on sacrifice, service, and strength: [saint luke, the winged ox]
![on sacrifice, service, and strength: [saint luke, the winged ox]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/luke-winged-ox-150x150.jpg)
Historically, Luke has been symbolized by a winged ox or bull. It’s a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. These are the three qualities about Luke the New Testament writer that stand out the most as I try to imagine what his life would have been like. Stepping into the work that he was about [...]
are you gregory?
In this season of Advent we are reminded of what it means to wait for something special. We generally reflect upon the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how the ancient Jewish people waited for their messiah. We also consider the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our own waiting for [...]
[mankind toons] Jesus feeds the five thousand
![[mankind toons] Jesus feeds the five thousand](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/mankind-toons-five-thousand-150x150.jpg)
And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. ~ Matthew 14:21 Source: MankindToons.com (used with permission)
joy vs. happiness
Verses like these use to trouble me: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” — James 1:2 (NIV) “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” — 1 Peter 1:6 (NIV) “Not only so, [...]
luke the historian
“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.” – Cicero, Pro Publio Sestio I can’t say that I’ve always been exactly a fan of history. I remember sitting in U.S. History classes in High School thinking [...]
the gospel of matthew: the identity and mission of jesus
Finally. Someone is writing a Bible commentary that’s easy to understand… and apply. InterVarsity Press has recently delivered the second book in their Resonate Series, The Gospel of Matthew: God With Us by Matt Woodley. Check out the description of the book… They say the Bible is true, but does it ring true? Does it [...]
[mankind toons] rocks, paper, scissors
![[mankind toons] rocks, paper, scissors](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/penguins-150x150.jpg)
Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. ~ Genesis 6:20
philippians 4:21-23 [final greetings]
![philippians 4:21-23 [final greetings]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/caesar-to-caesar-150x150.jpg)
Read Philippians 4:21-23 (ESV, NIV, The Message) Greetings Saints, While I hope you enjoy the video, I feel it’s important to share a link with you that properly examines this portion of Scripture. In my extensive search for any information about Philippians 4:21-23, I came across a blog post by Dr. Mark E. Hardgrove. Once I read [...]
philippians 4:10-20 [God’s provision]
![philippians 4:10-20 [God’s provision]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/soup-kitchen-150x150.jpg)
Read Philippians 4:10-20 (ESV, NIV, The Message) “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” As Paul closes his letter to the Philippian believers, he stops to thank them for their [...]
philippians 4:1-9 [exhortation, encouragement, and prayer]
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Read Philippians 4:1-9 (ESV, NIV, The Message) Philippians 4:1-9 is all about reconciliation. I’ve read this passage dozens of times; I’ve listened to sermons about it—and today I undertake to unpack it with you. It’s a privilege to offer my understandings, though the very contents of the passage compel me to caution you that my comprehension of [...]
understanding the millennium [part one]: premillenialism
![understanding the millennium [part one]: premillenialism](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/raptured-150x150.jpg)
So what is premillenialism? The premillennialist believes that Christ Jesus returns before the millennium. The “pre” in premillennialism signifies that the second coming is before the millennium. The most fundamental tenet of this position is that there are two bodily resurretions. The first involves the resurrection of the righteous at the start of the millennium. [...]
phillipians 3:12-21 [straining toward the goal]
![phillipians 3:12-21 [straining toward the goal]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/running-150x150.jpg)
Read Philippians 3:12-21 (ESV, NIV, The Message) Paul broke with his past. All his gains he regarded as loss. Nothing of this world mattered to him anymore now that he is aware of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus. So begins the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. His vision has been transformed. He [...]
philippians 3:1-11 [righteousness through faith in Christ]
![philippians 3:1-11 [righteousness through faith in Christ]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/courtroom-150x150.jpg)
Read Philippians 3:1-11 (ESV, NIV, The Message) I stood alone on the cold floor with cold feet. Shivering and staggering at the weight of my guilt and shame. ‘I deserve it’ I muttered to myself. There was no saving from it this time. No escape from the consequences of works I had wrought with my hands. Hello [...]
