Tag Archives: inspiration

I AM the Gate

Posted on December 22, 2024 by Don Merritt

John 10:1-18 Introduction This passage is figurative. (John 10:6) There are 8 components of the extended metaphor in this section: The shepherd is the caretaker and owner of the sheep. The sheep (flock) are the animals that the shepherd loves and cares for. The thief is … Continue reading →

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O Come, O Come… for a Sunday Morning

Posted on December 22, 2024 by Don Merritt

Here’s a great video and a wonderful song to start off the last week of Christmas. I hope it gets your week off to a great start!

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I AM

Posted on December 21, 2024 by Don Merritt

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58 This verse comes at the end of a rather long discussion between Jesus and the Jewish leaders that began with the validity of His testimony, and moved to … Continue reading →

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Father Abraham: Warrior

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Don Merritt

Genesis 14 Abram remained conscious of God’s promises; he remained in Canaan and prospered. Lot saw a financial advantage and left Canaan to live on the Jordan plain, taking up his headquarters in Sodom, a town filled with wickedness against … Continue reading →

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The Last Supper

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Don Merritt

Matthew 26:17-30 This passage opens with Jesus giving instructions to the disciples about the arrangements for the Passover meal that remind us of His instructions to them in 21:1-3 about the arrangements for His entry into Jerusalem. After everything had … Continue reading →

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Father Abraham: High Ground Reclaimed

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Don Merritt

Genesis 13 After leaving Egypt Abram and his party returned eventually to Canaan where they settled and tended to their herds of livestock; Abram became quite wealthy. After some time, it became clear that the herds had grown to the … Continue reading →

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The Pace Picks Up

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Don Merritt

Matthew 26:1-16 We have now begun the final section of Matthew’s Gospel. I don’t want to interrupt the narrative of Matthew’s story, so I will compile a Bonus Post with the background on this section, which is quite interesting. I … Continue reading →

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Father Abraham: Abram’s Travel Adventures

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Don Merritt

Genesis 12:10-20 After God called Abram, he packed up everything and everyone in his rather considerable household and set off for a destination God would show him, and as we discussed in the last section, this is one of the … Continue reading →

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 A Tale of Three Parables, part 2

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Don Merritt

Matthew 25: 31-46 The Parable of the Sheep and Goats answers the question asked in 24:3b another way, for here we are not dealing with virgins awaiting the bridegroom or servants awaiting the master’s return but instead, with judgement day. … Continue reading →

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Father Abraham: God’s Call

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Don Merritt

Maybe I’m crazy, but I think Abraham is someone we should remember when we consider the “Christmas Story”. Oh, I realize that the birth of Christ came some 2,000 years after he died, so I’m not suggesting he’s a character … Continue reading →

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