Tag: world

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Digging Deeper: Not Conformed

This week we are digging deeper into our memory verse – Romans 12:2

Each day will will focus on just one part of the verse. As we are digging deeper, begin with praying that the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom, to open your ears to hear Him speak to you, and to soften your heart so you can apply what He reveals to you.

The verse says:

Make it personal

Begin by reading the verse again but personalize it as Paul is writing to you:

[YOUR NAME], do not be conformed to this world, but [YOUR NAME] be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Today we digging deeper into the first phrase: Do not be conformed to this world. We will discover three ways we can keep ourselves from conforming to this world.

Digging deeper: Know the terms

The word conform means that we will comply with the rules, standards, or laws in our world. That is conforming in a positive way. God expects us to obey the laws of our land, unless they go against His laws. God’s laws will always supersede any law man makes. The word can also mean, “behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards”. This is the conforming we should not do.

Remember when you mother used to say, “And if everyone else jumps off the bridge, will you jump with them”? If you did, you would be conforming to what everyone is doing, even if it is wrong. You would be conforming, even if it cost you your life. Most of us would agree we would not jump off a bridge just because everyone else is doing it. But what about sex before marriage? Or what about homosexual marriage? What about alcohol, smoking, or abusing drugs? What about the way we dress or talk? How about the way we use technology? And how about the way we view other people?

Digging Deeper: Set apart

As Christians, we have been set apart from the world. You can’t be “Set apart from” and “conforming to” at the same time. God doesn’t want us to look like, smell like, act like, and talk like the world. Instead, He wants us to bear His image. God wants us to look like Him, smell like Him, act like Him, and talk like Him.

Both of my children look enough like me that you would know they belong to me. However, my daughter is a mini version of me. I have photos of us side by side at the same age and the only way those photos give away which one is me is the style of clothes. As a child of God, we should look so much like him that if you put your photo next to Him it would be hard to tell the two apart. We should be continually transforming into the glory of God. So how do we keep ourselves from conforming to the world while living in the world?

Digging deeper: Three ways to not conform to the world

We are a new creation

As a child of God, we became a new creation the moment we accepted Christ as our Savior. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Before we were a Christian, we were ruled by the things of this world. And the ruler of this world is Satan. Jesus told us in John 8:44 who our father is when we conform to the world. “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” So before salvation, our spiritual Father is Satan.

As a child of God, we are now heirs with Christ and we are ruled by our Heavenly Father, God. That makes us different than the world. We no longer “fit in” because we have been “set apart” from the world.

Set apart for a reason

God set us apart from the world for a reason. He expects us to be Light bearers. Since the Light of the World lives in us, we should shine His light into the darkness of the world. We should serves as a beacon to draw others to Him. But if we keep His Light hidden and we chose to live as the world, then the world sees nothing different about us. So if we are not going to conform to this world, we need to remember that we are a new creation in Christ. We no longer fit in with the world. Instead, we are set apart as heirs with Christ and bear His Light throughout the world.

Feast on the Word of God

There is a reason Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life. Bread was a staple in the diets of Bible day people. It filled them up and kept them from feeling hungry. It gave them physical life. Jesus gives us eternal life but He also keeps our spiritual selves satisfied and filled. If we are not going to feel hungry, we have to keep feeding ourselves. The same is true for our spiritual selves. In John 6, Jesus said, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world”. 

Are you still filling up on milk or are you enjoying solid food?

In Hebrews 5:12, Paul told the Christians, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food”. We learn the basic principles by reading and studying God’s Word, meditating on it, asking the Holy Spirit how we need to apply it, and then being obedient and living it out. The only way to fill ourselves spiritually so that we are not spiritually starving is to feast on the Word of God. If we are not filling up with His Word, we will turn to the world and fill up on the things of this world.

If you are like me when the big family and holiday dinners come around, you look eagerly at the desserts and plan which ones you’ll sample. But after you eat the meal and your belly is full, the desserts don’t have quite as much appeal. They are less of a temptation as then did were before you filled up on the healthier items. The same is true with spiritual hunger. If we fill up on the Word of God the temptations of the world don’t hold the same appeal. So feat on the Word of God to keep form conforming to the world.

Just say, “No!” – it doesn’t really work

Some years ago an anti-drug campaign ran the slogan of “Just say no”. It makes it sound quite simple, doesn’t it? We could run the same campaign for anti-world-conforming. But it isn’t always easy to “just say no.” Why? Satan studies us. He knows us well. He knows what tempts us and what doesn’t. He’s not going to tempt us with things that we’ll easily say no to. He tempts us with the salted-caramel cheesecake (or whatever you’re likely to say yes to). If you know there is an area of temptation that you struggle with, it can be a good idea to avoid it all together. Maybe that means you have to go a few miles out of the way so you don’t pass the bakery on the way home. However, if what tempts you isn’t available easily, then it holds less power.

