"If You Really Had Repented…"
If you had really repented, you wouldn’t have done it again” is a refrain many tormented souls have heard from…
"In Jesus’ Name": Reflections on Why Our Prayers Matter
I’ve spent most of my life ending my prayers with, “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” It was what I was taught, and…
"People, I Just Want to Say, You Know, Can’t We All Get Along?"
Rodney King, whose 1991 videotaped beating at the hands of Los Angeles police officers gained national attention, uttered those words…
1 Corinthians 12 – Exegetical Notes
Features of the literary structure Paul writes, I don’t want you to be ignorant about the spiritual things (v.1). This…
1 Corinthians 13 – The Most Excellent Way
The church in first-century Corinth was plagued with social divisions and rivalries. Paul explained to them that God gives different…
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 – The Resurrection
Dan Rogers: Good morning everyone. Good to see you here once again and as usual, it’s time now in our…
1 Peter 1 – Real Wealth Lasts Forever
The apostle Peter wrote a letter to several churches in areas that are now part of Turkey. He greets them…
1 Peter 2 – Special Roles for Special People
Peter has just reminded his readers that humans have only a fleeting glory, but “the word of the Lord stands…
1 Peter 3 – Setting a Good Example
In chapter 2 Peter advised readers to have such good behavior that unbelievers will have nothing bad to say about…
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 – Paul’s Prayer for the Thessalonians
Paul thanks God for their continuing faithfulness: “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the…
1,900 Years of Revelation
The mark of the beast. Armageddon. The Four Horsemen. 666. Babylon the great. The seven last plagues. The bottomless pit….
2 Peter 1 – Plan for Spiritual Success
The second letter of Peter is written “to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ…
21st-Century Bystander
For the last several years, I’ve written about bystanders whose lives were touched by Jesus as he walked the face…
40 Days of Discipleship: A Self-Paced Doctrinal Instruction Plan
We recommend that church leaders pursue formal education that gives both breadth and depth.[1] However, formal education is not practical…
40 Days of Discipleship: The Second 40 Days
This is the second collection in our series for church leaders who want to deepen their theological education with free…
40 Days of Discipleship: The Third 40 Days
This is the third volume in our series for church leaders who want to continue their theological education with free…
A Balanced Approach to Bible Prophecy
Many Christians need an overview of prophecy, to put prophecy into perspective. That is because many Christians overemphasize prophecy and…
A Better Way to Rest
Let’s summarize what we have seen about the Sabbath: The Bible does not say the Sabbath was commanded at creation….
A Biblical View of the Spirit World
The spirit world is widely discussed in secular as well as religious circles. However, it is important to remember that…
A Brief Guide to Better Bible Study
I. Introduction A. What does it mean to aim for “better” Bible study? Not a bigger quantity, but better in…
A Brief History of Grace Communion International
Jesus Christ changes lives. He can change an organization, too. This is the story of how the Lord changed our…
A Brief Introduction to Grace Communion International
Who we are Grace Communion International began with a radio and magazine ministry in the early 1930s. With sincerity and…
A Budget That Works
Like it or not, money is an important part of our lives. You’ve heard the cliché, “Money can’t buy happiness.”…
A Call for Tolerance on Christmas
In Luke 2:10-11, an angel of God describes the birth of Jesus as “good tidings of great joy for all the…
A Call for Tolerance on Easter
Christians should remember Christ’s resurrection, just as we remember his death. The two go together. The New Testament does not…
A Call to Live the Future Here and Now
Chapter 2 of The Gospel: Your Invitation to the Kingdom Some people can get quite excited about Bible prophecy, it seems,…
A Case of Mistaken Identity
We used to think that we were the only true church on earth. We understood the Bible in a way…
A Chart of Israelite Annual Festivals
Festival Date Origin Rituals Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread Leviticus 23:4-8 14th day of the first month, Nisan…
A Child of an Alcoholic Speaks Out!
