Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? … And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Such were some of you. On one hand, what sweet words these are to believers! The church is not for perfect people but for sin-scarred, once-blind, still struggling people. Look at this list! Individuals who once were sexually immoral, idolat...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity (1 Corinthians 16:12). Even our very best plans often meet with significant snags. Many variables can conspire to derail our plans, but one in particular often proves a great help or hindrance in our efforts: people. Planning would be so easy if it weren’t for other people with other opinions! Pastoring, marriage, chi...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9). It is easy and common to skip over this reference of Jesus to himself as the door and jump straight to him as the shepherd (also in this passage in John 10). But pause and consider that Jesus| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Matthew 5:13 is one of the most well-known and popular passages in Scripture. Salt of the earth is a phrase in common usage in the English language, but the phrase’s meaning now has deviated from the original context in which Jesus first spoke it while teaching the crowds of ancient Judea. Currently, salt of the […] The post An Ancient Near-Eastern Understanding of Matthew 5:13 and the Salt of the Earth appeared first on Homiletic & Pastoral Review.| Homiletic & Pastoral Review
"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it" (1 Corinthians 3:10). Paul emphasizes over and over again that his labors were "according to the grace of God." In other| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
What you sow does not come to life unless it dies (1 Corinthians 15:36). Paul, speaking here in the context of the resurrection of the dead, compares our earthly body to a seed. The seed must be planted, and die, in order for it to eventually become the full-grown plant. Similarly, Paul goes on in t| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies (1 Corinthians 15:35-36). Paul, in discussing the truth of the general resurrection of the dead, anticipates some possible queries and objection| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
What happens to God’s plans to save the world if we’re unfaithful? Abram’s encounter with Pharaoh has the answers.| Seeking the kingdom
In calling Abraham, God begins the mission of restoring heaven’s reign to the nations of the earth.| Seeking the kingdom
You know the Tower of Babel? Everywhere else in the Old Testament, Bā·ḇěl is translated “Babylon.” Babylon (Babel) was not a tower; it was a city. And the city had a tower: Genesis 11:1-4 (NIV) 1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a … Continue reading "A kingdom trying to take God’s world (Genesis 11)"| Seeking the kingdom
What’s the point of listing the nations in Genesis 10? It’s a big deal in the big story.| Seeking the kingdom
What should we make of Noah’s indiscretion?| Seeking the kingdom
What’s the significance of the Noah covenant?| Seeking the kingdom
Genesis 9 is effectively a new creation. As Noah emerges from his little preservation box after a year, he offers gifts in recognition of the Lord’s authority, and God affirms the order of creation (8:22). So, what’s the same in this new creation, and what’s different? That’s what Genesis 9 is all about. Will God … Continue reading "God reconfigures the world (Genesis 9:1-7)"| Seeking the kingdom
Can a ruined creation be rescued? Genesis 8 says it can. The story began with God’s decrees bringing order to the world, putting everything in its right place, with humans representing God’s management (Genesis 1). But partnership with God in a world of astounding provision wasn’t enough (Genesis 2). We transgressed the boundaries God set … Continue reading "Rescued (Genesis 8)"| Seeking the kingdom
He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground ... Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark (Genesis 7:23). The worldwide Flood is sobering to consider. In Noah's day, at a real point in time in actual history, every person on earth was drowned except the eig| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
God’s partnership with humans broke down. Cain went out from God’s presence (4:16) to build a city that trusted violence for justice (4:23). The rest of Adam’s family (Genesis 5) exchanged God’s values for what seemed “good” to them (6:2), lauding the strong fighters, the heroes of old, the men of renown (6:4). They only thought … Continue reading "Ruined (Genesis 7)"| Seeking the kingdom
Here’s the start of a new family story: Genesis 6:9-10 (NIV) 9 This is the account [tôlēḏôṯ] of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Christian readers have problems here. How … Continue reading "Judging and saving a corrupted creation (Genesis 6:9-22)"| Seeking the kingdom
Genesis 4:8 (NIV) Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Death is the ultimate destruction of o…| Seeking the kingdom
We’re no longer in God’s royal garden, but we’re still under God’s governance. Despite the unsuccessful coup, God’s providence remains:| Seeking the kingdom
The Tree of Life was God’s sustaining life that kept them alive. They no longer have access to that privilege, having declared themselves gods in their own right, deciding good and evil for themsel…| Seeking the kingdom
The agents God trusted with caring for creation attempted a coup, to become gods, to define good and evil for themselves. How does God respond? God takes responsibility, but how God handles justice…| Seeking the kingdom
The knowledge of good and evil stays with God. God’s first instruction tell us what is not good:| Seeking the kingdom
The all-powerful God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1). God breathes his existence into us: Genesis 2:7 (NIV) Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed int…| Seeking the kingdom
