More Than Listeners - James 1:22

 James 1:22
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Wasting no time, James gets straight to the point in one sentence. He exposes a great, but quiet danger in our spiritual lives:  confusing hearing God’s Word with obeying it. 

Many of us are excellent listeners. We are consistent at attending worship. We regularly read Scripture, and recognize many familiar passages. Some of us have favorite Bible-related podcasts and programs we listen to often. But James warns that it is possible to do all of that and still deceive ourselves.

Thirty Pieces of Silver - Zechariah 11:12

Zechariah 11:12

“I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’  So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.”

Some numbers in the Bible feel meaningful right away. Seven shows up everywhere. Twelve feels important. Forty usually means someone is about to have a long, uncomfortable season.

But thirty pieces of silver? That one just feels… well, uncomfortable.

A Simple Guide to the S.O.A.P. Method of Bible Study

Scripture  |  Observation  |  Application  |  Prayer

If you’re new to Bible study and wondering where to begin, the S.O.A.P. method is one of the simplest—and most meaningful—ways to slow down, listen to God’s Word, and let it shape your daily life. It turns reading into reflection, and reflection into growth.

The name comes from four steps:  Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Think of it as a gentle rhythm that helps you hear, understand, and live out what God is saying.

What God Wants - Not What I Prefer - Acts 2:47

Acts 2:47

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

In a world where nearly everything revolves around personal preference, it feels natural to approach church the same way we approach restaurants, stores, or entertainment. We form a list of what we want:  good music, friendly people, engaging preaching, strong programs, or convenience. None of those things are bad in themselves — yet when they become the basis for choosing a church, we may be thinking more like consumers than disciples.

The Greatest Commandments - Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 22:34-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

When the Pharisees gathered around Jesus in Matthew 22:34–40, one of them—a lawyer—asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” His question was an innocent question. He and they others were testing Jesus, hoping to trap Him with His own words. But Jesus’ answer didn’t just silence their debate—it cut straight to the heart of what it means to follow God.

Jesus simply replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In just a few short sentences, Jesus had summarized the entire Old Testament.

What Paul Saw on the Road - Acts 9:1-4

Acts 9:1-4

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

One of the stories that always amazes me in Scripture is Paul’s conversion. Paul was then known as Saul of Tarsus, the man who once hated Christians. He was stopped in his tracks by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. In that blinding light, his physical eyes were closed, but his spiritual eyes were opened. What Paul came to see in those days of blindness can still teach us something about following Jesus today.

Nicodemus: From Darkness to Light - John 3:1-3

John 3:1-3
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

Nicodemus is one of those fascinating figures we read of in the Gospel of John. He wasn’t a fisherman, tax collector, or ordinary person like many of Jesus’ other followers. He was a Pharisee—a respected religious teacher, an expert in Scripture, and a member of the Jewish ruling council. In other words, Nicodemus was the kind of man people looked up to for answers.

And yet, when we read of him coming to Jesus in John 3, he came at night. It is possible he didn’t want his colleagues to see him. Maybe he was afraid of what others would think. Or he simply wanted a private conversation with the teacher who was performing all of the miracles he was hearing about. Whatever the reason, John makes it clear that Nicodemus came to Jesus “in the dark.”