Tag: Radical teaching

July 31, 2025

July 31st, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 11-13

Highlight Verse:

“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I admit that I was tempted to write about Paul’s thorn in the flesh – not for any deep spiritual truth but because of a meme I recently saw. Paul was writing about his thorn in the flesh while in a prison cell with a roommate; SpongeBob SquarePants.

That could be a far worse hardship than any of the others he endured.

In the end I decided it was the end that really mattered to me in today’s reading.

Paul, with all the authority he outlined in the previous two chapters, sums up what he wanted the Corinthians to take away from his teaching.

• “Be joyful” – could be considered a result of following the rest of his commands.
• “Grow to maturity” – Don’t dwell in the simple truths of mercy and repentance but move on to deepen and share your faith.
• “Encourage each other” – We’re not in this alone. Find and give strength in the body of Christ.
• And “Live in harmony and peace” – both with fellow believers to fulfill the previous command and with others that they may find salvation through your love.

What did you take away from Paul’s letters to the Corinthians?
How will you apply what you learned?
March 27, 2025

March 27th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Romans 13

Highlight Verse:

“For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I finally figured out how to not get any traffic tickets – obey the traffic laws.

But seriously, I always wondered how Paul could write this as a follower of someone who was crucified for rebelling against authority.

But then I remember that Jesus was God, the ultimate authority.

Beyond that, Jesus submitted to earthly authorities where they aligned with God’s will. That included submitting to carrying the cross and being crucified.

Paul also submitted to authority to the point of imprisonment and death. He never stopped preaching, but he submitted to the earthly consequences for obeying God.

They did not ignore earthly authority. They respected it. They obeyed God. But when earthly authorities punished them for obeying God, they submitted.

Have you ever had to choose to obey God in defiance of earthly authority?
What happened and why?
August 10, 2024

August 10th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 17:10-15

Highlight Verse:

“And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭17‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Confession time.

All my life I’ve been addicted,

To learning.

Seriously, I’ve always been a curious soul.

Even today, I watch a lot of You-Tube and most of the videos I watch are some kind of documentary.

I’ve gone to college twice.

The first time I went because I needed to figure out my career path.

The second time was Bible college.

I did much better at Bible college, partly because I was older and more disciplined.

Mostly it was because I really wanted to learn more about the Bible and God.

I still do.

In fact, that’s the main reason I do these devotions, since it forces me to dig a little deeper into my daily Bible reading.

As we enter into another school year, ask yourself what you would really like to learn more about. And do it!

What is it that you would most like to learn more about?
What is your next step in starting that learning process?
November 18, 2023

November 17th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Highlight Verse:

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today we venture back into the world of things that sound like they’re from the Bible but aren’t really.

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Is a common misquote of this verse.

God will show you a way out. We always have the option to take that way. But sometimes we fail miserably if we try on our own.

Very often the way out is through the accountability of a friend or mentor/sponsor.

Quite often we fail.

That’s when we need the forgiveness that Jesus provided. That is always there until we reach the point of rejecting it.

Mind you, many have let sin grow in their lives to the point of believing they no longer need or deserve God’s forgiveness.

I have good news. We never deserved God’s forgiveness. He offers it anyway.

So, the next time you feel like you’ve blown it one too many times, because you didn’t take that way out that God provided, realize that His forgiveness is still there.

The more you walk in that forgiveness, the less tempting that sin becomes.

And the more you take advantage of that way out through accountability, the more you triumph over that sin.

Are you struggling with discouragement because of a sin that you keep falling into?
Have you realized that God’s forgiveness is endless?
Did you know that the way out usually involves seeking help from others?
October 30, 2023

October 30th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 17-18

Highlight Verse:

“Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Once again, Jesus turns His disciples’ notions on their heads.

They were looking for evaluation of their merits to see who the best was. Jesus threw their merit system out the window.

It makes sense too. Think about it. Jesus is the Son of God, one with the Father, the Creator. He came from a position of supreme greatness to that of a little baby in a poor Israeli family. He was familiar with humility.

Humility doesn’t come naturally, at least not to me.

I remember a science fair in high school. I ran into some people checking out some of the displays. I bragged about mine to them. I won second place. Later I found out from my teacher that I would have won first place if I had not bragged to the judges. Oops.

We compete, we excel, and we thrive on the accolades. It comes naturally.

But it seems that life works out better when we approach it with humility.

That’s greatness.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example of that.

So, the way we can be most like Jesus is to be humble.