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts... (1 Corinthians 14:1). Christians should desire giftedness. Although any spiritual gift is useless unless it is practiced in love (1 Corinthians 13:1-2), Paul exhorts the saints to desire the spiritual gifts. When was the last time you prayed f| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
This verse shows us how to recognize the family stories in Genesis, framing our identity in relation to God and to each other.| Seeking the kingdom
The seventh day crowns it all.| Seeking the kingdom
Prefer podcasts? This one covers our three previous posts on Genesis 1, the first chapter of the series Formed in God’s Story: Genesis 1–12.| Seeking the kingdom
We discover our identity in relation to God.| Seeking the kingdom
God is the subject of almost every sentence in Genesis 1. His decrees give earth its shape and significance.| Seeking the kingdom
Questions to deepen our praise.| Seeking the kingdom
God saves those who trust him.| Seeking the kingdom
The final psalm in Book 3 is the low point of the Psalter. Jerusalem has fallen. Judah is captive to Babylon. There is no longer any nation to show the nations the wonder of belonging to God. The k…| Seeking the kingdom
How do you pray when everything falls apart?| Seeking the kingdom
How does Israel’s prayer for their king (Psalm 72) relate to us today?| Seeking the kingdom
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Notice that Paul couches the amazing Christian claim that| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
In studying through a difficult passage of Scripture recently, I came across a quote from Charles Spurgeon that applies to every passage of Scripture: "My love of consistency with my own doctrinal views is not great enough to allow me knowingly to alter a single text of Scripture. I have great respe| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). The great sin of the city of Babel is not tower-building, or unified labor toward a societal goal| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5). John Wesley, as a post-graduate at Oxford, was a preacher himself and the son of a preacher. He was orth| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:4). There is a theological point to make from this verse, because Paul is thanking God for his grace to believers. As he does continually in his letters, Paul is reminding the saint| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
It is required of stewards that they be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2) There is a crucial balance represented here. On one hand, stewards only manage things that have been given to their care. A steward is someone who is entrusted with property that is not his or her own. As Paul points out late| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We have no idea how deeply damaging the unconfessed sin in our life is. But we also cannot imagine how powerful and wise God's forgiveness and cleansing will be. Stop Hidi| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2). Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is an epistle written to stra| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). What a sweeping, staggering claim this is! And yet Paul says we can know for certain that all the details of our lives are working together for our good, as believe| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:23-25). Our Very| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it (Genesis 9:6-7). God knows that humans are fallen, broken creatures. Even as Noah steps off the Ark into the new, pos| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! (Psalm 139:1) Notice two things from this brief statement. First, it recognizes the fact that God knows us, is intimately acquainted with us. Second, it is a prayer. It is a prayer from the psalmist, talking to God, and recognizing God’s ever-presence with| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart (Psalm 104:14-15). The psalmist is worshiping God for all his creative acts| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
...I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits (1 Corinthians 16:7). Even the best of desires may not be brought to fruition here on earth. Even our best kingdom visions may never be fulfilled. And even our best plans may never come to pass. Here even the apostle Paul himself admits that| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) When we open the door of communication with Jesus, Jesus himself describes this event as being like dinner with a dear friend. Do you come to| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). Implicit in Jesus' promise is this reality: the merciful recognize their own need for mercy. Otherwise, how could Jesus' promise hold any weight? If I don't need mercy, then what good is there in promising me mercy? But if I see m| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me (1 C| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). In the middle of this famous chapter on spiritual gifts, Paul makes it clear that partaking of the Spirit of God is something that every Christian exper| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
We know that “an idol has no real existence" (1 Corinthians 8:4). Paul, while addressing an immediate problem related to Christian liberty, simultaneously addresses a vital overarching point regarding idolatry. Idols are nothing; they are not just false gods, they are no gods at all. Of course the m| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9). It is easy and common to skip over this reference of Jesus to himself as the door and jump straight to him as the shepherd (also in this passage in John 10). But pause and consider that Jesus| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
This essay examines the pedagogical contribution of Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150 – 215) and implications for contemporary catechesis. Inductive| Homiletic & Pastoral Review
The Resurrection is a central mystery of our Christian faith. Without the perspective of the resurrection, we lose sight of eternity and the life| Homiletic & Pastoral Review
