Biblical Studies

Meditations on 2 Corinthians

Taking every Thought Captive for Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-6)
Gentle Authority (2 Cor. 10:1-2)
“In the Flesh, but not According to the Flesh” (2 Cor. 10:3-4)
“Super” Spirituality and a Call for Discernment (2 Cor. 10:7)
Religious Bullies and How to Avoid Them (2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10)
Boasting, Comparing, and Commending: A Warning (2 Cor. 10:9-12)
Is all Boasting Bad? (2 Cor 10:13-18)
The Jealousy of God in the Heart of a Human (2 Cor. 11:1-2)
Father of the Bride (2 Cor. 11:2)
A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ (1) (2 Cor. 11:3)
A Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ (2) (2 Cor. 11:3)
The Horror of a Different Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4)
Price-less Preaching (2 Cor. 11:5-12)
Knowing your Enemy (2 Cor. 11:13-15)
The Devil Disguised and the False Apostles who serve him (2 Cor. 11:13-15)
Answering a Fool according to his Folly (2 Cor. 11:16-21a)
Writing your Spiritual C.V. (2 Cor. 11:21b-23)
Suffering is a Gift of God! (2 Cor. 11:24-25)
Through many Dangers, Toils, and Snares (2 Cor. 11:26-27)
Paul the Pastor (2 Cor. 11:28-29)
Boasting in Weakness (2 Cor. 11:30-33)
Of Visions and Revelations (2 Cor. 12:1)
Father of Mercies, God of all Comfort (2 Cor. 1:1-3)
Conduits of Divine Comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-7)
God’s Design in our Distress (2 Cor. 1:8-11)
Prayer: Dealing with our Doubts (2 Cor. 1:11)
When Christians Misunderstand Christians (2 Cor. 1:12-2:4)
It was Grace that did it! (2 Cor. 1:12)
Yes! (2 Cor. 1:18-20)
Cinderella no more! (2 Cor. 1:21-22)
For Joy (2 Cor. 1:23-2:4)
Reflections on Church Discipline (2 Cor. 2:5-11)
Satanic Stratagems (2 Cor. 2:11)
The Dangers of “Triumphalism” (2 Cor. 2:14)
Smelling Good to God (2 Cor. 2:15-16)
Is anyone Sufficient for these things? Yes! (2 Cor. 2:16b-17)
Epistles of Christ (2 Cor. 3:1-3)
The Surpassing Glory of the New Covenant (2 Cor. 3:4-11)
“’Bumped along’ the pathway to Glory” (2 Cor. 3:18)
Fighting Discouragement (2 Cor. 4:1)
Tampering with God’s Word (2 Cor. 4:2)
The Gospel: Veiled and Unveiled (2 Cor. 4:3-4)
A Divine and Supernatural Light (2 Cor. 4:5-6)
Jars of Clay and the Glory of God (2 Cor. 4:7)
Knocked Down, but Not Out (2 Cor. 4:8-12)
Faith over Fear (2 Cor. 4:13-15)
Gazing Intently at What You Can’t See (2 Cor. 4:16-18)
What Happens When a Christian Dies? (1) (2 Cor. 5:1-5)
What Happens When a Christian Dies? (2) (2 Cor. 5:6-8)
What Happens When a Christian Dies? (3) (2 Cor. 5:9-10)
You, Others, and the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:11-12)
“Out of his mind” for God (2 Cor. 5:13)
The Controlling Power of the Cross (2 Cor. 5:14-15)
His Love and Our Fear: Can the Two Co-Exist? (2 Cor. 5:11, 14)
Seeing Others Spiritually: A Practical Consequence of the Cross (2 Cor. 5:16)
Behold! A New Creation! (2 Cor. 5:17)
When God Saves Sinners from God (2 Cor. 5:18-21)
Could Jesus have Sinned? (2 Cor. 5:21)
Receiving the Grace of God in Vain (2 Cor. 6:1-2)
The Most Eloquent Advertisement for the Gospel (2 Cor. 6:3)
When People see You, does God look Good? (2 Cor. 6:4)
Examples of Endurance in Waco, Texas (2 Cor. 6:4)
The Treasure, quite simply, is Christ (2 Cor. 6:8-9)
Feasting on the Promise of a Future with Christ (2 Cor. 6:4-5)
What’s a Christian to do? (2 Cor. 6:6-7)
Spiritual Schizophrenia (2 Cor. 6:10)
Dealing with Dysfunction in the Family of Faith (2 Cor. 6:11-13)
The Life of the Church in the World vs. The Life of the World in the Church (2 Cor. 6:14-16a)
We are the Temple of the Living God! (2 Cor 6:16b-7:1)
Standing on the Promises (2 Cor. 7:1)
Learning to Lead like Paul (2 Cor. 7:2-4)
Comfort for the Downcast (2 Cor 7:5-7)
Tough Love: The First Century Version (2 Cor. 7:8-12)
“Body Life” as it was meant to be (2 Cor. 7:13-16)
Are Christians Obligated to Tithe? (2 Cor. 8-9)
Grace Giving (2 Cor. 8:1-2)
Joyful Giving (2 Cor. 8:1-2)
Generous Giving (2 Cor 8:1-5)
Breaking the Grip of Greed (2 Cor 8:6-11)
Money Matters (2 Cor 8:12-24)
Sovereign Lord of our Hearts (2 Cor 8:16-17)
Giving that Gets in order to Give (1) (2 Cor. 9:1-6)
Giving that Gets in order to Give (2) (2 Cor. 9:7)
Giving that Gets in order to Give (3) (2 Cor. 9:8-11)
In all Giving, God gets the Glory! (2 Cor. 9:12-15)

