Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. — Isaiah 11:1 No one wants a stump. Sure, creative types may use a backyard tree stump for seating or as the base of an outdoor coffee table, but no...

  Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. Don’t be fooled by what they say. —2...

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” —Matthew 13:10 You won’t find this in scripture, but I imagine Jesus responding to the question by saying, “Some questions are easier to answer than others.” A pause would follow. A glint in his...

  “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!...

A widow of that city came to [the judge] repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy. — Luke 18:3 “But I wanted this,” are words we say to ourselves—our we should say to ourselves—when what we wanted gets wonky, painful or sour. This goes for marriage,...

The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him. — 2 Timothy 2:11 Euphoria isn’t an address on another street across town. You live there, too. I get it. I live it. It isn’t all bliss where you live. It isn’t all bliss...

I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. — 2 Timothy 1:4, NLT The beauty of these heartfelt words from Paul to apprentice Timothy are easy to receive because we’ve all received...

If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. — Psalm 92:9-10  Scoffers to Christianity gain leverage when they hear verses like this and refute them without time and thought. Their reaction...

  I thank Jesus Christ our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him. —1 Timothy 1:12 Both his resume and his self-reflection call it like it is: he’s the bad of the bad. A guy much like...

…they praised God saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.” — Luke 7:16b You’ve left worship—or can leave worship—on a Sunday and you, too, will be saying what the people did here. “A mighty prophet is among us,” and “God has visited...