There’s a little word with a big meaning hidden away in the text of our reading today from 2 Peter 1. In verse 5 he writes, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue”. The word translated “supplement” is epichoregeo and it refers to a specific type of patron, or benefactor, in the Greek world called the choragus.

It’s so easy to read lists like the fruit of the spirit and think “those are some nice characteristics” and move on quickly. But there is real value in slowing down and carefully going through the lists and trying to figure out why each characteristic is listed. It’s not as if the apostles just grabbed a random assortment...

I have been doing a study on freedom so verse 16 from today’s reading in 1 Peter 2 caught my eye – “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” I find freedom to be a fascinating topic for several reasons. One of those is that people who think they are free very often are not.

Isaiah chapter 35 is one of the most beloved passages of Scripture for a lot of people. It’s a wonderful vision of the Kingdom and the amazing transformation that will take place across the globe. But before looking at some of the details let’s first look at the conclusion of the chapter which say...

About a week ago I was putting the finishing touches on my high school Sunday School class when I realized I had to put aside that lesson. Racial injustice was in the public eye, social media was flooded with views, and it was obvious I needed to talk to my class on the subject. What does the Bible say about racism?

Patience doesn’t come naturally to many of us, especially in this fast food world. We are used to instant gratification and waiting for something can make us grumble. In our reading from James 5 we have a section on patience where he exhorts us to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord.

James is the Greek form of the name Jacob and he seems to have his namesake in mind when he writes his epistle. He writes “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion” (James 1:1). When Jacob fled into Syria it was a foreshadowing of that dispersion...

Woven through the last chapter of Hebrews 13 is the story of Joseph. Which is interesting because verse 1 – “Let brotherly love continue” – is certainly not what Joseph experienced early on in life from his brothers. But despite what they did to him, by selling him into slavery, it didn’t stop him showing brotherly love to them when they came down to Egypt.

In today’s reading from James 1 we have a very succinct summary of what true religion entails – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27). It’s a curious verse for several reasons, one of which is James’ use of the word “religion”.

Woven through the last chapter of Hebrews 13 is the story of Joseph. Which is interesting because verse 1 – “Let brotherly love continue” – is certainly not what Joseph experienced early on in life from his brothers. But despite what they did to him, by selling him into slavery, it didn’t stop him showing brotherly love to them when they came down to Egypt.

Racial prejudice is one of the greatest worldwide moral and political problems of our age. While the intensity of the problem and the degree of personal involvement may vary depending on our local circumstances, as brethren of Christ we cannot avoid confronting so important a moral issue.

Cities are reeling from mass protests across America since the tragic death of George Floyd. People of all races have banded together to protest what they believe are systematic injustices toward people of color. They see the repeated behaviors of injustice as being actions that are incongruent...