Tag Archives: inspiration

A Sudden Trip to Egypt and a Home in Nazareth

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Don Merritt

Matthew 2:13-23 When we left off, the Magi, because of a message from God in a dream, left the house where the infant Messiah was staying in Bethlehem and returned home without going back to tell Herod where the child … Continue reading →

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Joseph Gets the News

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Don Merritt

Matthew 1:18-25 This scene explains the ambiguity that we found in 1:16 regarding the father of Jesus, and I’m sure you will recall our discussion of that from last time. Joseph was betrothed to Mary, which in that place and … Continue reading →

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The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: Matthew 1:6-17

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Don Merritt

Matthew continues his genealogy as he moves from the first group of 14 names to the next. The first group culminates in King David, that glorious figure who is “a man after God’s own heart”, with whom God made a … Continue reading →

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The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: Matthew 1:1-6

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Don Merritt

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: (1:1) Matthew begins with this verse full of content and contextual implications. It would seem that Matthew is intent on linking the story of Jesus to the … Continue reading →

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The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: Introduction

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Don Merritt

I’ll confess to you right here and now that when I sit down to read the Bible, I skip the genealogies, but when I sit down to study the Bible, I look for genealogies. For many who casually read the … Continue reading →

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Matthew: A Brief Introduction

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Don Merritt

From the second century AD onward, Matthew the tax collector has been identified as the author of this, the first Gospel in our New Testament. As is true with the other three Gospels, it first began to be circulated without … Continue reading →

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Do You Believe?

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Don Merritt

I thought I’d share a really great sermon message with you today, one I heard this past Sunday. It is from Genesis 15 and covers God’s covenant with Abraham in a most interesting way.  Let me know what you think… … Continue reading →

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To God be the Glory!

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Don Merritt

 Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 22-23 This is Jude’s final instruction to his readers.  It is … Continue reading →

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Bonus Post: Jude and Peter

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Don Merritt

Why are Jude 4-16 and 2 Peter 2:1-18 so similar? There are many parallel passages in Scripture, but these two are more than just parallel, they are almost the same, close enough anyway that this deserves a look.  Over the … Continue reading →

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Final Thoughts on James

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Don Merritt

Old Testament Israel lived under the Law of Moses, very much a transactional system of law, violations, punishment and atonement. The great priority of that system was found in avoiding violations to curry God’s favor. Sacrifices were carried out continually … Continue reading →

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