Tag: Evangelism

January 1, 2026

January 1st, 2026

New Year’s Day!
(Normal Thursday study from the New Testament Letters will be posted on Saturday)

Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:15-21

Highlight Verse:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s start the new year with the Good News in a nutshell.

• God is holy.
• We are not.
• Our sin is incompatible with God’s holiness.
• God loves us so much that He enacted a desperate plan to make a way to bridge that gap.
• He sent His Son Jesus, wholly God, wholly man, wholly righteous, to take the penalty for our sin.
• Jesus paid that penalty on the cross once and for all.
• We need only accept that payment and trust Jesus.
• Salvation from the penalty of sin is through that grace of God alone and not from any good works we do.
• The good works we do are out of gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice and in trust that He knows the best way for us to live.
• Salvation gives us eternal life in fellowship with God starting now and never ending.

That’s the story of new life.

I found that life at a Lutheran Youth camp in August of 1977 when I first took that step of trusting Jesus. I live that life even now and for eternity.

If you know that life, share your story in the comments (especially on Facebook @Walk in the Light Bible Study Group).

If you don’t know that life, now is a perfect time to start it. Trust Jesus. State that trust to Him in prayer. And join us in new life starting in this new year.
December 27, 2025

December 27th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic
New Testament Letters (delayed from Christmas Day)

Reading – 2 Timothy 3-4

Highlight Verses:

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I watch a lot of YouTube – probably too much.

Some of my favorites are the automotive YouTubers. I enjoy old cars and seeing people’s adventures with them.

It also makes for great conversation starter material for building relationships.

Some of those YouTubers fit that description of people who love themselves and money.

But not all.

One of the most successful of the YouTubers I watch is Ed Bolian. His channel, VINWIKI, has well over two million subscribers.

His video on Christmas had nothing to do with cars.

It had everything to do with Jesus.

Ed was bold enough to use his huge platform to read the Christmas story. He didn’t stop there. He went on to explain the Gospel and invite everyone to faith in Jesus.

While I would say that there are enough people out there who fit the description found in today’s reading that this could be considered the last days.

But I also see the Gospel finding new avenues of outreach.

Ed’s message and many others like it gives me hope for a fresh revival.

Let’s take heed of Paul’s commands throughout today’s reading and remain faithful, preach the Word, and be prepared to patiently correct, rebuke and encourage people.

When the final day does come, I pray that we can bring as many with us as possible.

What are you doing to increase your platform (sphere of influence)?
How are you using that platform to influence others toward faith in Jesus?
December 26, 2025

December 26th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 19-21

Highlight Verse:

““Then I warned their children not to follow in their parents’ footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭20‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I hope I am providing a good example for my children to follow.

Not everyone has a good example to follow.

While my father had some good qualities, his life gave us bad examples to follow.

I wouldn’t mind emulating his intelligence and penmanship, but I dare not follow his hedonistic side that lead him far away from redemption.

My stepfather’s life may have been even worse. He was a man who feigned faith on the outside but live a self-centered life that left no room for God or others.

I cannot thank God enough that other godly men stepped up to lead me in following the path of faith and wisdom.

I certainly cannot claim to be perfect; but I have found the path that leads to life thanks to those people in my life who walked that path before me.

The idols may be different today, but this world is full of them.

The temptation to chase what is popular, fun, and pleasureful leads many astray in the same way as those Ezekiel prophesied against.

Those around us desperately need us to lead them along the path of life, redemption, and true joy.

What are you doing today to lead those around you to faith in Jesus?
Have you found that faith yourself?
December 5, 2025

December 5th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 10-12

Highlight Verses:

“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is my prayer for all my loved ones who do not know Jesus.

If God was able to soften the hearts of the exiles and bring them back to a living faith, how much more can he bring back my family members and friends who have wandered away from God.

Most of the people I have in mind have heard the Gospel but never really understood it.

Instead, they have accepted the lies of the enemy that fly in the face of Truth.