Meditations on the Psalms

God's Prescription for Happiness (Psalm 1:1-3)
Read to Rejoice (Psalm 1:1-3)
The Lifter of my Head (Psalm 3:3)
More Joy (Psalm 4:7)
What Makes God Smile? (Psalm 5)
Enough! (Psalm 10)
How Long, O Lord? (1) (Psalm 13)
How Long, O Lord? (2) (Psalm 13)
The Rewards of Integrity (Psalm 15)
Satisfaction (Psalm 16)
Look Up and Listen (Psalm 19:1-6)
Drippings of the Honeycomb (Psalm 19:7-14)
The Agony and the Ecstasy (Psalm 22)
The Good Shepherd and the Gracious Host (Psalm 23)
God's Aim is the Fame of his Name (Psalm 23:3)
One Thing, Once More (Psalm 27:4)
The Blessedness of Forgiveness! (Psalm 32)
The Stability of his Steadfast Love (Psalm 33)
Pursuing God (Psalm 34)
Those Troubling Psalms of Imprecation (1) (Psalm 35, etc.)
Those Troubling Psalms of Imprecation (2) (Psalm 35, etc.)
Those Troubling Psalms of Imprecation (3) (Psalm 35, etc.)
Delight yourself in the Lord! (Psalm 37:4)
Preaching to your Soul (Psalms 42-43)
A Mighty Fortress is our God (Psalm 46)
When Mercy Scrubs Clean the Soul (1) (Psalm 51)
When Mercy Scrubs Clean the Soul (2) (Psalm 51)
I Will Lift Up My Hands! (Psalm 63:4)
It’s All a Matter of Perspective (Psalm 73)
Our Lack, His Supply (Psalm 84)
Reaching God’s Ear (Psalm 86)
Darkness, My Only Companion (Psalm 88)
Hiding Place (Psalm 91)
Worship that Pleases God (Psalms 92-98)
The Fragrance of Gratitude (Psalm 100)
Before the Throne of God Above (Psalm 103:10-12)
God’s Compassion for “Dust”! (Psalm 103:14)
Lord of the Stork and Rock Badger (Psalm 104)
How’s Your Aim? (Psalm 115)
Now, to Him Who is Able (Psalm 115:3)
Sweeter than Honey to my Mouth! (Psalm 119)
Forgiveness: the Foundation for Fear (Psalm 130:3-4)
Omniscient! (Psalm 139:1-6)
Omnipresent! (Psalm 139:7-12)
Omnipotent! (Psalm 139:13-18)
Finding God in the Cave (Psalm 142)
No One Cares for my Soul (Psalm 142)
The Unsearchable Splendor of God (Psalm 145)
Lord of the Stars, Healer of Hearts (Psalm 147)
Praise Him! Praise Him! (Psalms 148-150)

