Tag Archives: hope

Very Good News!

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Don Merritt

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, Kingdom, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 10 Comments

Jesus Seizes the Initiative

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 12:35-37 Parallel Texts: Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44 On that fateful Tuesday, Jesus has fought off three waves of attack from Jewish authorities who each peppered Him with questions designed to entrap Him into a mistake they could use as … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 3 Comments

Jesus Under Attack: The Third Wave

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Don Merritt

On that busy Tuesday, Jesus came under assault first by the chief Priest, then by the Pharisees, and now the third wave of attacks, this time from the Sadducees and then the teachers of the law. First, the Sadducees: Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, Jesus, Kingdom, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 3 Comments

Nakedness as a Metaphor in Scripture: The New Testament

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Don Merritt

You might have thought after our last post on this subject that it’s all well and good to discuss nakedness in the Old Testament, but we live under the New Testament, and many things changed because of what Jesus has … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, naked, nakedness, NMS | 4 Comments

Jesus Under Attack, the Second Wave

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 12:13-17 Parallel Texts: Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:20-26 The second wave began later that same Tuesday. Jesus had already repulsed the attack of the Chief Priest, and this time, the Pharisees and their Herodian allies come at Him. As you … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, Mark 2.0 | 8 Comments

Jesus Under Attack

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Don Merritt

After Jesus’ discussion of the fig tree, He and the disciples enter the Temple courts and are observed by the priests and their entourage; the priests waste no time in challenging Him… Mark 11:27-33 Parallel Texts: Matthew 21:23-27; Luke 20:1-8 … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, Kingdom, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 3 Comments

Something Wonderful

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Don Merritt

Yesterday, something wonderful happened, we had a guest join our Sunday morning small group; a guest who was thousands of miles away in a different country with a different accent in a different culture. This part made the day novel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged Applied Theology, Christian, church, church growth, encouragement, hope, Jesus, Kingdom, life, love | 14 Comments

Figs, Corruption and Prayers

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 11:12-26 Parallel Texts: Matthew 21:18-19, 11-13, 20-22; Luke 19:45-48; 21:37-38 Few teachers teach this section from Mark’s account, preferring instead to use the parallel in Matthew or Luke with their more confused timelines, but Mark’s timeline is much more … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged Bible study, Christian, discipleship, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, Kingdom, life, love, Mark 2.0 | 7 Comments

Faith and… a Tree

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Don Merritt

Many have said that the simple things in life are the best. Simple things don’t cost much, usually aren’t flashy and are seldom mentioned in the newspapers… Things like devotion to duty, love of family, faith in God and serving … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged Christian, Devotional, encouragement, hope, inspiration, Jesus, life, love, photos | 8 Comments

Triumphal Entry

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 11:1-11 Parallel Texts: Matthew 21:1-12, 14-17; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19 As we have come to expect, Mark gives us the simple facts of the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem as King and Messiah without fanfare or explanation of … Continue reading →