes, we are free from ceremonial laws, worship, sacrifice, and purity regulations. We no longer perform burnt offerings (Leviticus 1), grain offerings (Leviticus 2), peace offerings (Leviticus 3), sin offerings (Leviticus 4), or guilt offerings (Leviticus 5-6), including atonement, restitution, or covenant signs like circumcision. However, moral law is upheld in Christ. What does that mean? It means all moral standards remain the same in the New Testament: we do not murder, commit adultery, steal, or lie.

Jesus Himself said not to neglect tithing while pursuing justice and mercy (Matt. 23:23), and Paul teaches that pastors and gospel ministers must be financially supported by the church: “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14 ESV).

It will take us more than an eternity to fathom His love, or perhaps we will never fully comprehend or grasp the depth of God’s love for us. Why does He forgive the multitudes of our sins? And not only does He forgive us, but this forgiveness came at a deep cost: 39 lashes, both hands and feet pierced with long, sharp nails, a crown of thorns, and finally, the spear of Longinus to ensure His death after hanging on the cross. This is unconditional love! While we were still sinners, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16). His love was revealed to us through the great pain He endured to pardon our sins.

God confirmed Gideon through a dream that God will make sure that they don't lose the battle. God will be with them. Regardless of Gideons self-doubt, lack of confidence in leadership, lack of courage God doesn't simply put him down. But God helps Gideon to see that God is with him, and God confirms His victory for Him. See this what it makes God good. Regardless of our unbelief, he still confirms that He will be with us and He will make it happen.

Regardless of Jacob’s stubborn or twisted posture, he somehow knew he needed God. It is remarkable that Jacob wrestled with God the whole night until the break of dawn. But why would God allow an encounter with Jacob, who was not very impressive in his spiritual walk, unlike his grandfather?

In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the dragon Smaug had already won for many years. The people of the mountain once had a great kingdom, but Smaug came, destroyed everything, and sat on the treasure. For years, no one dared to challenge him. The dragon looked unbeatable. Fear ruled the land.

That’s what desperation can feel like.

In Acts of the Apostles 2:42–44, we see a simple but powerful picture of the early church. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer. They weren’t just attending gatherings; they were building their lives around Christ and around each other. Their connection came from a shared commitment to God’s Word and shared life together.

Inviting people to be baptized is biblical. Therefore, we must all share the invitation with our friends and family members to confess Christ, experience renewal, and witness the amazing work God will do in their lives through the power of His Holy Spirit. We are all called to preach the Good News, just like Saint Peter.

God’s actions reveal that He empowers His people with light. Sometimes people find themselves in situations where they cannot see a way out and need direction into the path of life. Here is the good news: there is hope. Just as God enlightened David’s steps, He will help you see the path as well. God will empower you through His Word and through His servants to help you navigate dark seasons, spiritual illumination through His spoken Word.

“In the form of God v6” Jesus was not just a good man, a good teacher, or a prophet. He is not a competitor among other gods, kings, or lords. He was, is, and will always be above all. We believe in the supremacy of Christ. Through Him all things were made, even you, beautifully and wonderfully made in His image. But sin damaged everything, so He came in the likeness of men.

Propitiation: The second important word here in the text that will help us understand the work of the Atonement is propitiation (1 John 2:2 NKJV). What does that mean? It means that the wrath of God was satisfied on the cross through His Son Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God who came into the world and became flesh. He had no sin and therefore became the perfect propitiation for sin, satisfying the wrath of God. “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2 NKJV).

The Nature of God: The fellowship begins not with us humans but from eternity. Theologically, it is right to confess in our Christian faith that the essence of God is love precisely because of His Triune reality. He is inherently relational. We see this evidence from the bible, “let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26, ESV).

What is Justification by Faith Alone? It means that I don’t have to be a super saint to be saved or to enter heaven. It also means that I can’t add any righteousness or good works to be saved. Justification by faith alone is absolutely given by God through grace, faith, and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

In our global context today, we face a great struggle, something not new but present from ages past: gossip and slander. These are deadly and destructive sins. Who hasn’t faced them? They infect our relationships and disguise themselves as harmless conversation.

The bottom line is this: we don’t need material things to make us happy or to help us remain in a state of well-being. If we receive what we want, that’s awesome. If not, we don’t lose our joy. Sometimes we do lose our joy because our outward circumstances appear chaotic; however, we can live by the Pauline principle of placing total dependence on God and His presence.

Are God’s moral standards still binding on those who are saved by grace? The New Testament answers with a resounding yes. While believers are no longer under the law for salvation, we are called to walk in obedience as a response to grace. As Paul writes in Romans 6:1–2, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Grace does not nullify holiness—it empowers it.

The Holy Spirit: Not a Casper, but a Constant Companion: Sometimes, the Holy Spirit is thought of as a gentle ghost, like “Casper”—friendly but not quite real. That’s fiction. The Bible presents the Spirit as a living person with emotions, a will, and speech.