Cover-to-Cover

Titus 2 As we look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, we live in a way that we anticipate His return. If we didn’t think there was an eternity and that Christ would be our king, then we would live any way we wanted. We would be self-centered, self-indulgent, and self-reliant; but no, the grace of God trains us to live...

Jeremiah 29-30 We love to quote Jeremiah 29:11 for ourselves, and it is applicable as a principle of faith and a desire from the heart of God, but this verse is written specifically to the Jew concerning their future after captivity. In verse 10, God again assures them that after the 70 years, they would return, just as He had said in chapter 25. There was a person who was...

Jeremiah 27-28 In Jeremiah 27:18 God asks the prophets to make intercession to the Lord of hosts so that the vessels of the temple will stay in Jerusalem and not be taken to Babylon. Jeremiah’s message is that every Jew will be taken to Babylon, with none left behind. God would not have instructed the prophets to pray unless their intercessions would have made a difference. Prayer changes things! The...

2 Timothy 3 Pastor Timothy was forewarned that the hearts of men and women would change in the last days, but Paul encourages Timothy in verses 10 through 17 to stand strong in faith, being equipped by the inspired Word of God for every good work. Paul says, “ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Paul speaks of Timothy’s loyalty, not only in the good...

2 Timothy 2 When times get tough, God wants us to hold on, not let go. God wants us to stick with our calling, enduring hardships. If we endure, God will also cause us to reign with Him. We will reign with Him throughout eternity, but we can also reign in this life as well. Apostle Paul acknowledges the sufferings of ministry to Pastor Timothy, and encouraged him to endure....

2 Timothy 1 It seems Timothy may have been feeling weary, shamed, and fearful. Have you ever been there? Paul encourages Timothy to stir up the gift within himself. While our church family and our pastor can help edify us, we often are responsible for stirring ourselves up. How? It’s a spiritual matter, so it involves spiritual activity. Praying, worshipping, and reading the Bible are things we are to do...

1 Timothy 6 Pastors are responsible for the congregation that has been given to them by God, and they will give an account for how they cared for the people. In chapter 6, Paul continues to give Timothy advice on how to care for people and how to guide people in their living for Christ. He wants them to be encouraged to honor those who employ them, both saved and...

1 Timothy 5 Paul instructs a young pastor on dealing with widows in their culture, different generations of men and women, association with carnal Christians, Timothy’s personal health, and treatment of church leaders. Paul says in verse 17 that elders, those leaders who deal with the spiritual needs of people, are worthy of double honor, meaning double the pay. In verse 18 he quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 which speaks of the...

1 Timothy 4 Paul tells Pastor Timothy that there will be a falling away from faith in the last days, something Paul knew from the Spirit of God, days I believe we are living in right now. Be careful not to fall away from the faith when you see others falling away. Paul speaks of being a good servant of God, telling the pastor to command them and teach them,...

1 Timothy 3 Pastor Timothy received instruction from Paul on qualifications for the bishop, which is also the pastor or an associate pastor, helping to oversee the spiritual needs of the people. Then he receives instruction for deacons, leaders in the local church who serve or attend to the operations of the church. Then Paul tells Timothy, I’m writing this letter to tell you how you should conduct yourself in...

1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 2 is a continuation of verse 20 from the previous chapter, where Paul admonished Timothy to keep the faith, unlike Hymenaeus and Alexander. It starts “therefore,” because for this reason, Paul gave this instruction: to pray for people, kings, and all who are in authority. Why? So that people will know Him and come to Him in faith. Within the context of prayer, Paul continues...

1 Timothy 1 1 Timothy is a letter written by Paul to Timothy, one of three pastoral epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus). Timothy was part of an apostolic team, and eventually became the pastor at Ephesus. The letter was probably written in 64 AD after Paul’s first Roman imprisonment. As we read this book, let’s remember to read it as an apostle speaking to one of his pastors, overseeing...

2 Thessalonians 3 Paul mentions living in the world with unreasonable and wicked men. He says to pray that the word of God would run swiftly (have free course) and be glorified, or valued. The Greek word is eleutheros and it means “unconstrained.” It is opposite of the enslaved. The word is derived from a word that means, “to come, go.” The idea is that the word of God has...

2 Thessalonians 2 Concerning the rapture and our gathering together, as well as the Day of the Lord and His Second Coming, Apostle Paul says there are some things that will need to take place first. There will be a falling away, or an apostasy, where Christians will leave the faith. There will also be a revealing of the man of sin (lawlessness, son of perdition), who is the Antichrist....

2 Thessalonians 1 In His first letter, Paul wrote on the second coming. In this second letter, Paul continues to talk about the world and what will happen before the return of the Lord. Perhaps the church family at Thessalonica overreacted to the first letter and needed to get perspective on living their life on the earth. In verses 10-12, Paul refers to the Day of the Lord and eternity....