Latest Commentaries

Peter and John encounter a lame beggar in the temple courtyard. He asks them for money, but instead of giving him silver or gold, Peter heals the man of his disability in the name of Jesus. The man leaps about and follows Peter and John, praising God. Nearby crowds see this miracle.

Paul blesses his readers with words of goodwill from God, that the Thessalonians would experience His peace and favor always.

Paul deals with an issue within the Thessalonian church. There are some believers who aren’t providing for themselves by refusing to work.

Paul asks for prayers that his efforts to spread the gospel elsewhere would be as fruitful as they were with the Thessalonians. He tells them that he is confident that they will continue to grow in their faith. God and Christ strengthen us against the actions of the Devil.  

David and Israel are victorious against the Philistines and their champion Goliath.

David fights Goliath

David volunteers to fight Goliath, recalling his faith in the God of Israel and the skills he acquired protecting his father’s sheep. He assures King Saul that God will deliver him from Goliath as well.  

David learns of Goliath and angers his oldest brother with his curiosity and his fearless speech upon hearing of the seemingly unbeatable Philistine champion.

David, a shepherd and the youngest of eight sons is sent by his father Jesse to his brothers on the battlefront with the intention of knowing their welfare.

We are introduced to Goliath, the champion of the Philistines.

Israel sets their army in array against the Philistine enemy.

Pure religion, a life focused on pleasing God, is objectively identifiable and genuinely valuable.

Those who live the word they hear will be blessed in their doing.

Believers are delivered from spiritual downfall by rejecting evil and receiving the implanted word to grow in the righteousness of God.

James concludes his emphasis on suffering well, remaining humble, and overcoming temptation by directing his readers to the nature of God.

The steps to failure in the life of a believer start with evil desire and end in death.

Believers who suffer well through trials will receive a future blessing from God. These blessings will far exceed any blessing we can gain from the world.

Humility, the ability to see reality as it is, is the proper mindset for the believer, whether wealthy or poor.

James anticipates the possibility that some of his readers may lack the ability to rejoice in a trial, so he offers a remedy based on the character of God. The believer who lacks the faith to rejoice can ask God for the wisdom needed; but this request must be made with a single-minded faith, otherwise there is no reason to expect God to give the wisdom to rejoice in the trial at hand.

James challenges believers to rejoice in trials because a tested faith leads to becoming a mature Christian.