Discipleship – Rising with the Son

Stick with Jesus

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. – John 15:4–5 (NIV) A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of watching TheContinueContinue reading “Stick with Jesus”

Enjoy Their Light

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. (John 5:35 NIV) John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah. He prepared the way for Jesus by proclaiming about His coming kingdom and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (seeContinueContinue reading “Enjoy Their Light”

Let Your Light Shine

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see yourContinueContinue reading “Let Your Light Shine”

See a Need, Meet a Need

The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing. The man threw his armsContinueContinue reading “See a Need, Meet a Need”

Back to Basics

Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (John 21:2-3 NIV) There’s a reason whyContinueContinue reading “Back to Basics”

Speak the Language of Love

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV) Today the church celebrates Pentecost, a profound time in its history when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles 50 days after Jesus ascended toContinueContinue reading “Speak the Language of Love”

Be a Victor, Not a Victim

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NIV) Victim mentality may get us pity, but it won’t give us power. After listing all of the terrible things that could possibly happen but can’t separate us from God’s love, such as trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger orContinueContinue reading “Be a Victor, Not a Victim”

Women Who Rise

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (John 20:1 NIV) A careful reading of the resurrection account reveals why women, in particular Mary Magdalene, were the first to discover the empty tomb andContinueContinue reading “Women Who Rise”

You’ve Got a Friend in Jesus

Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. (Mark 14:50 NIV) When Jesus needed His disciples during the most crucial time in His life and ministry, they all “deserted Him and ran away.” Not to mention that one denied Him after promising that he would never do that even if all of the othersContinueContinue reading “You’ve Got a Friend in Jesus”

Go and Tell Them

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead ofContinueContinue reading “Go and Tell Them”