Do you struggle with humility (like me)?
What ways have you found to remind yourself to act in humility?
August 11, 2023

August 11th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 28-30

Highlight Verse:

“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Israelites had been sent into the lands of their enemies. The survivors of Babylon’s conquest of the land were uprooted and forced to live in a foreign land.

And Jeremiah says to work and pray for the peace and prosperity of the city they’d been dragged off to?

Aren’t you glad you don’t live in that time?

Aren’t you glad that prophecy doesn’t apply to you?

Or does it?

Many of us have been put into less than ideal situations. For some, corporate takeovers have landed you with jobs in companies you thought you had avoided. Maybe circumstances have forced you into less than ideal living conditions.

We all have things we could grumble about.

Jeremiah basically says to live your life to its fullest praying and working for the best of those around you. Just because life isn’t ideal doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it.

Please note that I am not advocating staying in abusive and/or dangerous situations. God and other people can help you find a way to safety.

For the rest of us,

let’s be thankful in our situations and and work and pray for the best.

Do you maintain a positive attitude even when situations don’t seem very positive?
What ways have you found to make the best of a less than perfect situation? Please share!
May 25, 2023

May 25th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like Paul’s attitude in this chapter. He’s all in. He doesn’t want money or pride to come in the way of making the Gospel known.

What if everyone who was called to preach and teach approached it with this fervor?

The world would be a different place!

Paul was a true missionary, going to lands that had never heard the Gospel while raising his own support.

To him, it could be no other way.

Which are you more interested in pursuing – A life of comfort or a life where the highest priority is making the Gospel known?
March 13, 2023

March 13th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 12

Highlight Verses:

“That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!””
‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus went viral.

Okay, it wasn’t some TikTok or YouTube video, but the crowd dynamics were remarkably similar.

Word of Lazarus being raised from the dead and Jesus’ other miracles got around. People were impressed – even amazed.

Then word leaked out about his arrival in Jerusalem for Passover so a huge premier event was thrown together.

People followed Him throughout the festival, mostly liking what they saw.

Then cancel culture stepped in.

Word spread that He spoke blasphemy against the current ways of thinking.

People couldn’t run away from Him fast enough.

Those executives who started the cancellation did a thorough job and thought they had completely gotten rid of Him and His influence.

But you can’t keep a good Influencer down!

Stayed tuned for Easter and the rest of the story…

Will you follow Jesus regardless of what the cancel culture would tell you?
Are you willing to be one of the “cancelled” if Jesus calls you to that?
February 17, 2023

February 17th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 19-21

Highlight Verse:

“the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Take off the burlap you have been wearing, and remove your sandals.” Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot.”

Isaiah 20:2 NLT

Yes, I admit that I chose this verse because it made me laugh.

If I were a prophet today and God told me to go around naked and barefoot would I do it? If I did, I’m sure I’d be arrested and forced to wear a jumpsuit or maybe one of those white jackets with the really long sleeves.

I don’t believe God would tell a prophet today to go around naked. That would be seriously inappropriate.

I do believe that God asks people to do radical things for Him.

I remember the story of a man who, while he was waiting for a plane, heard God tell him to stand on his hands. After he argued with God and himself, he did it. He was quickly approached by a man who told him that he was ready to reject God altogether, resorting to an ultimatum. He told God that he would believe in Him if He sent someone to stand on their head in the middle of that waiting area. The rest is history.

I’ve never had God ask me to stand on my head. But I have heard Him call me to start my own business so that I could attend Bible College. He also called me to commit to teaching the boys of the class of 2028 at church.

Perhaps you have more radical things God has called you to do.

What has God called you to do that is out of the ordinary?

Are you willing to follow God’s radical callings?

Tag: Radical teaching

In the end I decided it was the end that really mattered to me in today’s reading.

But then I remember that Jesus was God, the ultimate authority.

They did not ignore earthly authority. They respected it. They obeyed God. But when earthly authorities punished them for obeying God, they submitted.

All my life I’ve been addicted,

Mostly it was because I really wanted to learn more about the Bible and God.

As we enter into another school year, ask yourself what you would really like to learn more about. And do it!

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Is a common misquote of this verse.

The more you walk in that forgiveness, the less tempting that sin becomes.

And the more you take advantage of that way out through accountability, the more you triumph over that sin.

Once again, Jesus turns His disciples’ notions on their heads.

Humility doesn’t come naturally, at least not to me.

But it seems that life works out better when we approach it with humility.

Or does it?

We all have things we could grumble about.

let’s be thankful in our situations and and work and pray for the best.

What if everyone who was called to preach and teach approached it with this fervor?

Jesus went viral.

Then cancel culture stepped in.

But you can’t keep a good Influencer down!