Here two groups of believers are mentioned without accompanying descriptions or commendations: “the brothers with them” (v 14), and “all the saints with them” (v 15). Apparently, Paul’s ties with these believers were not as strong as his ties with all the others who have been previously mentioned.

What do you remember? I have probably heard about 3,000 exhortations in my life. Apart from the last few, how many do I remember? Well, frankly, very few. And what are the characteristics of the ones that I do remember?

Isaiah 50 is about the obedient servant. This is a Messianic passage, about redemption. The Lord had come calling but there was no one listening, as if His arm was too short. Isaiah/Jesus lit a fire of redemption, by his obedience to the Lord, his instructed tongue.

A five-year research project1 explored the challenges of faith development among teens and young adults within a rapidly shifting culture. There were eight national studies, interviewing teenagers, young adults, parents, youth pastors, and senior pastors, and they focused on those who were regular church-goers during their teen years and their reasons for disconnection from church life after age 15.