Long-term gain can be short-circuited when investors go for short-term, fast profits. The same is true in life. Going for immediate pleasures can ruin the potential to enjoy the overwhelming pleasure…

A lot of people think the Bible says: “God helps those who help themselves.” It doesn’t. When it comes to salvation, here’s what God really says: we cannot help ourselves. Onl…

The Bible says that all our righteous deeds are as filthy rags. Only God’s righteousness opens heaven’s doors. That’s why we’re deceived if we believe that “God helps th…

After a long period of nation-wide disobedience, God judged Israel by allowing Babylon to carry them off into captivity. They became a minority in a pagan land, just as Christians are fast becoming a…

Every day, government pressure mounts on the Christian faith. How should believers respond? We can look to a similar time of hardship long ago for guidance. The place was Babylon, and the minority Je…

Confusion about gender identity is frequently in the news, as is the ongoing controversy over illegal immigration. How should the church face issues like transgenderism and refugees entering the coun…

What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? In our day the issue is clouded because a number of false gospels are preached in many of our churches. We need to be aware of five false teachings confusing many …

The parables of Jesus used real-life situations to teach spiritual truth. His hearers understood His illustrations of farmers, servants, prodigal sons, and vineyards. In this message we discover the …

When the seed of the Gospel is sown, it lands on many different soils. Some soil is receptive, but other soil will not allow the seed to grow. In Mark 4, we discover that although some will ignore th…

For some, prayer is a mystery. They wonder if God really listens. Jesus left us a pattern for prayer, an outline of how we are to approach God. In this message we sit with the disciples and learn fro…

In a parable of Jesus, we learn how God the Father is eager to answer the cries of His children. He said, “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find.” In this message from L…

When you’re wronged, you may become resentful and bitter. That’s why Jesus spoke on the vital importance of forgiveness. In a famous parable, He outlined the key principles to guide us as…

In Matthew 18, Jesus gave a dire warning to those who refuse to forgive other people. But what does it mean when it says God will not forgive us if we fail to forgive others? Work through this crucia…

How should parents react when a child goes their own way, knowing the sorrow that their child will face? Through the parable of the Prodigal Son, we learn deep truths about prodigal children. At the …

The story of the Prodigal Son is really the story of two prodigals. One left in rebellion, the other stayed in rebellion. Let’s look again into a famous parable of Jesus that shows how the Fath…

In a parable, Jesus taught His disciples how rewards are handed out in the kingdom of God. What He taught seems quite unfair. In this message we look beneath the surface of Jesus’ words for lif…

We don’t always know why, but God chooses to give some of His children more than others—more abilities, more money, and better health. When we realize that the Giver is the one who distri…

Few people these days take seriously the idea of evil spirits inhabiting people. But demons are very real. Jesus drove demons out of many, setting them free from destruction and bondage. There is a s…

Jesus taught using parables, or stories. He spoke of a strong man who can’t be defeated, except by a stronger man. In Luke chapter 11, we learn that we can’t overcome evil alone, for we c…

How we handle the small tasks of today is vitally important. It affects whether we’re given a larger task to perform—and enjoy the rewards that go with it. In Luke 19, Jesus taught about …

A master gave three servants money to invest. Jesus said that two of them made substantial returns and were rewarded. The third hid his money in a piece of cloth and felt the wrath of his master. Thi…

Jesus told a parable about a man hosting a banquet. When the invited guests gave excuses and refused to attend, the host invited anyone he could find to sit at his table. God seeks the lost just like…

In Luke 14, Jesus told a story of a lavish banquet. The invited guests all had other things to do, so the man giving the banquet brought in the poor and the crippled—those who would never expec…