Make an exchange

Just saying no also doesn’t work when saying no to what tempts you isn’t replaced with saying yes to something that honors God. If you want to avoid conforming to this world, you have to replace the world’s way of life with God’s way of life. Removing something from our life creates a hole where that something used to be. So we have to fill that hole in with something else and that something should honor God. So I have to exchange my worldly habits with Godly disciplines of prayer, Bible study, fasting, fellowship with other believers, listening to sermons, witnessing, loving others the way God loves them (including our enemies), and being salt and light to the world.

Resisting temptation to conform requires God’s strength and power

Just saying no sounds like a good idea but when we are saying no under our own strength and power, we’re likely to fail every time. But when we ask God to give us his strength and power, we are more likely to be victorious. Jesus understood this. When he was tempted, he defeated the temptations by quoting scripture. This is why it is so important to study and memorize God’s Word. It is the power we need to avoid conforming to the world.

Digging Deeper: World conforming vs. God conforming

Conforming to the world is so much easier than conforming to God. Why? Because we are born in sin. Our natural tendencies are to live like the world because Satan is our Father until we surrender our lives to Christ. Then God adopts us into His family and we have to then do what doesn’t come natural to us.

All of us want to fit in. We don’t really like sticking out in the crowd. We don’t like being made fun of or talked about. But when you stick out, that exactly what tends to happen. But as Jesus hung on the cross suspended between earth and heaven, He stuck out of the crowd for us even to the point of death. God calls us to be set apart for His service and the world that is lost and dying without Him is depending us not conforming to their way of life, but to bring the Light of the World and the Bread of Life to their spiritually starving souls.

NEW! Now you can download a free printable pdf file for this week’s memory verse which will print four copies on a page that you can cut apart and place in prominent places (such as your bathroom mirror, the visor in your car, at your work station, and on your refrigerator) to help you memorize the verse. Get the download here:

[Download not found]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.- Romans 12:2 

#memoryverse #notconformed #transformed #renew #Romans12:2 #WCM

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Christianbook Distributors logo
Everything Christian for less!

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search:
Christianbook.com

Here’s what’s new in the shop this week:

Here are some of our favorite designs

  • Way Maker
  • Walk by Faith
  • Script Unstoppable God
  • Print Unstoppable God
  • Unstoppable Force
  • Steps of a Good Man
  • I Can Do All Things
  • Something New
  • Seek and Find
  • Revive Us Again
  • Resist the Devil
  • Raise a Hallelujah
  • Path of His Commands
  • Prayer Warrior
  • Mustard Seed
  • Mr and Mrs – Beloved
  • Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan
  • Man of God
  • No Probllama
  • He Left 99 for Me
  • Cast All Your Cares
  • Giants
  • Faith over Fear
  • Faith Can Move Mountains
  • Don’t Worry
  • Don’t Quit
  • Created to Praise
  • All things are Possible
  • What the Lord Requires
  • Gnomavirus
  • Stay at Home
  • Yo’ Dude! Don’t catch corona!
  • All Things New
  • Anything is possible
  • Joy of the Lord
  • With my song I will praise Him
  • Face Masks now available!

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on
  • Conversation Starters
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
  • Romance Builders
  • Relationship Builders
  • Personal reflections
  • Date ideas
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

Westbow logo
Christian book logo
amazon logo
Barnes and Nobel logo
walmart logo


 Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 
Follow us on:

facebook logo link on Bible reading post
LinkedIn logo link on Bible reading post
Twitter logo link on Bible reading post
Instagram logo link on Bible reading post
Pintrest logo link on Bible reading post
YouTub logo link on Bible reading post

Posted on by — 3 Comments

John 17:9. Jesus Prays for You

Have you ever had a moment when you wished someone were praying for you? Maybe you even sent a prayer to God to lay your name on someone’s heart and mind and so they would pray for you right then in that moment. Have you ever experienced a moment when a person came across your mind in such a way that you were compelled to pray for them. Here in John 17, we find a time when Jesus prays for his disciples and for us. As each second of time bring him closer to the cross, you were on his mind and He stopped to pray for you.

In John 17, we find Jesus on the way to the garden of Gethsemane where He will be betrayed and arrested. Before Jesus crossed the brook Kidron, He feels compelled to stop and pray. There are only 9 recorded prayers of Jesus in the Bible. Of the other 8, when you combine all 8 they consist of no more than 150 words. But this prayer here in John 17 consists of almost 400 words. Who did he pray for and what was so important that it stopped Him on the way to garden to pray right then. I mean, He was going to the garden to pray, so why not just wait until He got there?

Who did Jesus stop to pray for?

Jesus knew what he would face in the coming hours. The mock trial, the ridicule, the beatings, the scourging, the crown of thorns, and the cross. But the recorded prayer here that consists of more words the the other eight prayers combined isn’t about Himself and what He is about to face. He starts the prayer asking His Father to give His Son the glory He deserved. He also tells the Father that He has completed tasks given to Him and the time has come for Him to become the sacrifice for our sins. But then, from verse 6 through the end of the chapter, He prays for “those whom You [God] gave me.”

He prayed for His disciples

Jesus begins praying for His disciples. He knew days ahead would be difficult for them. He knew they would be confused. Jesus was aware they would feel grief over His death. And He knew most of them would end up being martyred for their belief in Him. These were the 11 men tasked to spread the gospel message throughout the world. And so Jesus prays for them.

He prayed for every person who confesses Him as Savior

Then in verse 20, Jesus prays for every single person down through time who believes in Him and confesses Him as Savior. He says, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Let’s look at what Jesus felt was so important to stop on His way to the cross to pray for you and me.

What did Jesus pray for?

He prayed for our protection:

In Verses 11-12 Jesus prayed, “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” When Jesus prayed, “keep them in your name,” He was saying, “keep your eye on them. Guard them. Protect them. Jesus had protected them while He was there, but His time was nearing to return to heaven and He would not be physically with the disciples any longer. So He entrusted them to His Father’s protection.

Jesus prayed for our sanctification.

In versus 16-17 Jesus prayed, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” To “sanctify” something is to set it apart for special use; to “sanctify” a person is to make him holy. In verse 19, He says, “And for their sakes, I sancitfy Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” The truth refers to Jesus and who He is – the only Son of God. The Redeemer. The Sacrificial Lamb. The Savior of the World. It is the truth of Jesus that sets us free and it is through the truth of Jesus that we are set apart for God’s use. It is through the truth of Jesus that we are made holy.

Jesus prayed for our mission.

In verse 18, Jesus prayed, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” Jesus endure the agony and torture of the cross just to give us a “Get out of Hell” pass. We are not supposed to just sit back and enjoy of God’s blessings in a care-free world. Even once we are in heaven, we don’t just sit around. God has a mission for each one of us and He has gifted us with exactly what we need to be able to carry out that mission. We commonly call that mission the “Great Commission.” We are to go and tell everyone about Jesus and what He did for us and about His love for us.

Your God-given mission is vital to the health of your church

But how you specifically play your role in the mission will look different from anyone else. Just as you are uniquely and wonderfully made, so you are uniquely and wonderfully gifted. You are not meant to warm a seat at church. You were made to serve within the body of Christ. If you’re not serving, you should be. If you’re not serving, your church body is limping along. You were specifically placed within your church because the gifts and talents you have are exactly what’s needed for your church to carry out the mission God has for it. For your church to be a healthy, thriving, growing church, every Christian must be actively utilizing the gifts they were given.

Your God-given mission often ties to areas you enjoy and are good at

Your mission may not be a missionary, pastor or small group leader. It might look more like a parking lot attendant or the person that refills the pockets on the seat backs for the next service. If you don’t know where to serve, start by asking yourself what are you good at and what do you enjoy doing? Often these will clue you in to how God wants to use you within your church.

Maybe you’re good at fishing and you have a burden for teen boys being raised by single moms. Your mission may look like volunteering to mentor those teen boys and take them out fishing for a day and just showing them how to be men.

Maybe you’re a senior adult, retired school teacher and you loved teaching. As you go to choir practice you hear a young mom talking about her preteen daughter struggling in history class — and history was what you taught and when you were teaching you taught her grade level. Your mission may be to volunteer to tutor that pre-teen girl as you love her like Christ and eventually lead her to Christ as you model Christ to her each time you are with her.

You see, we are often already gifted with exactly what we need for the mission God has for us. And your mission has been covered in the prayer of Jesus.

Jesus prayed for our unity

With recent events surrounding George Floyd, do you wonder as Jesus prayed that he was looking down through time to this moment and prayed for the discord, violence, and hatred that we see in our world today? Do you wonder if when Jesus instructed us to love our neighbors as ourselves that he saw Mr. Floyd take his last breath? Or did He see all the other people who would die throughout all of time because of prejudices – whether it racial, gender, religious, economic, social, or any other kind of prejudice?

Satan’s Goal: Stir up Disunity Everywhere

Jesus knew that as long as Satan is in the world, He would stir up strife, envy, hatred, and anger. Satan loves nothing more than to get a body of believers to argue among themselves. You see, when we, as followers of Christ, can’t get along with one another, then our testimony for Christ is destroyed. If you are person who constantly disagrees and causes dissension in the church, then you are allowing Satan to use you to accomplish his mission. And if we are more concerned with the color of the carpets than souls going to hell, then we need to examine our hearts and rediscover the mission of the church. And so Jesus prayed for our unity.

In verse 11 Jesus prayed: Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE.”

And in verses 20-23, he said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

No Perfect Church

The world is always watching us. The question is does the world know by watching you that God sent Jesus and that Jesus loves them as God loves His Son?

There are no perfect churches because churches are filled with broken people

The simple fact is we live in a broken world full of broken people and we are all broken because of sin. Therefore there are no perfect churches. Every church is filled with people who are broken – people just like you and me. Satan loves to stir up trouble within the body of believers. And He will do so every opportunity he gets.

There are no perfect churches because we all have different backgrounds and experiences

There is another reason there are no perfect churches. Each one of us have had different experiences in life, different traditions handed down, and different options and attitudes. Our life experiences shape and define how we interpret and view the world around us. Through our life experiences, we tend to make assumptions or unintentionally misunderstand someone else’s motives or feelings. We have all experienced a time when someone hurt our feelings or disappointed us in some way. All these things can stir up disunity.

There are no perfect churches because we see it as “my church” rather than Christ’s church.

Think for a moment about when you and a friend are talking about the two churches you attend. Most likely refer to the church you attend as “my church.” As a member of the body of believes that fellowship at that location, we take on ownership of the church. And we can be quiet stubborn and selfish when things don’t go the way we want them to. Churches have split over the color of the carpets, where the piano should be on the stage, whether to sing praise songs or old hymns. Wherever Satan can cause division – he will. But we must remember that the church doesn’t belong to us. It is Christ’s church. He bought and paid for it with His own blood. The church either looses its testimony or it will close its doors whenever we allow Satan to breed disunity and strife within the body of Christ.

Christ’s Goal: That The World May Believe That You Sent Me

Disunity is important to the cause of Satan. However, unity is important to the cause of Christ. In verses 21 and 23, we find why unity in the body of believers is so important. Both of these verses tell us unity is important because then the world will believe that God sent Jesus.

Jesus stressed the purpose for our harmony in vs. 21. There He prayed “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME.” When we are unified, the world sees how much God loves them. They learn the Jesus died for them and paid the price and punishment for their sins. They learn that Jesus rose again and that He wants no one to perish but that all will be saved. The world will believe that God send Jesus – and that is the gospel message.

When we live together in unity, loving each other as Christ has loved us (John 13:34-35), they will know that we are a disciple of Christ. If a lost person walked in to your church this Sunday and it is the only time ever they hear about Jesus, what will he or she learn about Jesus by observing and attending your church? How many people will not make it to heaven because they came to your church and there was no unity?

#Jesuspraysforus #unity #sanctification #protection #mission

Do you have a daily Bible Reading plan?

If not, come join us as we read the Bible through in one year. Each day we post the scripture reading along with links to read it online.

Click here for our one-year Bible Reading Plan

Have you learned this week’s memory verse?

2 Chronicles 20;12

“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Do you serve in ministry? Great! The self-care blogs are here for you.

In this series of blogs, we breakdown why people in ministry need to practice self care. We explain the differences between stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Drawing from both psychology and Biblical principles, we teach self-care to keep ministry servants living out God’s call as a missionary, small group leader, worship pastor, nursery worker, facility/maintenance staff, religious non-profit staff, or any other ministry staff, volunteer, or lay-leader. Regardless of the ministry service God called you to, self-care is crucial to continue the work God’s called you to do.

If you can relate to this, then take some time to read our self care blogs.

Click to find the Self-Care Blog Series

Test your Bible smarts and see if you can answer our trivia questions. We post a trivia question every other day and the correct answer on the next day. Stop by the trivia page and grab a question or two and see if your friends and family can answer it.

