The Holy Spirit must give understanding of the Scriptures. Although the parables made it easier for Jesus’ disciples to remember His Word, they didn’t help those who had already rejected it.

The Holy Spirit must give understanding of the Scriptures. Although the parables made it easier for Jesus’ disciples to remember His Word, they didn’t help those who had already rejected it.

BibleGateway: Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35 ESV Text: Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35 Matthew 13:10–17 (Listen) The Purpose of the Parables 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one…

Read More Read More

The Word of God is powerful and active, but when people reject it they lose out on its benefits. Blessed are those who receive it with joy.

The Word of God is powerful and active, but when people reject it they lose out on its benefits. Blessed are those who receive it with joy.

BibleGateway: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 ESV Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Matthew 13:1–9 (Listen) The Parable of the Sower 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path,…

Read More Read More

At the end of his life, Samson again turns to the Lord for help and strength. May we all be looking to the Lord in our last moments too!

At the end of his life, Samson again turns to the Lord for help and strength. May we all be looking to the Lord in our last moments too!

BibleGateway: Judges 16:21-31 ESV Text: Judges 16:21-31 Judges 16:21–31 (Listen) 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. The Death of Samson 23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and…

Read More Read More

Again Samson is gets into trouble by falling in love with a heathen woman. It reminds us how important it is for men to have women who fear the Lord.

Again Samson is gets into trouble by falling in love with a heathen woman. It reminds us how important it is for men to have women who fear the Lord.

BibleGateway: Judges 16:1-20 ESV Text: Judges 16:1-20 Judges 16:1–20 (Listen) Samson and Delilah 16:1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till…

Read More Read More

The Philistines do wrong against Samson and he turns against them. For 20 years Samson served as a judge in Israel.

The Philistines do wrong against Samson and he turns against them. For 20 years Samson served as a judge in Israel.

BibleGateway: Judges 15:1-20 ESV Text: Judges 15:1-20 Judges 15 (Listen) Samson Defeats the Philistines 15:1 After some days, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat. And he said, “I will go in to my wife in the chamber.” But her father would not allow him to go in. 2 And her father said, “I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister…

Read More Read More

Who are those whose light shines into the world? Those who hear the word of the apostles and prophets.

Who are those whose light shines into the world? Those who hear the word of the apostles and prophets.

BibleGateway: Luke 11:33-54 ESV Text: Luke 11:33-54 Luke 11:33–54 (Listen) The Light in You 33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in…

Read More Read More

Jesus’ words are wiser than Solomon’s and greater than Jonah’s, so let’s pay attention to them. Those who treasure Jesus’ words are happy!

Jesus’ words are wiser than Solomon’s and greater than Jonah’s, so let’s pay attention to them. Those who treasure Jesus’ words are happy!

BibleGateway: Luke 11:27-32 ESV Text: Luke 11:27-32 Luke 11:27–32 (Listen) True Blessedness 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” The Sign of Jonah 29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks…

Read More Read More

Jesus certainly can’t be in league with Satan or under Satan’s control if He is able to drive out demons.

Jesus certainly can’t be in league with Satan or under Satan’s control if He is able to drive out demons.

BibleGateway: Luke 11:14-26 ESV Text: Luke 11:14-26 Luke 11:14–26 (Listen) Jesus and Beelzebul 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid…

Read More Read More

How can we not be encouraged to pray? Jesus shows us what sorts of things we can talk to God about and assures us that He will answer us.

How can we not be encouraged to pray? Jesus shows us what sorts of things we can talk to God about and assures us that He will answer us.

BibleGateway: Luke 11:1-13 ESV Text: Luke 11:1-13 Luke 11:1–13 (Listen) The Lord’s Prayer 11:1 Now Jesus1 was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:   “Father, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come.3   Give us each day our daily bread,24   and forgive us our sins,    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And lead us not…

Read More Read More

Samson loses his wife and political tension increases between the Philistines and the Israelites. God will use these circumstances to bring judgment on the Philistines.

Samson loses his wife and political tension increases between the Philistines and the Israelites. God will use these circumstances to bring judgment on the Philistines.

BibleGateway: Judges 14:12-15:8 ESV Text: Judges 14:12-15:8 Judges 14:12–15:8 (Listen) 12 And Samson said to them, “Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, 13 but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.” And they said…

Read More Read More