Controversial Issues

Imprecations in the Psalms

Meditations on Revelation 2-3

1) Does Your Church Have an Angel? (2:1)
2) Loving Jesus in Ephesus (2:1)
3) Christ in and Over His Church (2:1)
4) I Know Your Works (2:2a)
5) When God Crowns His Own Grace (2:2a)
6) The Limits of Love (2:2,6)
7) For His Name’s Sake (2:3)
8) When Doctrine Isn’t Enough (2:4-5)
9) Feasting on the Tree of Life (2:7)
10) Seeing the “So That” in Suffering (2:8-9)
11) Sustained by his Sovereignty (Revelation 2:8)
12) Having Nothing, yet Possessing All (Revelation 2:9-10)
13) Faithfulness: The Fruit of Faith (Revelation 2:10)
14) Reflections on the “Second Death” (Revelation 2:11)
15) Satan’s City (Revelation 2:12-13)
16) Wonderful Words of Life (and Death) -(Revelation 2:12)
17) A Paradox in Pergamum (Revelation 2:13)
18) How High the Price of Purity? (Revelation 2:14-16)
19) Jesus is the Feast (Revelation 2:17)
20) A New Name Written Down in Glory (Revelation 2:17)
21) The Threat of Spiritual Inertia (Revelation 2:18-19)
22) That Woman, Jezebel (Revelation 2:20)
23) Jezebel and her Children (Revelation 2:21-23a)
24) He Knows our Kidneys! (Revelation 2:23)
25) The “Jezebel Spirit” (Revelation 2:20-23)
26) Spiritual Osteoporosis (Revelation 2:24-25)
27) Was Jesus an Amillennialist? (Revelation 2:26-29)
28) Seeing isn’t always Believing (Revelation 3:1)
29) The Perks and Pleasures of Spiritual Triumph (Revelation 3:1)
30) Wake Up! (Revelation 3:2-3)
31) An Unstained Remnant (Revelation 3:4-5a)
32) The Book of Life and the Security of the Saints (Revelation 3:5-6)
33) He Knows My Name! (Revelation 3:5-6)
34) On Behalf of the “Mini-Church” (Revelation 3:7-11)
35) Holy Stubbornness (Revelation 3:8)
36) Vindication as the Beloved of God (Revelation 3:9)
37) Kept from the Hour of Trial (Revelation 3:10-11)
38) Pillars of Beauty (Revelation 3:12-13)
39) A New Name for a New Identity (Revelation 3:12-13)
40) The Most (In)Famous Church of All (Revelation 3:14)
41) Amen! (Revelation 3:14)
42) Jesus, Man of Integrity (Revelation 3:14)
43) Jesus, Eternal Son of God, or Jesus, Son of the Eternal God? (Revelation 3:14)
44) Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm? (Revelation 3:15-16)
45) God Glorified in Man's Dependence (Revelation 3:17)
46) Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy (Revelation 3:18)
47) When Love Hurts (Revelation 3:19)
48) Be Zealous and Repent! (Revelation 3:19)
49) Intimacy in the Inner Room (Revelation 3:20)
50) Enthroned! (Revelation 3:21-22)

Deciphering Difficult Texts

Genesis 6
Romans 7
1 Corinthians 3:15 and Purgatory
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
1 John 3:9 and Perseverance
1 Timothy 3:2,12
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Acts 15:14-17
Ephesians 4:7-10
Galatians 2:16
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26-31
Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28
John 3:16
John 20:22
Matthew 7:1-6
Matthew 12:22-32
Revelation 2-3
Romans 1:3-4
1 Corinthians 9:27
1 Kings 18
1 Timothy 1:18-20
2 Timothy 2:11-13
James 5:19-20
John 15:1-6
Romans 9:13
Romans 9:22
Romans 11:22
Romans 14:15
John 3:5 - Part I
John 3:5 - Part II
Philippians 2:12-13
Acts 2:38
Galatians 5:2-4

