action (63)

Ian

Empathize and Build

Philippians 2:19–30, Romans 15:1–7 empathy: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner…

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Ian

Separating Works

Deuteronomy 18:9–14, 1 Samuel 28:3–25, Galatians 5:16–26 The list of people not to listen to is interesting. As part of the Israelites' preparation to enter the Promised Land, these people were to not be sought out. From a cultural standpoint, this is not a small…

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Ian

Very Much Active

Numbers 11:16–17+Numbers 11:24–30, 1 Samuel 10:1–13, Mark 9:35–41 The Holy Spirit—the third person of the Trinity—often does not act in a way we understand or can predict. That makes us frustrated. For example, there are Christians who believe the Holy Spirit has ceased miraculous activity.

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Ian

Freedom From Earned

Genesis 15:1–6, Romans 5:1–11, 1 John 1:5–2:2 One of the ongoing struggles that people have is earning their salvation. They think they can, or that they must. This is what is often called “works” in Christian circles. Theologians have discussed what “works” is from a…

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Ian

Sign of the Flesh

Joshua 5:1–9 You’ve been literally following (cloud by day; fire by night) God for 40 years. In that time, you’ve eaten mysterious white stuff that shows up at dawn and melts by noon. Your clothes and sandals don’t wear out. Water mysteriously appears in the…

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