philippians 2:19-30 [timothy and epaphroditus]
![philippians 2:19-30 [timothy and epaphroditus]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/friends1-150x150.jpg)
Read Philippians 2:19-30 (ESV, NIV, The Message) Philippians is one of Paul’s more personable letters, being written to a church he founded and obviously cared a great deal for. This is evident in the many affectionate passages, greetings and prayers in the letter; perhaps no more so than in the brief note on St. Paul sending Timothy [...]
philippians 2:12-18 [lights in the world]
![philippians 2:12-18 [lights in the world]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/string-of-lights-150x150.jpg)
Read Philippians 2:12-18 (ESV, NIV, The Message) Where the Rubber Meets the Road Actually, the rubber has been meeting the road for a while now. From the very beginning of this lovely letter to the saints of Philippi, Paul mixes together powerful statements of theology with personal words of counsel. He began by thanking God for these [...]
philippians 2:1-11 [Christ's example of humility]
![philippians 2:1-11 [Christ's example of humility]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/cry-holy-150x150.jpg)
Read Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV, NIV, The Message) If we are not careful, culture rather than God will actually define reality for us. This is the core of many problems in discipleship today. American Christians need not worry of persecution from the world, but seduction by the world. The world we live in is full of seductive, deceptive, half-truths [...]
philippians 1:18b-30 [to live is Christ]
![philippians 1:18b-30 [to live is Christ]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/trumpet-player-100x100.jpg)
Read Philippians 1:18-30 (ESV, NIV, The Message) This passage revolves around v21 where Paul explains “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul’s universal concern, whether waking or sleeping, living or dying is Christ. His death is gain to him because his great and true desire is to “be with Christ, [...]
philippians 1:12-18a [the advance of the gospel]
![philippians 1:12-18a [the advance of the gospel]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/bible-prison-100x100.jpg)
Read Philippians 1:12-18 (ESV, NIV, The Message) Paul was nothing if not focused, his field of vision bounded above and below, across and between by a landscape of always and only the Gospel. When Paul tested and probed the value of a thing, he seemed always to do so through the filter of how widely, [...]
philippians 1:1-11 [greeting, thanksgiving, and prayer]
![philippians 1:1-11 [greeting, thanksgiving, and prayer]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/father-and-son1-100x100.jpg)
Read Philippians 1:1-11 (ESV, NIV, The Message) In these first eleven verses, Paul establishes a tone and message that will continue throughout this letter. He speaks with love of hope, grace, joy, and peace–words that will continue to echo. He also states his opening wish for the church of Philippi: that they would be able [...]
introduction to paul’s letter to the philippians
The letter to the Philippians is a well known text in the Bible and the apostle Paul is the undisputed author. May the following serve as an introductory background concerning this great New Testament letter. The city of Philippi. The city of Philippi is located in Macedonia. It was named after Philip of Macedon who was the [...]
what about evil and suffering? [the God i don't understand]
![what about evil and suffering? [the God i don't understand]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/port-au-prince-100x100.jpg)
Who of us hasn’t asked why bad things happen to good people? We’re confronted with the marks of living in a fallen world every day, yet we struggle to understand why we have to deal with such pain and suffering. In the first part of The God I Don’t Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith, [...]
paul’s epistle to the philippians [online group study]
![paul's epistle to the philippians [online group study]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/basilica-b-philippi-100x100.jpg)
It’s likely that the first time the Gospel was preached in all of Europe, it was done by Paul in Philippi. And that was an interesting trip (see Acts 16)… After being “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,” Paul and his entourage arrived in Philippi to convert Lydia, get arrested for [...]
book review: the God i don’t understand
We all ask these questions. It’s okay to admit it… there’s stuff you don’t understand when you read the Bible, right? Why did God order the killing of every living person… man, woman and child in Canaan? Why does a good God allow bad things to happen to good people? Why does He allow so [...]
jesus’ version of the butterfly effect: matthew 25:31-46 [#resonateseries]
It’s the last teaching of Jesus that’s recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did [...]
Nov 15, 2011 | Categories: authentic christianity, bible literacy, book reviews, READ, SERVE, the latest | Tags: bible commentary, butterfly effect, intervarsity press, ivp, Jesus, least of these, matthew 25:31-46, resonate series, sayings, teaching, the final judgement, the sheep and the goats | 1 Comment »