Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else... to nearby villages... so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." Mark 1:38 NIV

Make no mistake about it, Jesus came to tell the Good News! All the miracles were great, but the preaching came first.

What would our New Testament be like if we only heard of the many healings Christ

When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27 NIV

What an honor! John, the great disciple of God, was asked to care for the mother of Jesus.

He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of Heaven, who made sea and the land." Jonah 1:9 NIV

Today's verse is from the story of Jonah. God wanted the prophet Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh to preach against their sin. Jonah, afraid for his life, tried to run from the Lord. (Obviously, if you know the rest of the

That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Joshua 7:12 NIV

What in your life is "devoted to destruction"? I know that seems like a silly question,

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:25 NIV

Do you remember the song: "He's got the whole world in His hand, the whole wide world in His hands. He's got me and you Sister in His hands, He's got the whole

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Romans 15:20 NIV

What is your ambition in life? To retire early? To acquire great wealth? To get more degrees than the others in your class? To be a straight-A student? To live in a really big house?

The world and all its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17 NIV

Some of my best growth times with the Lord have been during teaching times with my children. I remember when my son asked an important question, "Daddy, what is the will of God'?"

Now, he wasn't asking, "What does God want me to do?"

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 NIV

This is one of the finest word pictures in the Bible: God running to His children!

Jesus told this parable, not about a boy, foolish

My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart. Job 17:11 NIV

Notice what book of the Bible this comes from? This is Job talking. Good ole righteous Job. A follower of God. A good man. A man who had a great misfortune. In fact, Job lost it all-- his children, his livestock, his health-- and then his wife

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 NIV

Jesus, only Jesus! There is no other way!

We have, as a generation of peoples, watered down the gospel. We have tried to please man by making our churches more contemporary. We have seen entire denominations rewrite

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9b NIV

Jesus said He hated lukewarm Christianity. Do you?

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to trust in God when everything is going well, but when a little trouble comes our way, our faith waivers? Do you think that is why God's Word consistently tries to prepare

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.... Psalm 15:2 NIV

"Daddy, he did it!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!

"Did not!"

The blame game! If you have children, it is probably a common occurrence in your house! The blame game happens often in our lives, as well. Someone is always at fault.

[He who] has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man. Psalm 15:3 NIV

What kind of friend are you?

When someone confides in you, can they count on you to keep it to yourself? Are you someone others can trust? Or is gossip listed as one of your favorite hobbies?

People in need are

[He] who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts. Psalm 15:4 NIV

The man whom God esteems, the one who can dwell on the Holy Hill of our Lord, is the man whose heart is in line with the Creator and whose mind is steadfast on the things of his heart!

If you want to really please God, then

[He] who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. Psalm 15:5 NIV

We have talked this week about who can dwell intimately in the presence of an Almighty God. God's word has outlined here for us some qualities He is seeking for us to allow Him to take up

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory. Isaiah 6:3 NIV

God is Holy to the third power and beyond!

The word holy essentially means being absent of any wrong doings (sin) to such a degree as to deserve special recognition, worship or praise. Sounds like God to me!

To be holy is to have no sin! To say

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 35:8 NIV

There is a highway that leads to Heaven! Now, I know I'm a man and men are never supposed to need directions, but here is one trip you don't

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 NIV

You know, as I examine this verse it is quite convicting. You see, if I look at the large span of my life, I find that I have spent more time in my life fearing man than fearing

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Isaiah 60:1

I don't know if you have noticed lately, or if anyone has told you, but you are looking good these days. God looks good on you!

If He is planted deeply in your heart and you are faithfully seeking Him, then His glory will make you shine. Let it be

How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? Proverbs 1:22

What a question from God! It might read, "How long will you continue to miss out on the blessings of God?" Or, "Why don't you take advantage of all the benefits I have for you?" He might have asked, "Don't you get it? I am here for you, ready to help."

God has so many

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

This now famous verse can change your life if you follow the command that God is giving. Let's look at it:

Be still! In other words, STOP doing what you are doing. Slow down for awhile. You are far too busy to recognize God in your life. Give Him some time. Remove some of the obstacles in your

Then they remembered His words. Luke 24:8

Pretty short, huh? Do you think you can memorize this verse? Can you plant it deeply in your heart and be able to draw on it at any time? Better yet, will you be able to do what the verse says?

In the Bible passage where this appears, two women were going through some very difficult days. The last

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

"Daddy, come quickly. I'm afraid." "Daddy, is anything under the bed?" "What was that noise?" "Is it going to storm, Daddy?"

Ah! These are the familiar sounds from when my boys were small. As the Daddy, one of my