Cover-to-Cover

Colossians 4 We should be aware of the outside world and use wisdom to win the people who are far from God. In verse 5 it says, “Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.” In the last chapter, we talked about the importance of our...

Colossians 3 “But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!” In context, Paul is saying that because we are hidden in Christ, we need to surrender to the new nature (spirit) and put an end to the sinful appetites of our soul and body. He mentions several wrongful...

Colossians 2 When we receive the revelation of who we are in Christ, there is tremendous freedom! In verses 9-15 we read about what Christ did for us and how we can enter into a union with Him and live a limitless, supernatural life. I encourage you, as you go through Colossians, circle every time you read a reference to being in Him or in Christ. This relationship has everything...

Colossians 1 Faith is believing, but it is so much more. Verse 4 says, “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God’s consecrated ones).” Faith is about reliance on God to the point of...

Philippians 4 Some of these verses are real celebrities; they’re well-known, well-liked, often quoted. There are many Scriptures we pull out of this chapter that can stand on their own, but how often do we read them together? Verse 4 is a well-known verse about rejoicing or gladdening ourselves in the Lord. It is written right after Paul admonishes two women to cooperate and work together. In verse 5 he...

Philippians 3 We live one beautiful life. With this life, God wants us to keep moving from one level of His glory to another level of glory, becoming more and more like Christ. This life is filled with seasons and months and years. When summer is over, I get out my sweater, boots, and scarves, and I enjoy the fall – the apple cider, the leaves changing, going to football...

Philippians 2 In chapter 1 Paul wrote that he hopes to find the church family, “…standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith… (verse 27)” In chapter 2, Paul speaks further on the importance of unity and sticking together as a church family. Paul mentions several things that will break up church family relationships, which applies to us...

Philippians 1 Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi. He wrote it from his prison cell. In chapter 1, Paul writes, “I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion...

Ephesians 6 In chapter 5 we saw the requirement of yielding to each other, a wife to her husband, and a husband to Christ. Paul continues in chapter 6 with children yielding to their authority, their parents, not just in obedience, but in honor. Paul also admonished fathers to treat their children with love and respect rather than provoking them to anger, exasperation or resentment. They are to rear their...

Ephesians 5 In chapter 4, we saw the humility required to live in in unity with others, to receive the leadership Christ established in his kingdom, and to live a life of holiness from a position of surrender. In chapter 5, Paul continues on in his letter, encouraging the church family to yield to the God-kind of love, a love that lifts one another up instead of tearing one another...

Ephesians 4 Ephesians 4 starts with “I therefore.” Remember this is one long letter. Chapter and verses were added later. Whenever we see “therefore,” we can ask, “What is the therefore there for?” In chapter 3, Paul spoke of the love and power of God available to those who walk in God’s grace instead of their own strength. We can walk in grace when we’re confidence of a love we...

Ephesians 3 In verse 10, Paul writes about the manifold wisdom of God now known by the church, shown in demonstration before principalities and evil powers. The Greek word for “manifold” is polupoikilos, and one of its definitions is multicolored. In creation, there are hundreds of hues of colors. God’s wisdom has many sides or folds to it. In the previous verse, Paul describes spiritual mystery, truth that can only...

Ephesians 2 You were once far off, but now are brought near because of Christ (verse 13). Do you remember being far from God? We didn’t know Him. We were lost, but now we’re found. We were blind, but now we see. What about the people who are still far from God? How do we treat them? Do they feel loved or condemned? What are we doing to reach them?...

Ephesians 1 There are 10 references to being in Christ is just this first chapter of Ephesians. Before Christ, we were trying to live in our self-sufficiency. Before Christ, we tried to be in control of our own lives. To enter into Christ, we have to die to self. We have to humble ourselves, recognize our need for Him, and yield ourselves to His loving authority. When we do, we...

Galatians 6 Self-righteousness has a superior, condemning attitude toward those who sin or who are overtaken in a misconduct. Paul has been addressing spiritual pride in Galatia, and he concludes this letter by instructing the Galatians to help bear one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults rather than push them down (and lift themselves up). Walking someone on a journey of faith takes a humble heart that understand grace. It’s...