teaching, thoughts, devotions & reflections
Last week we looked at Colossians 1:3-8 and came to a place of understanding how grace and truth coincide in the Christian life. Today we will look at how that grace and truth bring about growth in our lives. Colossians 1:9-14 ESV “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray... Continue Reading →
Over the last several years it seems like we have seen more and more stories of people losing their faith. I've read various statistics about the vast majority of kids who leave the youth group lose their faith while they are in college. There are various reasons why people say this is. Most of us... Continue Reading →
"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." Matthew 23:11 NKJV Government officials and pastors alike are servants. Yet oftentimes government officials act as if we are their subjects and pastors can fall into a mindset of thinking the congregation is there to fulfill his vision for the church. Yet both offices... Continue Reading →
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy," Psalm 107:2 NKJV Redemption is a beautiful thing. We are undeserving, yet, God sent His son to die on the cross to atone for our sins that we would be forgiven and spend eternity with Him. Titus... Continue Reading →
This morning I began thinking about the Church. Where we seem to be and what we seem to be focused on. In many circles there's talk of revival, which I think is great, except we're looking for the wrong kind of revival. We need a revival of the preached Word. Instead in many churches we're... Continue Reading →
Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders... Continue Reading →
John 14:6 NKJV "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" John 17:17 NKJV "Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." In a day when truth is subjective, even in the church, we must personally turn back to our... Continue Reading →
It's getting close to the new year and that means many of us are thinking about reading through the Bible. Some have attempted it before and didn't make it through and others are doing it again. There is no magic formula or perfect plan to guarantee that you will make it all the way through... Continue Reading →
Have you ever subscribed to a reading plan on your Bible app and not finished it? Do you ever get frustrated reading the Old Testament and end up putting your Bible down? Do you skip Leviticus every year? Does the thought of reading the entire Bible overwhelm you? Do you find yourself not wanting to... Continue Reading →
Now and then, we need to take inventory of our spiritual lives. We need to evaluate if what we believe is in line with what Scripture teaches. I know that sounds strange but let's look at two Scripture passages to see how we as Christians could fall into error. The first passage we will look... Continue Reading →
Go into all the world and preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations; these are probably some of the most familiar words to the Christian’s ears. We know these words under the banner of the great commission found in Matthew twenty-eight. We know these words, we hear these words preached, but what about... Continue Reading →
The Lord has been talking to me about my desire and my prayer for this generation and the next for the last few weeks. I have said the last several years that I am a person about revival; I want to pastor a people of revival. The Lord began to speak to me and say,... Continue Reading →
I’m sitting in a coffee shop with a mocha and water, staring at this screen with my heart full about what I want to write today, but I cannot come up with a good opening to capture your attention. I’ve been a Charismatic Christian all my life. I believe God still speaks, in healing, prophecy,... Continue Reading →
It’s a funny thing being a Christian. You get saved, and you start this journey of living like Jesus. The Bible calls this being a disciple, but it seems as time goes on, we tend to forget Jesus. I know we would say that’s not true, but if we’re honest at one time or another,... Continue Reading →
One of the most amazing Bible passages to me is John 1:1-5, 14. The Wuest Expanded Translation puts things into a new perspective. “In the beginning the Word was existing. And the Word was in fellowship with God the Father. And the Word as to his existence was absolute deity. This Word was in the... Continue Reading →
Casey D. Bell 