How to Interpret the Bible

English Grammar
Essential Tools for Exegesis
Exegetical Insights to Greek Verbs
Hermeneutical Principles
Historical-Cultural Analysis
How to do a Word Study

The 7 Letters of Revelation

An Introduction to the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches
The Letter to the Church at Ephesus (2:1-7)
The Letter to the Church at Smyrna (2:8-11)
The Letter to the Church at Pergamum (2:12-17)
The Letter to the Church at Thyatira (2:18-29)
The Letter to the Church at Sardis (3:1-6)
The Letter to the Church at Philadelphia (3:7-13)
The Letter to the Church at Laodicea (3:14-22)

Second & Third John

The Second and Third Epistles of John

First John

Introduction to First John
1:1-10
2:1-2
2:3-17
2:18-27
2:28-3:3
3:4-10a
3:10b-24
4:1-6
4:7-21
First John 5:1-21
First John - Bibliography

Colossians

The Will of God (1:1a)
Our Dual Identity (1:2a)
Grace to You, Grace With You (1:2b)
And Peace from God (1:2b)
Why Thank God? (1:3-4)
Faith and Love: Visible Virtues (1:4)
Hope: The Fountain of Faith and Love - Part I (1:4-5)
Hope: The Fountain of Faith and Love - Part II (1:4-5)
The Word of Truth (1:5-6)
In the Spirit (1:8)
A Remarkable Man (1:7-8, 4:12-13)
Intercession: Why, for Whom, and How Often? (1:9a)
Intercession: What Should We Ask for? (1:9b)
Fruitless Knowledge (1:10)
Worthy of the Lord/Pleasing to the Lord (1:10)
Power and Perseverance (1:11)
Glad-Hearted Gratitude (1:12a)
Qualified in Christ (1:12)
Delivered from Darkness (1:13a)
Forever Forgiven (1:14)
Who is this Man? (1:15-20)
Seeing the Father in the Son (1:15)
Praising Christ with Prepositions (1:16)
Shaken, but Safe in Him (1:17)
Preeminent in all things (1:18)
Wholly God Part I (1:19, 2:9)
Wholly God Part II (1:19, 2:9)
Wholly God Part III (1:19, 2:9)
Will Everyone be Saved? Part I (1:20)
Will Everyone be Saved? Part II (1:20)
"Before" (1:21)
"But Now" (1:22)
"After" (1:23)
No Continuation, No Presentation (1:23)
Joy in Suffering?! (1:23)
Filling up the Afflictions of Christ (1:24)
The Hope of Glory (1:25-27)
Everyone for Everyone (1:28)
His Power Divine Part I (1:29)
His Power Divine Part II (1:29)
A Most Fervent Wrestle With the Lord (2:1-3)
Anatomy of a Prayer (2:1-3)
Defeating Doubt (2:1-3)
Treasuring Christ (2:1-3)
How is Your Faith? (2:4-5)
Thanks, I Needed That (2:6-7)
Fullness of Life (2:8-10)
Glorious Truths in Gruesome Terms (2:11)
Why I am a Baptist (2:12)
Faith in What?! (2:12)
Alive in Him! (2:13-14)
Jesus Paid it All (2:13-14)
Demons: Disarmed, Displayed, Defeated Part I (2:15)
Demons: Disarmed, Displayed, Defeated Part II (2:15)
Legalism Can Be Lethal (2:16-23)
"Do Not Let Them Judge You" (2:16-17)
"Do Not Let Them Disqualify You" (2:18-19)
"Do Not Let Them Enslave You" (2:20-23)
Fighting Pleasure With Pleasure (3:1-4)
Celebrating Christocentricity (3:1-4)
Was Paul (am I, are You) a Gnostic (3:1-4)
Hidden in Him (3:1-4)
Glorified in Him (3:1-4)
Ruthless or Wreckless (3:5-11)
Sexual Impurity: A Warning (3:5)
Idolatry Without Idols (3:5)
Is a God Without Wrath a Good God? (3:6)
Changing Clothes (3:8)
The Destructive Power of Deception (3:9a)
"To Life" vs. "From Life" (3:9-10)
To Be Like Jesus (3:10)
"All that Matters is You, O Lord!" (3:11)
Changed by His Choice (3:12)
The Seamless Garment of Christian Godliness (3:12)
Forgive, As the Lord Has Forgiven You Part I (3:13)
Forgive as the Lord has Forgiven You Part II (3:13)
The Crowning Glory of Christian Godliness (3:14)
The Peace of Christ (3:15)
How Rich the Word of Christ! (3:16)
Wholehearted Worship (3:16)
Singing Truth (3:16)
Comprehensive Christianity or Doing all in the Name of Christ? (3:17)
Wives Who Submit to Their Husbands (3:18)
Husbands Who Lovingly Lead their Wives (3:19)
Focus on the Family (3:20-21)
Is ALL Scripture Profitable? (3:22 4:1)
You are serving the Lord Christ! (3:22-4:1)
The Easiest thing about Prayer (4:2)
Pray Thankfully! (4:2)
Just Do It (4:3-4)
Open Doors for the Gospel (4:3-4)
Human Set-Backs or Divine Set-Ups? (4:3-4)
"Salty" Speach and the Salvation of Souls (4:5-6)
When Christians Clash Part I (4:10,14)
When Christians Clash Part II (4:10,14)
When Christians Clash Part III (4:10,14)
Superstar-less Christianity (4:7-17)
Women on the Frontlines (4:15)
The Public Reading of "Lost" Scripture (4:16)
Remember My Chains (4:18)

