“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”  (I Timothy 6:10) The first letter to Timothy is a Pastoral Epistle written by the apostle Paul, in roughly AD 63-66, to his travelling companion and surrogate son, Timothy. Timothy had a strong upbringing in the faith despite having a Greek father, as he was instructed by his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:25) The lack of church attendance in America is not due to having so much spiritual life in the soul that church attendance has become unnecessary. This is how our wandering generation likes to paint it. Many say, “I’m good spiritually. I do not need church, or so much church.” Sadly, even churches have bo

“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62) At this point in the Gospel of Luk

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” “The Law of the LORD is perfect, convicting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”  (Psalm 19:1, 3, 7) We have no way of knowing the time or occasion of this Psalm’s original composition, only that David wrote it and submitted it to the chief musician for use in the sanctuary. We have no need to know

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”   (Titus 3:5-7) Titus was a Greek follower of Jesus and a trusted acquaintance of the Apostle Paul, having provided aid during past crises. Paul had assigned Tit

“Go cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." (Jeremiah 2:2) These were the words of Jehovah to His ancient people, as He remembers their sweet love and trust back when the nation was first born. Only very calloused hearts could hear such an appeal as this and remain unmoved. Let us consider these words spoken to

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3) The story of how Pa

“Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.”  (Isaiah 45:24, 25) It is an honor to preach a Gospel of guaranteed success, one that also has universal appeal and invitation. Note Vs. 22: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.” Therefore, we take the Gospel to every creature, acc

“And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?”  (II Chronicles 2:5-6) In the second chapter of the book, King Solomon speaks with King Hiram of Tyre to request materials and skilled workers to aid in the construction of the temple of the Lord. Solomon expresses

“I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.” (Zephaniah 3:18) One might feel as if the text was written for the present day. If the Lord had fixed His eyes on the condition of the Church just now and had written this passage for this generation of Christians, it could scarcely have been better suited. It was written to encourage the faithful remnant of captive Israel, who were sorrowful and burdene

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”  (I Corinthians 6:18-20) Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthian Church, seeking unity as well as providing

“And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel…and said Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt….I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.”  (Genesis 46:1-4) Jacob’s sons had recently returned from Egypt with glad

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” (Jeremiah 10:12) In this passage (Vs. 1-16), the prophet shows the glory of Israel's God and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. We should always remember to stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is d

“In those days there was no king in Israel, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) This chapter and the four that follow form an appendix to the book of Judges, but the events recorded in them actually took place before the period of the Judges, beginning just after the death of Joshua and the elders that overlived him. We know this, because Phinehas, the son of Eleazar was priest (Ch. 20:18). Other internal evidence that gives support to this

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”  (Psalm 46:1-3) In Psalm 46, the poet starts with God’s provision. Many other psalms begin with a description of the psalmist’s crisis. He looked to God for help in difficult times and

“Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.”  (II Samuel 19:37) Barzillai was a devout man, and like every truly devout soul, he had his priorities well in order. These words, which essentially make up his response to a most gracious offer made to him by his beloved,

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  (John 3:36) John Chapter 3 is one of the most critical chapters in the entire gospel, presenting crucial ideas for our faith, including the role of Jesus as Savior. After the loud commotion at the temple, John transitions to a quiet, nighttime discussion where the speakers are Jesus and a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who seems to be sincere

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD.”  (Hosea 10:12) Hosea was the first of the writing prophets. He was sent to warn Israel, especially the Northern Kingdom, of coming judgement. He used a variety of analogies and metaphors to expose the sin of the nation and call them to repentance. He was the Old Testament master of the parable. He went so far as to “take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us...

“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray,…they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten...