PHall | February 22, 2010
A – You will know them by their fruits (7:16) B – Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles (7:16) C – Every good tree bears good fruit; The bad tree bears bad fruit (7:17) C’ – A good tree cannot produce bad fruit; Nor can a bad tree produce good […]
Category: Matthew |
1 Comment »
Tags: Chiasm
PHall | February 22, 2010
The “false prophets” of Matthew 7:15 are “inwardly ravenous wolves” (Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:3). That says something about their intentions. They were obviously not sincere. The “sheep’s clothing” (5:15) is a ruse to deceive that eventually will be seen as a disguise revealed by their works. You can fool people for only so long. Twice […]
Category: Matthew, II Peter |
Comments Off on Matthew 7:15-20 – False Prophets
Tags: Chiasm
PHall | February 22, 2010
I love irony and paradoxes. Within Christianity we see the irony of Peter’s action with his words as a paradox of love and fear. After seeing Jesus’ miracle in Luke 5, Peter’s body says the opposite of his words. His words are just as honest as his body, but they are seemingly contradictory – the […]
Category: Luke |
Comments Off on Luke 5:8 – Leave Don’t Leave
Tags: Article
PHall | February 19, 2010
Are we wise? I seem to pray for wisdom more today than in bygone years. Either I am realizing the greater need, or how unwise I truly am, or more likely a combination of both. In contemplating wisdom I have a thought or two: I often do not respond immediately to what is said or written. I calculate […]
Category: James |
Comments Off on James 1:5 – Wisdom
Tags: Article
PHall | February 15, 2010
When I was a young man, I wanted to begin a relationship with a certain young woman. And although she did not know me, I went knocking on her door and said, “I love you.” Well, that didn’t work. She slammed the door in my face. Relationships can be so confusing. Time for a new […]
Category: Revelation, Bible |
Comments Off on Revelation 19:7 – The Parable of Persistent Love
Tags: Article
PHall | February 15, 2010
Two doctors walk into a room, giving different diagnoses, then walk out of the room. Confused and frustrated, the patient turns to the nurse and says, “Do they always contradict each other?” The nurse replies, “No, they are just a… paradox.” Jesus, the Great Physician, never contradicted Himself, but He was a paradox – the […]
Category: Matthew, John, James, I John, Isaiah |
1 Comment »
Tags: Article, Paradoxes
PHall | February 15, 2010
A promise is such a simple thing; and yet as simple as it is, a promise is complex, powerful and profound. In fact, many a life is changed by making a promise or a vow. Involved in making, keeping, and believing in promises are a vast number of essential components. Time – When was the […]
Category: Titus |
Comments Off on Titus 1:1-3 – God Promised
Tags: Article
PHall | February 15, 2010
The power of doubt is that it can overcome facts. The power of love is that it can overcome those same facts. The power of free will is that we choose to live in doubt, or by love. In Matthew 28:17, some worshipped Jesus after His resurrection, but some were doubtful. The fact of His […]
Category: Matthew |
Comments Off on Matthew 28:17 – The Power of Doubt
Tags: Article
PHall | February 15, 2010
The best argument for Christianity is Christians. The best argument against Christianity is “Christians.”
Category: Matthew |
Comments Off on Matthew 5:13-16 – Are You For or Against Christianity?
Tags:
PHall | February 14, 2010
The Bible is not a fictional play, but I sometimes wish it were. No I am not wishing it to be inauthentic so that I may excuse my behavior and do as I please. What I mean is that man-made scripts often “set the scene.” Scripts give written instruction for how the lines are to […]
Category: Mark, II Corinthians |
Comments Off on Mark 3:5 – Read With Intent
Tags: Article