Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 1 We all believe in our hearts and If you've read John 1 before, and you likely have, you know that the primary purpose of this passage Near the close of what's come to be known as the prologue to John's gospel, John drops a huge theological

Bible.com 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV) 17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Articles 1- 5 Article

John 3 illustrates this supernatural work of God and where the often used phrase “born again” originates where the “perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:53). knowledge, but go to him as the King of Glory with faith in the one who has the words of eternal life (John

John 11 (NASB95) 1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, which was the village of Mary and Martha... -- 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” -- 5 . 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. -- 17 John adds an interesting wrinkle to the story as to why He stayed: 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister Of course John makes it clear why Jesus waited.

Stay busy building life even as you expect Jesus to return at any moment. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (NIV But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5   Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article   37: The Last Judgment (Part 1) For all those who died before that time will be raised from the earth, their spirits being joined and with, Paul's prescription for each is remarkably similar - and not just from Paul, but also Peter and John

Gospels: Week 3 - Jesus' authority to call, heal, forgive, and welcome sinners Luke 5:1–11 (NASB95) 1 finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John

-23 - Great Is Thy Faithfulness John 3:16-18 - Simple Beauty 1 John 4:8-10 - This Is Love Psalm 103 - John 6:37-40 - Tensegral Theology John 12:42-50 - Buffet Theology Psalm 16 - In God We Trust ​ Article 5: The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith James 1:13-18 - The Devil (didn't) Make You Do It Ecclesiastes 3-6 - Before the Foundation Deuteronomy 7:1-10 - Set Apart John 17:1-5 - Sovereign Submission John 17 Psalm 5 - The Morning Psalm Article 11: God’s election is unalterable.

Gospels: Week 5 - Jesus' power over creation, demons, hunger and unbelief CONTEXT: Today's episode comes Mark 5:1–20 (NASB95) 1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. 17 John Calvin aptly summarizes what this filthy story means for us: “Though we are not tortured by the

You can't produce fruit if you're disconnected from Christ. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 64 Q. But doesn’t this teaching (that our works do not contribute to our salvation) make people indifferent and wicked? A. No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude. Summary There are two words the Bible uses to describe how to live a fruitful life. The word used most often to describe successful Christians is the word Jesus uses in the example of a grape plant which bears fruit. This word has a passive feel to it. Jesus explains that as long as a branch remains connected to the vine, it will bear fruit. In other words, the fruit is going to come as long as the connection is maintained, just like a grape branch, when given the proper inputs, can't help but bear fruit. Sadly this isn't the case for every branch. Some grow off as long, wild shoots with lots of stem but no leaves or flowers. Others bury themselves under other branches, hidden from the sunlight. Still others seem to be in just the right condition, getting plenty of water, nutrients and sunlight, but for whatever reason nothing comes out of them. In each of these cases the unfruitful branches are cut of and thrown into the burn pile. In the second half of this passage, Jesus puts 'flesh' on this metaphor so to speak. He is the vine, and you and I are the branches. As long as we remain connected to Him - that is, as long as His Word and Spirit are flowing into our lives - He assures us that we will bear fruit. But some people are not content with this relationship, and shoot off on their own. Many bury themselves in the busyness of life, and although connected to the nutrients, do not absorb them. Apart from me, Jesus says, these people can do nothing, and their unfruitful lives will be cut off and thrown away. Dig Deeper Our instinct is to prefer the other word the Bible uses in regards to fruitfulness. We want to be people who produce fruit in our lives. Produce is a much more active word, and conjures up images of hard work, resourcefulness, and downright determination. Those are all good things, but most of the time the Bible uses the word produce, it does so in a negative way. Pharisees are quite often the people the Bible speaks of in connection with trying to produce fruit. They work super hard to impress their neighbors and appease their own consciences, but their reliance is totally on themselves, disconnected from the nutrients of the the true vine. The result is often like a Red Delicious apple: it looks really good and shiny on the outside, but not very appealing when the skin is peeled back. You've been created to be fruitful - to do and make things that reflect and glorify the image of God that you've been created in. Most of this world, separated from the vine by sin, is either desperately expending energy trying to produce fruit on their own, or they've given up trying and consequentially have very little meaning in their lives. So stay connected to the Vine - Jesus Christ. As you immerse yourself in the nutrients that flow from His Word, your life will naturally bear fruit. NOTE: The English Bible translations often use 'bear' and 'produce' interchangeably (even the Catechism uses the word produce). The contrast is much more noticeable in the Greek. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the gardner, who cuts away unfruitful branches; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you remain connected to the vine so that your life bears the fruit it was designed for. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Philippians 2

All People Romans 5:12-14 - Mis-Markmanship Deuteronomy 28:15-20 - Not A Tame Lion Genesis 2:15-17 - John 6:37-40 - Tensegral Theology John 12:42-50 - Buffet Theology Psalm 16 - In God We Trust ​ Article 5: The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith James 1:13-18 - The Devil (didn't) Make You Do It Ecclesiastes 3-6 - Before the Foundation Deuteronomy 7:1-10 - Set Apart John 17:1-5 - Sovereign Submission John 17 Psalm 5 - The Morning Psalm Article 11: God’s election is unalterable.