Click here to get to the trivia

You can check out our Christian t-shirts for men, women, kids and infants in our Teespring and Spreadshop stores. Also available on mugs, bags, aprons, hats, and more. We also have some Christian themed canvas art available at Teespring. Browse the stores with the links below:

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on
  • Conversation Starters
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
  • Romance Builders
  • Relationship Builders
  • Personal reflections
  • Date ideas
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

Westbow logo
Christian book logo
amazon logo
Barnes and Nobel logo
walmart logo


 Join the community of couples on Facebook who are intentionally growing their marriage and discover together how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.

speaker info featured image

Need a speaker for your next church or ministry event? We’re booking!

(Due to COVID-19, we are only tentatively booking speaking engagements for events after September 2020 based on the recommendations as issued by the CDC and our government officials.)

We are eager to be a part of your next church or ministry event – regardless of size. We can bring one of our ministry programs to your church, or we can tailor a message to your event theme. To request more information or schedule a booking, fill out the online form at the link below. Or call us at 904.239.8937.

Booking now for Speaking Engagements
for church and ministry events

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 
Follow us on:

facebook logo link on Bible reading post
LinkedIn logo link on Bible reading post
Twitter logo link on Bible reading post
Instagram logo link on Bible reading post
YouTub logo link on Bible reading post
Pintrest logo link on Bible reading post
Posted on by — 4 Comments

John 16:33. The Overcomer

John 16:33 Overcomer

When God first created the earth and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the world was a perfect place. But the moment Eve sinned, the world became a broken place and has, over time, become more and more broken then ever. Jesus never promised that following Him would make life easy. In fact, He told His disciples that they would have tribulation as long as they were in the world. We definitely see tribulations in our world every day, but thankfully, we have an overcomer.

Jesus never promised that following Him would make life easy. In fact, He told His disciples that they would have tribulation as long as they were in the world.

If we were to define “tribulation, ” it would be “a state of great trouble or suffering. Yes, the Bible talks about the great tribulation that is associated with the rapture of all the Christians from this world, but in this verse, Jesus was telling his disciples to expect trouble – even then in their day.

Today’s Tribulations

Today, one only has to turn the news on to hear countless stories of great trouble or suffering. We experience it when the news from the doctor isn’t what we wanted to hear. We experience it when we lose a job or a loved one. Or we experience it when we don’t get the promotion. We experience it through an unexpected and very expensive car repair. We experience it through divorce. It occurs when there is a miscarriage. From domestic violence to mass shootings, from pandemics to racial issues, tribulations are everywhere we turn. As long as Satan and his demons have free reign in this world, there will be tribulations. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10 that we can expect weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.

The disciples all definitely experienced tribulation. While the Bible only tells how two of them died, but there are reports from history and legends that tell us what happened to them.

What happened to the disciples? The following disciples were crucified:

  • Peter was martyred in Rome about 66 AD  – crucified, upside down at his request
  • Andrew went to the “land of the man-eaters” (now known as the Soviet Union) where he is claimed to be the first to bring the gospel to that area. He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Tureky, and in Greece, where he is said to have been crucified.
  • Philip is said to have preached in North Africa and then Asia Minor where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested. Some accounts indicate he was stoned to death and others indicate he was crucified upside down while still continuing to preach the gospel.
  • Bartholomew preached in India with Thomas, as well as Armenia, Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia. There are various accounts of his death, but they all agree that he was martyred by crucifixion, also upside down.

The other martyred disciples:

  • Thomas appears to have been most active east of Syria and traditions have him going as far as east India to spread the gospel. It is claimed that he died there when he was pierced through with the spears of four soldiers.
  • Matthew (the tax collector and author of the Gospel of Matthew) preached in Persia and Ethiopia. Some reports say he was not martyred while others indicate he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia.
  • James, the son of Alpheus is believed to have preached in Syria. The Jewish historian Josephus reports that he was stoned and then clubbed to death.
  • Simon the Zealot may have ministered in Persia where he was killed because he refused to sacrifice to the sun god. No documentation could be found regarding how he was killed.

Only One Disciples Died a Natural Death

John is the only one believed to have died a natural death from old age – but they did try to kill him. It is believed that he was the leader of the church in Ephesus and that he took Mary, Jesus’ mother, into his home when Jesus was crucified. When Christians were being persecuted under Domitian rule, he was cast into boiling oil at Rome and survived. He was then exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation.

Two identified Disciples after Jesus’ Death

After Jesus death, two additional disciples are identified in the Bible. The disciples chose to replace Judas who had betrayed Jesus. Matthais became the 12 disciple. Then on the Road to Damascus, Jesus Himself confronted Saul, commissioned him and changed his name to Paul. What does history tell us about these two disciples?

