Have you ever borrowed someone’s car? Did you find that you drove that car differently than you drove your own car? What if it was a really nice car–top of the line, all the bells and whistles, and in pristine condition? Would you treat it with extra care? Would you take care of it exactly as the owner would like? Or, do…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 177)
As we enter this season of receiving, remember that it’s not the wrapping job but how much the person spent on the gift that matters. Remember that it’s not the thought but the cost of the gift that counts. Remember those two little words to say after opening the gift–“That’s it?” While these opening words are intended to be a bit satirical,…
Paul told his fellow Christians in Corinth, “I urge you, imitate me…Imitate me…” (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1). He told his fellow Christians in Philippi, “Brethren, join in following my example…The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do” (Phil. 3:17; 4:9). What would that early church have looked like if they all truly mimicked the life…
There is a certain element within our culture that has created in many of us an automatic reflex that disagrees with and is offended by every action that someone in authority takes. It doesn’t matter what the action is–we’re not going to like it, we’re going to automatically think it is wrong. This is the mindset many have toward the boss, toward…
Did you know that God is in the restaurant business? Yes, He is! Jesus said that “your heavenly Father feeds” the birds (Matt. 6:26). Did you know that God is in the fashion business? Yes, He is! Jesus said that God “clothes the grass of the field” (Matt. 6:30). What was Jesus’ point? Why talk about how God “feeds” birds or “clothes”…
Too often when we are reading the Bible, there are words, phrases and clauses that we just run right over without stopping to consider, dwell and meditate. An example is found in a relative clause that Paul used in 2 Corinthians 7:6. The point that Paul is making in the passage is that Titus had brought good (i.e., comforting) news about the…
When you think about a Christian “laboring fervently” (NKJV) or “laboring earnestly” (NASB) or “always striving” (ASV) or “always struggling” (ESV), what do you think about it? I’m sure the constant struggle of faithful living comes to mind. But what if two words were added to the end of each of these phrases above: “laboring fervently… laboring earnestly… always striving… always struggling…
As Paul closed his letter to the church at Colosse, he mentioned several of his “fellow workers for the kingdom of God,” and he had this to say about them: “they have proved to be a comfort to me” (Col. 4:11). What a great compliment! But, it’s even better than that! The Greek word for “comfort” in this verse is paregoria (only…