At the zenith of His career, Jesus pulled away to the secluded area of Caesarea Philippi. On His mind was a crucial question for His disciples—and for us as well. Travel back with me to the scene as it unfolds. The surroundings are impressive. Flowing springs. Lush gardens. Monuments and temples dedicated to the worship […]
Read MoreTag Archives: Matthew
An Invitation to Touch the Skin of Infinite God
Childbirth is something no man can completely appreciate. We can marvel as an observer—a helpless one at that—but we cannot experience it as a woman would. My wife tells me, “I cannot completely describe the feeling that came over me as the doctor held up Curt, cut the cord, and then laid him right across […]
Read MoreJesus and Women
When we think of the ministry of Jesus, we immediately recall the “big” moments. His baptism. The Sermon on the Mount. His transfiguration. The miracles He performed. And, of course, His death and resurrection. But Jesus’s ministry was to people. His miracles and messages were for individuals who needed a Saviour . . . not […]
Read MoreHow Do We Know That Jesus Is God?
Question: I recently read the book, The Da Vinci Code. I know that it is fiction, but it has caused me to question everything that I’ve always believed about Jesus. How do we know that Jesus is God in the flesh and not simply a good teacher? Answer: For two thousand years, critics have chipped […]
Read MoreIsrael – Like No Other Place on Earth
Israel is like no other place on earth. To an aged wanderer, it was the Land of Promise: “To your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7). It was the land of a proud man who limped away with a new name after his encounter with God: “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, […]
Read MoreA Splash of Colour in a Black-and-White World
I have spent the better part of my adult life studying the Bible—for papers in college and seminary, in preparation for church lessons, and while working on projects here at Insight for Living Ministries. In the faded blue, bare-bones NIV Bible I’ve worked with most often over the years, I know where to find just […]
Read MoreLiving with a Kingdom Mentality
Of all the places in all the world, when God chose to establish His kingdom on earth He chose a thin sliver of land hugging the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. In that ancient land of Israel, God sent His Son. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He preached a simple but profound message: […]
Read MoreMorality Is Not the Point
Morality is not the point. Now stay with me. I bet you’ll agree when I’m finished. For a while now I’ve been asking the elementary-age kids I know, “What do you think God wants most from us?” Most of the time the answers are something like, “God wants us to be good” or “God wants […]
Read MoreYou’re Growing Older (But Not Old)
Growing older is a fact we all must face. Now . . . you’re not going to get me to declare when growing up stops and growing old starts—not on your life! But there are some signs we can read along life’s journey that suggest we are entering the transition. (How’s that for diplomacy?) Ironically, […]
Read MoreSalt or Vinegar?
The Apostle Paul signs off every one of his thirteen letters in the New Testament with words of grace such as in Romans: the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you or more simply in Colossians and Titus: grace be with you. At its most basic meaning, grace means kindness or goodwill towards someone. […]
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