I pray that their eyes be opened and they may see the Truth as it is – true life.

Do you have people you love who have rejected Jesus?
In what way do you pray for them?
If you are that person, what would it take to convince you of the truth of the Gospel?
November 28, 2025

November 28th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 7-9

Highlight Verse:

“The king and the prince will stand helpless, weeping in despair, and the people’s hands will tremble with fear. I will bring on them the evil they have done to others, and they will receive the punishment they so richly deserve. Then they will know that I am the Lord.””
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭7‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I really wanted to find a hopeful verse in today’s passage.

Not much of that to find.

Except for those who received a mark for their repentant attitude in chapter 9, it was too late.

Perhaps they were some of the people in this verse who finally realized who God was.

For everyone else, they could only wish they had figured it out before the bearers of death confronted them.

The story is the same today.

Granted, Jerusalem isn’t captured by the Babylonians.

But every human being will someday realize that God exists and reigns supreme.

Some will repent when they figure it out.

Some will go through their lives in denial or rebellion and step beyond death’s door only to realize their folly too late.

For them, like in this passage, there is no hope.

But while we breathe, there is hope.

That hope is anchored in the sacrifice that Jesus already made and willingly offers to us.

It is the antithesis of today’s reading to those who have accepted this hope.

For those who have not accepted that hope, we need to shine the light of that hope in such a way that it is undeniable and pray that they would be able to see that light before it is too late for them.

If you haven’t yet accepted that hope, what is holding you back?
If you have accepted it, what are you doing to shine the light of hope to those around you?
November 13, 2025

November 13th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Timothy 2

Highlight Verse:

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The thing I love about the letters to Timothy is we get to sit in on the lessons between the master evangelist, Paul, and his best student, Timothy.

If the master evangelist puts the top priority on praying for people, maybe we should listen.

Today I’m thankful for the many people God has put in my life – my wife and family, my friends, those who have mentored me, coworkers both in Christ and in my earthly job, the students I’ve worked with in the past present and future, and anyone else who may fall within my sphere of influence.

I pray that I may be a positive influence on their lives and an instrument of God to help them.

Who are you thankful for?
How would you like to influence them?
Note: I kept this short so you can have more time to pray for these people.
September 30, 2025

September 30th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 13-14

Highlight Verse:

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why did God unleash the plagues on Egypt?

Sure, it can be said that it was to punish the Egyptians for enslaving the Israelites.

But this verse points to a deeper meaning. He wanted to woo His people to Him.

It was an act of love.

I’m here in Texas today because I love my oldest daughter and want the best for her.

There’s nothing (legal) I wouldn’t do bring her into a relationship with Jesus. That is a big part of why I am here.

God loved all his people over all time so much that he took radical steps to woo us.

We would do well to help God in this effort.

What else did God do woo His people?
What can we do to help?
September 26, 2025

September 26th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 48-50

Highlight Verse:

““In those coming days,” says the Lord, “the people of Israel will return home together with the people of Judah. They will come weeping and seeking the Lord their God.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭50‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My daughter’s high school just had their “Homecoming” game and dance.

I put the homecoming in quotes because the previous week was a home game, so it wasn’t technically a “homecoming.”

When I lived in the south, they wouldn’t have dreamed of labeling a game “homecoming” if it was just a random game. It was a die-hard tradition of fall to celebrate the first home football game after the first away game or series of games.

Another tradition in the south was homecoming weekends at church.

They invited everyone who had every attended an older church to a weekend of celebration.

The hope (at least in the more passionate churches) was that the weekend would turn into a revival drawing back people who had walked away from Jesus.

You could say that tradition goes all the way back to today’s verse, when the people of Israel returned to God.

It took 70 years for the people of Israel to return to God. But they came back.

It wasn’t too late for them.

It isn’t too late for you and me.

We can turn a homecoming into a revival.