How a childhood marred by alcoholism was overcome. My mother was 21 and not married when I was conceived. She…
A Christian Council About Old Testament Laws
Acts 15 describes the most important meeting the early church had. The future of the church was at stake —…
A Church Reborn
During the past 10 years, the Holy Spirit has blessed us with unprecedented growth in doctrinal understanding and in sensitivity…
A Closer Look
Here’s why each Christian needs the church — and why the church needs each Christian. Grace Communion International reflects its…
A Closer Look at the Crucifixion
Today, some methods of execution, such as electrocution, are called “cruel and unusual punishment.” No execution mode ever fit that definition…
A Command Paul Did Not Obey (1 Corinthians 9:1-15)
In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul deals with a number of questions the Corinthian Christians had. Some…
A Covenant of Forgiveness
How do you forgive someone and go on with your life? It is not easy, is it? Some cultures have…
A Cup of Cold Water
As she hurried toward her car, focused on her errand from the law firm she worked for, she couldn’t help…
A Death in Jerusalem
On a spring day in Jerusalem, a man named Jesus was tortured and executed by the Roman government. But after…
A Few Examples of Obsolete Laws
1. Were the old covenant sacrifices and rituals a “shadow” of better things? Hebrews 10:1. Were these symbolic rituals spiritually…
A Few Points to Consider About Worship Days
Can we remain together when we observe different sets of worship days? If Christ is in us, we can. This…
A Fool for Christ
In my back yard I have a garden statue of St. Francis. I thought he would be right at home…
A Generous Orthodoxy
A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren Reviewed by Fraser Henderson The word orthodoxy raises either hopes or disparaging mutters in…
A Glimpse of the Journey
The remarkable transformation of the Worldwide Church of God [now named Grace Communion International] never fails to amaze us. Recognizing…
A God of Chaos?
Do you ever feel you’re in a chaotic mess? I’m spending much of my time either trying to avoid chaos…
A Good Way to Go
Chad and I cling to each other in the roaring rip tide of the Persian Gulf. We can feel the…
A Harmony of the Conversion and Commission of Paul
Acts 9:1-30; 22:3-21; 26:9-20, NIV Saul in Jerusalem 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out…
A High Priest Who Can Sympathize (Hebrews 4:12-16)
The author of Hebrews exhorts the readers to respond to Jesus. Why should we be so careful to respond? “For…
A High School Reunion Story
I recently had the good pleasure of attending my 30-year high school reunion. It was better than the 10th and…
A Hunger for God
Woody Allen is not only a comedian, but also sometimes a philosopher with serious observations about life. As a movie…
A Lesson From Laundry
Laundry is one of those things you know you have to do, unless you can get someone else to do…
A Lesson in Humility
A mark of maturity is the ability to admit your mistakes and grow from them. When we are young, the…
A Letter from Death Row
This frank and moving letter confirms the timeless wisdom of Proverbs 1:10-19. As the Living Bible, a paraphrased version, says:…
A Life of Generosity
We live in financially uncertain times. The stock market is bouncing up and down, several banks have been consolidated, it’s…
A Living Letter of Recommendation (2 Corinthians 3:1-6)
Paul begins this chapter by pointing out that he, the apostle Christ used to begin the Corinthian church, did not…
A Matter of Perspective
This is the worst day ever!” my sleepy preschooler said. “My oatmeal is too hot.” “Just blow on it while…
A Message the World Forgot
Forty years ago, two men landed on the moon. One of them spoke unforgettable words. The other did something equally…
A Miracle in Torn Blue Jeans
By Michael Houghton My wife and I moved to the Great Lakes area of the Mid-West eight years ago to…
A Model for All Believers (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)
After a short ministry in Thessalonica, Paul was forced to leave (Acts 17:1-10). Probably less than a year later, Paul…
A Mother’s Love
Frederick W. Robertson, a 19th-century English preacher, gave a memorable sermon titled “Isaac Blessing His Sons.” Robertson read Rebekah’s words…
A Mountain of Joy (Hebrews 12:18-29)
After exhorting readers to continue in the Christian faith, Hebrews gives further encouragement by painting a picture of the choice…
A Mystery Revealed
In reading this … you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not…