Scripture Snippets

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each o

  John 5:22-24 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Anyone who’s been in a courtroom knows the atmosphere of authority and fear that surrounds the judge as he or she takes a seat. One day, everyone will face the ultimate Judge—the Lord Jesus Christ. When we approach Him, we’ll be standing before the One who is perfectly righteous and just. He is impartial and will make decisions with all wisdom and complete knowledge. His standard for justice is truth, not opinion. Jesus, who’s been given this job by His heavenly Father, is perfect for the position: He can sympathize with our weaknesses and understands our temptations because He, too, has

  Philippians 4:4-9 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. We live in a culture inundated with anxiety and fear, where people make a habit of worrying because it provides a false sense of control. But Christians don’t have to give in to these feelings, as we have a Savior who h

  Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father know

  Read Matthew 1:16-2:11 If there was one thing Herod the Great would not tolerate, it was competition. When these wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, Herod took notice. For many years, the wise men had been studying the stars and had seen something remarkable in them about a coming king which pointed them to Jerusalem. We don’t know why they associated a star with a king, nor how they identified it with Israel. The only related prophecy we know of is Numbers 24:17 when Balaam said about the nation Israel, “A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” The star and the scepter go together—these wise men came out of the mysterious east in their search. The prophecies of Daniel, given in that section of the world, also revealed almost the exacttime when Christ was to be born. So when the wise men saw this unusual star, they knew what it meant.  The wise men’s arrival in Jerusalem disturbed King Herod and the whole city. The question has always been, where did

  2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Think about light and darkness and the way they affect your ability to see. In the dark, we have no sense of direction or courage to mo

  Matthew 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. When a teacher gives an assignment, responsible students take it seriously. They do what’s required, give their best effort, and complete the work in a timely manner.  Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave us a commandment—an assignment really—but many Christians are half-hearted about completing the task. Christ told His followers to share the good news about salvation and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey His commands.

  Philippians 4:19 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. When it comes to God’s healing, there is no “one size fits all.” Each of us is uniquely made, and though our circumstances might resemble someone else’s, what works for one person may not work in every case. We have different experiences, desires, obstacles, and emotional wounds. Yet the Lord provides some tools that belong in every Christian’s toolbox. Consider prayer and meditating on Scripture, both of which help you grow in your understanding of the Father and His love (Psalm 119:104-106). Worship is another powerful tool: Lifting your voice with others reinforces awareness that you aren’t alone—you belong to Christ’s body, His church (1 Corinthians 12:27; Colossians 3:16). Even fellowshipping over a good meal is a way in which God offers restoration for your soul (Psalm 104:14-17).  Today and from this point on, pay attention to what your body and soul are asking for. Then

  2 Timothy 4:9-18 9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Hi

  Read Psalm 51 There are many urgent and practical needs in the world, such as those related to marginalized communities, natural disasters, and struggling families. As a result, prioritizing time with the Lord in His Word and prayer may seem less pressing, but it’s not. Let’s consider reasons for making meditation a daily practice in our life. The primary reward of meditating on Scripture is personal intimacy with God. Think of a good friend or family member. Your closeness did not simply appear out of nowhere. Rather, it is the result of a long-standing, close-knit relationship of love, trust, and regular interaction. We cannot grow close to God unless we make it a point to spend time with Him.  Meditation also enables us to develop a pure heart. We see this clearly in the repentance of King David in Psalm 51. Because of his close relationship with God, David could not hide from his own sin. In verse 3, he cries, “For I know my wrongdoings, and my sin is constantly before me.”  Davi

  Read Matthew 1:16-2:11 As we finished our last lesson, we came to a long list of “begats,” all building to this triumphal moment: “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ” (1:16). Look closely at that verse. In keeping with the pattern, shouldn’t it say, “And Joseph begot Jesus”? But it doesn’t. Matthew clearly says Joseph is the husband of Mary, but he’s not the father of Jesus. Why is this critical? Matthew will show us why, along with how Jesus’ virgin birth fulfills Old Testament prophecy. JESUS’ VIRGIN BIRTH The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both make it clear Jesus was born of a virgin, a woman who had not yet had an intimate relationship with a man. Those who deny Jesus’ virgin birth have argued the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, “the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son…” could also be translated “a young woman” shall conceive. Yet, all seven times almah, the original Hebrew word, was used in the Old Testament, the context meant “virgin