Do you feel at home with Jesus?
What does coming home to Jesus look like to you?
Are you ready for a revival?
September 22, 2025

September 22nd, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 10

Highlight Verse:

““Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Much of my childhood was spent seeking acknowledgment from my dad.

That didn’t come often.

After my parents’ divorce, it was even more scarce.

Then I got to know my Heavenly Father and verses like this clicked into place.

Knowing that God knows who I am down to the last hair on my head brings joy to my heart.

How could I not acknowledge Him to others.

That doesn’t mean I preach to strangers.

I prefer to bring my relationship with God up naturally.

The stickers on my water bottle at work can sometimes bring up conversations. Other times, a simple “whatcha up to this weekend” conversation opens the subject of church or creation if I’m heading to the mountains.

Regardless of the method, I am not ashamed of the Gospel and not afraid to bring it up in a non-threatening loving and respectful way.

What is your favorite way to share the Gospel?
Where do you struggle the most with sharing?
September 16, 2025

September 16th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 10-11

Highlight Verse:

“(Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This puzzled me.

Why would the Egyptian people and Pharaoh’s officials look favorably on Moses and the people of Israel?

I would have expected them to blame Moses and Israel for the plagues.

This verse tells me they knew better.

The plagues were a result of God’s wrath against Pharaoh’s stubbornness.

The people of Egypt saw how the Israelites had favor with God and wanted to be on their good side.

I believed that’s why they gave so generously.

So why do so many people today see Christians in a negative light?

The Israelites continued to work despite Pharaoh’s cruelty and were blessed by God for their efforts.

Besides that, they had a solid faith that didn’t change with the passing of each Pharaoh.

The Egyptian belief system revolved around appeasing many gods including the self-proclaimed God Pharaoh.

Today we hold on to a solid faith in the one true God.

We have joy that comes from that faith.

But we have a history of criticizing the shortfalls of those still bound by sin.

Instead of reaching out with the love of God, we rant on social media and or stay to ourselves, not even knowing our neighbors.

I believe it is also true that our society has given the evil one the unprecedented right to indoctrinate people against Christianity.

So, what can we do about it?

I believe we are at the beginning of a great world-wide revival.

If we continue the trend of pressing into God and reaching out to others with His love, we may yet see a turn around on the scale of Exodus.

If we stay within our little Christian clubs while we let the world influence us into complacency or reactionary anger,

that flame will fizzle out.

I for one, intend to reach out in love with the Author of all Love.

How can you press in to make your faith more solid?
What has God called you to do to reach out to others with His Love?

Tag: Evangelism

Let’s start the new year with the Good News in a nutshell.

That’s the story of new life.

I watch a lot of YouTube – probably too much.

But not all.

When the final day does come, I pray that we can bring as many with us as possible.

Not everyone has a good example to follow.

The idols may be different today, but this world is full of them.

Those around us desperately need us to lead them along the path of life, redemption, and true joy.

This is my prayer for all my loved ones who do not know Jesus.

I pray that their eyes be opened and they may see the Truth as it is – true life.

I really wanted to find a hopeful verse in today’s passage.

But while we breathe, there is hope.

It is the antithesis of today’s reading to those who have accepted this hope.

The thing I love about the letters to Timothy is we get to sit in on the lessons between the master evangelist, Paul, and his best student, Timothy.

I pray that I may be a positive influence on their lives and an instrument of God to help them.

Why did God unleash the plagues on Egypt?

It was an act of love.

We would do well to help God in this effort.

Another tradition in the south was homecoming weekends at church.

It wasn’t too late for them.

We can turn a homecoming into a revival.

Then I got to know my Heavenly Father and verses like this clicked into place.

How could I not acknowledge Him to others.

Regardless of the method, I am not ashamed of the Gospel and not afraid to bring it up in a non-threatening loving and respectful way.

Why would the Egyptian people and Pharaoh’s officials look favorably on Moses and the people of Israel?

If we continue the trend of pressing into God and reaching out to others with His love, we may yet see a turn around on the scale of Exodus.

that flame will fizzle out.