The Spirit describing the dominion of man over all things, enigmatically says, "We don't yet see all things under him."

Paul longed for his brethren with the "affection of Jesus Christ." Affection is the translation of the Greek, splangknon, which is the origin of the English, splanknology:  the study of the viscera.  Something deeply, internally, felt is the idea.

Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel.  The story is bizarre, and enlightening. The "son of Jacob," Jesus has only one, "wife," the church.  Yet there are hundreds of "churches," each distinct and different, and all claiming "wife" status with Jesus.  People say there's really no difference.  One might as well claim that there's no difference between Leah and Rachel; and, that makes no sense. 

God's people, of all ages, ought to first inquire for the word of the Lord before proceeding on any course of action.  Some do; some give lip service to the concept.  The story of the sad alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab tells us much about people and their motivations in this regard.

Shepherds, wise men, Herod, Simeon, Joseph and Mary all had something in common:  at one time or another, they wanted to know "Where is Jesus?"  Following events that lead to his crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension, the list grows even longer.  The sermon concerns itself with those first mentioned. The question itself is profound and portentous, and one each person should ask.

There is God's timing; there is man's timing.  Happy is the one whose life is timed accorded to God's timing.  The widow, Anna, was such a person.

An arrogant and ruthless Ammonite king laid siege to Jabesh Gilead, and gave them an ultimatum:  Be killed, or sue for peace.  The term for suing for peace was " I may put out all your right eyes and bring reproach on all Israel."  Saul saved their lives, their right eyes, and left indelible lessons.

The sin of ambivalence about the body of Christ and Her members belies an ambivalent view of assembling and worship.  It renders worship null and void.

"He went His way" is more than just a record of a miracle.

Whereas the church at Corinth came together, "in assembly," among other things, to eat the Lord's Supper, Paul said, "It is not to eat the Lord's Supper."  In essence, they said, This is why we are here; and, Paul said, No, it's not. Many lessons lie within.

Given the way some treat the subject, when one hears mention of the Holy Spirit in hushed, mysterious, tones, he could almost expect to hear in the background theme music from the Twilight Zone.  The  Book of Galatians has so much to say about His nature and work; about His place in our hearts and lives; and, about our lives in Him.

The events that lead to young Samuel's becoming the protégé of Eli is a remarkable story within itself.  The voice of the Lord calling Samuel, and Eli's explaining it to him is also a story full of lessons and application.

Paul, by the Spirit, commands Christians, "Be filled with the Spirit."  How precisely does one obey that command.  It is not at all mysterious, because, Paul, uses specific grammar and syntax to explain the manner in which Christians shall follow his order.

Out of the backdrop of "love," the Lord turns His attention to "hate,"  particularly as it relates to the world's feelings toward His disciples. His words about conditions and causes are instructive and sobering

In Isaiah's day, those who could read didn't, claiming the word was "sealed"; those who were illiterate didn't, claiming — well — "I can't read."  In Paul's day, he said divine revelation was made known to him, and he wrote it.  It comes to us when we "read."  Answering the fundamental question, What must I do to be saved?, it is clear that the first step is r-e-a-d.

It's interesting and helpful to examine how many things in Scripture are described in terms of "symphony."

Scripture affirms that Christ, on the Cross, bore our sins, the sins of the whole world.  Shall we think of it as the great sin magnet?

Each day we are bombarded with the sounds of life, some good, some not. How shall we learn to discriminate?

Along with the inspiring topics of the Bible, there is also the topic of apostasy:  departure, falling away.  New Testament prophets foretold the sad reality of departure from the faith, and the creation of religions that would claim to follow Christ.  Jude tells us how to avoid it.

Hank Williams declared in song, "I saw the light."  It is good to think about Scripture's teaching about "seeing the light."

Paul spoke of the period in his life, when he was "alive once apart from the law."  He also spoke of a point at which sin sprange to life and killed him.  He also addressed how divine law, which is good, holy, and spiritual, was used as a weapon against him.  What Inspiration says in this section of Scripture is at the heart of God's plan to redeem sinners.

God's dealings with the Babylonian emperor, Nebuchadnezzar, gives a whole new meaning to "the brass ring."  

Jesus, the "good Shepherd," said he came that we might have life abundantly.  How can the hope of eternal life be qualified as "abundant"?

Couched between two references to exhortation and comfort, Paul addresses two fundamentally comforting topics: holiness and hope.

Paul, like a typically intense coach, was agonizing over his team's performance and his desire for them to win.

Faithful Jews built their lives around a divinely set calendar. Faithful Christians do no less. What is the Christian Calendar?

It's interesting to examine the process which results in "sayings which go out." in other words, how something is stated as fact, embellished and enlarged; yet, in the end it is not factual at all. Much of what is presented as "Christian," as a part of "Christianity" is just that.

Paul said, "We (Christians)...as Isaac, are children of promise." Too, he speaks of Christians being bullied by those born "according to the flesh."

The world is driven by certain immutable principles; not least among them is profit/loss, credit/debit. It is good, then, to ponder Paul's willingness to count things as loss in order to gain that which is greater.

Who lives where, and how? The Lord made several references to His being in the Father, and the Father in Him; or, His being in us, and our being in Him. It is good to think about how such mutual occupancy and its implications.