2 Corinthians

Introduction to 2 Corinthians
1:1-11
1:12-2:4
2:5-11
2:12-17
3:1-18
4:1-18
5:1-10
5:11-21
6:1-13
6:14-7:16
8:1-24
9:1-15
10:1-18
11:1-33
12:1-10
12:11-13:14
2 Corinthians - Bibliography

Ephesians

Introduction to Ephesians
1:1-2
1:3-6
1:7-14
1:15-23
2:1-10
2:11-22
3:1-13
3:14-21
4:1-16
4:17-32
5:1-33
6:1-24
Ephesians - Bibliography

Romans

Introduction to Romans
Outline of Romans (Broad Version)
Outline of Romans (Detailed Version)
Romans 1 Addendum
1:1-17
1:18-32
2:1-3:20
3:21-31
4:1-25
5:1-21
6:1-23
7:1-25
8:1-30
8:31-39
9:1-5
9:6-13
9:14-18
9:19-33
10:1-21
11:1-36
12:1-21
13:1-14
14:1-23
15:1-16:27
Purpose of Romans 9-11
Romans - Bibliography

Sermon on the Mount

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
Introduction to the Beatitudes
Beatitudes - 5:3-7
Beatitudes - 5:8-12
5:13-16
5:17-20
5:21-26
5:27-30
5:31-32
5:33-37
5:38-48
6:1-4
6:5-15
6:16-18
6:19-24
6:25-34
7:1-6
7:7-11
7:12-14
7:15-23
7:24-29
Sermon on the Mount - Bibliography

Daniel

Introduction to Daniel
1:1-21
2:1-49
3:1-30
4:1-37
5:1-31
6:1-28
7:1-28 Part I
7:1-28 Part II
8:1-27
9:1-27
10:1-11:1
11:2-12:13
Apocalyptic
Daniel - Bibliography

Ecclesiastes

Introduction to Ecclesiastes
1:1-18
2:1-26
3:1-4:16
5:1-20
7:1-8:17
9:1-11:6
11:7-12:14
Ecclesiastes - Bibliography

Proverbs

Introduction to Proverbs
Introduction to Poetic Wisdom
God in Proverbs
Proverbs on Pride
The Fool and the Wise
Words in Proverbs
Proverbs - Bibliography
Proverbs - A Topical Summary

Psalms

-Imprecations in the Psalms-
Introduction to the Psalms (Part I)
Introduction to the Psalms (Part II)
Praise in the Psalms
Prayer in the Psalms
Psalm 3
Psalm 10
Psalm 15
Psalm 19
Psalm 22
Psalm 27
Psalm 33
Psalm 34
Psalm 51
Psalm 104
Psalm 139
Psalm 145
Psalm 148
Psalms - Bibliography

Job

Introduction to Job
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapters 4-7
Chapters 8-37
Chapters 38-42