Past, Present, Future

January 19, 2019 by Kevin Johnson

Do you ever struggle with knowing how to look at your current circumstances?

The book of Colossians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul while he is in prison. Think about that situation! Paul followed God’s calling to share the Gospel, and as a result of that, he’s ended up in jail. For doing the will of God, Paul ended up in prison! There’s a passage in chapter 4 of Colossians where Paul puts his experience in perspective of the past, the present, and the future.

Perspective + Patience

August 22, 2018 by Kevin Johnson

Did you ever have a teacher who would read to your class? I always loved that. Sometimes they had a rocking chair. My teachers always knew how to hold the book just right so that everyone could see. At times they would share stories, but sometimes they would gather everyone around to tell them something very important.

There's a moment in the book of James, where James does just that.

The Words of Jesus

July 25, 2018 by Kevin Johnson

Are there any parts of Scripture that you remember, but you couldn't find on your own? Sometimes there are illustrations or stories that we remember, but we don't know who said them. You may remember the warning to build your house on the rock instead of the sand. Do you know who said that and why?

It's the ending to one of Jesus' most famous sermons. Here's what He said in Matthew 7:24-27.

Circumstances

March 20, 2018 by Kevin Johnson

As we read the Bible, it can be easy to forget that there were people involved. It can feel like we’re opening up a confusing, sometimes mysterious, holy book, and we forget that there were real people involved.

Philippians was a letter written by Paul. For us, Paul has become a sort of larger-than-life missionary that we attribute most of the New Testament to. We have to remember that Paul was just a man. He was a kid once. He experienced a lot of the same things we do. He wrote Philippians in the midst of some interesting circumstances.

Paul wrote this letter from prison.

His Heart Struck Him

March 13, 2018 by Kevin Johnson

There's a story from the Old Testament that has always fascinated me. It took place by the Wildgoats' Rocks near the wilderness of Engedi. What a location!

David was on the run. Though he had been anointed as the next king of Israel, he wasn't in charge yet. Think about what a confusing time this must have been for David. Imagine experiencing a prophet showing up at your house and anointing you as the next king of Israel. How do you live with that knowledge?