As we approach the end of 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul brings a stern warning to church leadership: be careful about mixing in worldly wisdom with the Word of God to build or grow the church. The mixing in and value placed on wisdom from the worldly experts is really affecting the life and health…
We pick up still in Acts chapter 22 as Paul continues to be allowed to address the large crowd from the edge of the temple, sharing his testimony as a way to combat the charges leveled against him (that we was anti-Jew, anti-law, and anti-temple). However, when he mentions that it was Jesus who sent…
As we finish out Acts chapter 21 and start into chapter 22, Paul is finishing his fateful journey into Jerusalem, immediately meeting with the church elders and leaders and describing his travels and the work of God in Asia and Europe. Given the tensions between Jew and Gentile, the leaders have a plan for Paul…
In Acts chapter 3, Peter has another chance to preach after the healing of the lame man at the temple gate called “Beautiful”. The healing had gotten the people’s attention, but instead of drawing attention to themselves, Peter uses it as another chance to share the truth of the power of Jesus Christ to bring…
Entering Mark chapter 13, Jesus’s attention is drawn to the beauty of Herod’s temple complex and He responds with a shocking prediction: “not one stone shall be left upon another” (v. 2). Of course this gets the disciple’s attention and they want to know the “when” and the signs that would come before this. This…
Finishing up Mark chapter 12, Jesus challenges the religious elite with a few questions and comments of his own, and then moves into the temple court where the treasury is located. As they watch people giving, Jesus draws their attention to a poor widow who gives 100% (“all that she had”) and notes that even…
We continue to draw closer to the cross as Jesus spends his final week coming and going from Jerusalem during the Passover week. After his cleansing of the temple he has obviously angered the religious elite, and they–again–try and trap him in his words. He catches them in their own trap and then tells a…