  • Matthais took the place of Judas, the betrayer of Jesus. Traditionally, it is believed that he preached in Syria with Andrew and was put to death by burning.
  • Paul, while not a disciple until after Jesus ascended into heaven, was responsible for the writing of many of the New Testament books of the Bible. He was a missionary and traveled to several countries to spread the gospel. Eventually, he was imprisoned and martyred in Rome about 66 AD under Emperor Nero who had him beheaded.

Man of Sorrows

If these disciples who followed Jesus experienced tribulation, why do people today think that the Christian life is rosy and sunshine? While Jesus walked the earth, he did not go through life as a “positive-thinker.” Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as a man of sorrows. If we read prophecy found Isaiah 52:13-53:12 we can see how much sorrow and suffering the Messiah would endure. He suffered first by leaving the glories of heaven and entering the human race as a man. Then He suffered all the things that humanity suffers, and then finally He suffered the wrath of God as the sin-bearer. Such suffering must have been all the more acute for Him, given His perfect nature. Who of us could ever understand the depths of what His righteous spirit suffered as He lived among fallen humanity?

The Joy Set Before Him

Even though Jesus suffered greatly, He did not live with depression or go around with a long face. Hebrews 12:2 tell us He could rejoice in His sufferings as He focused on the final outcome. In this verse we find that Jesus is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Just before going to the cross, Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Passover together in the upper room. There He washed the disciples feet, Jesus identified Judas as His betrayer, He broke the bread and shared the wine. But then the Bible tells us they sang a hymn of praise. Jesus knew that as they walked out of the upper room and into the garden to pray that he would be arrested and falsely tried. He knew everything He was about to endure and that He would die – and yet He could sing a hymn of praise. Why? Because He would have completed the task He came to earth to do – to bring salvation to us. He would become our overcomer.

The Simple Truth

The simple truth is that life is hard. There is no such thing as a “name it and claim” theology and anyone who preaches it, is a false teacher. Becoming a Christian doesn’t make life easy. In fact, it can make it harder. In John 15:19 Jesus warns us with the following: “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Because we live in a broken world that is ruled by sin and Satan, we can expect that life will be hard. Jesus very clearly informed us in John 16:33 that we would have tribulation in this world.

The Good News

The good news is that Jesus didn’t put the period to the sentence at that point, but follows it with the word, “but.” Yes, we will have tribulation, but Jesus said we should be of good cheer. Why? Because Jesus has overcome the world and because He is our overcomer, we can have hope. Jesus overcame the world when he defeated Satan through His sacrificial death on the cross. Because of the cross, the power of sin has been defeated and eternal life is available to all who believe in Him. Because Jesus is the overcomer, we have the opportunity to accept the gift of eternal life that He offers to every person. We just have to accept it by faith. Then He becomes our overcomer.

Finding Peace in Tribulations

As a Christian, death does not get the final say. The world does not get the final say. No matter what we face in this life, it is temporary and when we step from this life into eternal life, all that was suffered here will be no more. It isn’t that we won’t have troubles in this life, but that we can have peace in the trouble as we go through them in the strength of God because of what Jesus did to make our eternal life secure. In John 16:20 Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” Eternal joy, as we spend eternity in the presence of our Lord and Savior who is our overcomer.

Jesus said we would have tribulation in this world. Thankfully, He didn’t put the period there, but follows it with “but.” We will have tribulation, but we should be of good cheer because He overcame the world & because He did, we have hope.

#overcomer #tribulations #lifeishard #whathappenedtothedisciples

Do you have a daily Bible Reading plan?

If not, come join us as we read the Bible through in one year. Each day we post the scripture reading along with links to read it online.

Click here for our one-year Bible Reading Plan

Have you learned this week’s memory verse?

Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Do you serve in ministry? Great! The self-care blogs are here for you.

In this series of blogs, we breakdown why people in ministry need to practice self care. We explain the differences between stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Drawing from both psychology and Biblical principles, we teach self-care to keep ministry servants serving. Whether you are a pastor, missionary, small group leader, worship pastor, nursery worker, facility/maintenance staff, religious non-profit staff, or any other ministry staff, self-care is crucial to you continuing the work God’s called you to do.

If you can relate to this, then take some time to read our self care blogs.

Click to find the Self-Care Blog Series

Test your Bible smarts and see if you can answer our trivia questions. We post a trivia question every other day and the correct answer on the next day. Stop by the trivia page and grab a question or two and see if your friends and family can answer it.

Click here to get to the trivia

You can check out our Christian t-shirts for men, women, kids and infants in our Teespring and Spreadshop stores. Also available on mugs, bags, aprons, hats, and more. We also have some Christian themed canvas art available at Teespring. Browse the stores with the links below:

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on
  • Conversation Starters
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
  • Romance Builders
  • Relationship Builders
  • Personal reflections
  • Date ideas
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

Westbow logo
Christian book logo
amazon logo
Barnes and Nobel logo
walmart logo


 Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.

speaker info featured image

Need a speaker for your next church or ministry event? We’re booking!

(Due to COVID-19, we are only tentatively booking speaking engagements for events after September 2020 based on the recommendations as issued by the CDC and our government officials.)

We are eager to be a part of your next church or ministry event – regardless of size. We can bring one of our ministry programs to your church, or we can tailor a message to your event theme. To request more information or schedule a booking, fill out the online form at the link below. Or call us at 904.239.8937.

Booking now for Speaking Engagements
for church and ministry events

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 
Follow us on:

facebook logo link on Bible reading post
LinkedIn logo link on Bible reading post
Twitter logo link on Bible reading post
Instagram logo link on Bible reading post
YouTub logo link on Bible reading post
Pintrest logo link on Bible reading post
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Luke 18:7-8. A Persistent Widow

April 21 Luke 18 7-8

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tell the parable of the persistent widow. She is a poor, powerless widow up against a corrupt, powerful judge and she is seeking justice. While the Bible is clear on its teaching  that those in power and leadership roles are to work justly and stand up for the week and the poor, this is not Jesus’ point in this parable. There are three things Jesus wants us to get from this parable 1) pray and don’t give up; 2) keep the faith; 3) Justice in a corrupt world can only come from God. 

Pray and don’t give up. How many times to we pray and pray and pray for something and then give up? Do you ever think about when you get to heaven and ask God, “Why didn’t you answer this prayer?” and His reply will be “You were only one prayer away, but you gave up.” This parable of a nagging, persistent widow is a reminder to us to not give up. Chapter 18 opens with an explanation of why Jesus is telling this parable. Verse 1 says: “He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing.”  In Isaiah 43:19, God says through the prophet, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Jesus uses an odd representation in this parable. The poor, widowed woman represent those listening to Jesus tell the story (or reading it from the Bible) – in other words, she represents us. The person to whom she is nagging and insisting on justice is a corrupt judge, which Jesus is using to represent God. This doesn’t mean that Jesus was saying God is corrupt. The point he was making is that if the nagging woman’s persistence paid off with a corrupt judge who is limited by the power he hold on earth within his office, then how much more will it pay off with a just God with eternally infinite power? Why should we not give up? Because you may be just one prayer away from an answered prayer. Keep praying. Don’t give up. 

Keep the Faith. Jesus knew that living for Him in a fallen, corrupt world would not be easy and through this parable he wanted to encourage us to keep our faith, even when the odds are stacked up against us. By using a juxtaposition of a corrupt judge with a just God implies that even in the midst of a corrupt, fallen, broken world, God’s will will be done. Perhaps the judge had no plans to give the woman justice, but God is a God who defends the widows (Psalm 68:5) and so even though the judge has no concern for her need and no plans to do the right thing, he will give in simply to get the woman to stop nagging him and in the end he will do the right thing because God wills it. We can find similar teaching in the Bible in verses such as John 19:11, Romans 13:1, and 1 Peter 2:13 where it is clear that those in government positions are placed there by God and they do what He will, whether they acknowledge it or not. We can keep the faith, even in a corrupt, broken world that justice will be done because ultimately, God is in control. Yet we also have a responsibility as citizens to pray for our government leaders – and to not give up praying.

Justice in a corrupt world can only come from God. There is an old commercial from many years ago that was used for eating healthy and as we moved into the computer age, it manifested itself again. The point of the commercial was “garbage in, garbage out.” In a world full of corruption, why do we expect any outcome except corruption? Corrupt people do corrupt things. The only way that justice occurs in a corrupt world is through the hand and work of God. This is why we must not give up praying and why we must keep the faith. Just as God can bring miraculous healing to those with COVID19, so He can bring miraculous justice in the world as the saint pray without ceasing. In the parable, Jesus does not ever say that God intervened but he does imply as he closes out the parable that God is an unseen actor in the story. In verses 7-8 he says: “Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them? I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?”

God, thank you that you hear our prayers. Help us to be persistent and to keep the faith. Help us to trust in You as You are working behind the scenes in ways we never know to bring about your perfect plan.

ctt verse of the day

#dontgiveup #keepthefaith #praywithoutceasing #WCM

April divider

 

revive renew redeem

news and events

coronavirus prayer guide logo

Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.

The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

Today, pray for Washington DC:

Washington DC

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #judgement #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

Isaiah 41:10 

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”

 #nofear #COVID19 #coronavirus #heldbyGod #donotfear #WCM

Related image

teespring spreadshop logos

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Luke 9:25. Eternally Bankrupt Is Far Worse than Temporarily Unemployed

April 3 Luke 9 25 NKJV

On April 2, 2020, The Washington Post reported that 10 million unemployment claims have been filed in the US due to COVID-19. Even with a stimulus check on the way, there are going to be many people trying to make ends meet. The stimulus check is helpful but then there are industries such as mortgage companies who will “graciously” allow you to not pay your mortgage while you’re out of work, but then when the crisis is over and everyone returns to work those same mortgage companies will demand all the money you owe from this time at once or they will foreclose on your home. But they won’t report a negative report to the credit bureau…until you’re back at work. Student loans has fared a little better as you can request a 6 month forbearance. Some utility companies are skipping payments. However, read your fine print because they too might count you behind and want you to catch up or they will turn your lights off. Needless to say, there are not too many people throughout the world that will “gain the whole world.” Many may be on the verge of losing their whole world. 

However, for a moment think about what you would do if you suddenly became the richest American? What would change about your lifestyle? How would you manage your new-found wealth? It might be fun to dream about what you’d do with all that money, but if we are honest with ourselves, probably the first thoughts for the majority of us were rather selfish thoughts. We might have gotten around to helping those affected financially by COVID-19 or making a donation to some organization (even if just for the tax break), and oh yes – let’s not forget the tithe to our church. Doesn’t that seem backwards? Our first thought should have been not only the tithe we would be able to give back to God but also an offering that might help our church meet a need. Then maybe see how we could help our community through the wonderful organizations that seek to help others – and not worry about the tax break for doing so. Then finally look to ourselves last. There used to be an popular acronym that taught this principle as the way to have Joy – Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. 

No matter how wealthy a person is while here on earth, money will not get them into heaven. Honors, riches, and the greatest of enjoyments mean absolutely nothing when one faces eternity without Christ. None of these in and of themselves will suffice to gain entrance into Heaven. If all these were gained, but they cause a person “lose himself” through rejecting Christ, then that person has lost everything that holds eternal value. Any person that dies without Christ as their Savior, will be eternally bankrupt.

This in no way implies that a wealthy person cannot be saved. However, money can sometimes be an obstacle to people recognizing their need for a Savior. Jesus taught in Matthew 19:24, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” It becomes very easy for the wealthy to depend on themselves and their money, not unlike the children of Israel with their continual problem of idolatry. Every time they turned to false gods, they forgot the God that brought them out of Egypt. They turned to their own abilities rather than remaining dependent on God. It is too easy for money to become an idol that we obsess over. And the more of it we have, the less we feel the need to depend on God or to even feel like we need God at all in our lives. However, less we have of money, the greater we depend on God. We depend on Him to get us from one paycheck to the next, to keep the lights on, to keep food on the table, and to keep a roof over our head. The more we have that belongs to this world, the more we are tied to it. The less we have of this work, the freer we are to be tied to Christ. In Luke 18, we find the rich young ruler who wanted to know what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. His focus was on how he could earn eternal life. Jesus replied to him: “You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother.” The rich young ruler responded: “All these thing I have kept from my youth.” But Jesus knew the man had more interest in his wealth on earth than any treasures in heaven. So Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” The man became very sad because he was very rich. As a response to the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” The people standing near said, “who then can be saved?’ Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with me are possible with God.” Wealth, whether one has an abundance of it or a great lack of it, holds no merit on eternal life. No one can be saved by their own efforts, but only through the grace of God is one able to obtain salvation.

As for the crisis at hand and the financial burdens many will feel, we pray that God will meet your every need during this time. 

God, may the entrapment of wealth not blind us to a false happiness that leads us away from you. May we keep our eyes on you and your grace that paves the way for us to obtain eternal life with you through the sacrifice of Christ as payment for our sins. Thank you for always meeting our every need and for all the many blessings you give us every day. May we always see You at work in each blessing with a heart of thankful praise. We ask that you provide for those who have lost jobs and that they will see you at work as you meet their every need. 

 


click to tweet daily Bible reading

#COVID19 #coronavirus #faith

April divider

revive renew redeem

news and events

 

coronavirus prayer guide logo

Download the full 52-Day prayer guide by clicking here.

The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

Today, pray for Texas:

texas cases

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #52daysofprayer #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

memory verse logoIn 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

Exodus 14:13-14

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #faithoverfear #revivalin2020 #WCM

Related image

teespring spreadshop logos