Now is the time we culturally set aside to reflect gratitude for life and what we have. Thanksgiving Day, in my opinion, is actually one of the more meaningful moments still existing in the shared consciousness of our nation. In this time, we actually take time out from work and normal routines to simply celebrate …
Holding onto God’s Promises in the Dark
In 2 Peter 1:4, the author reflects on the tremendous generosity of God in giving us His "very great and precious promises." These promises are not like other promises we encounter, some of which Peter addresses later, when addressing the false promises of spiritual systems that promise freedom but actually bind us up (2 Peter …
All Saints’ Day: A Celebration and Encouragement
Today, is the celebration of All Saints' Day. What is All Saints' Day and why should we celebrate it? Since the 4th century, Christians have celebrated the lives of saints and martyrs. However, it was not until AD 609 that Pope Boniface IV dedicated one day of remembrance for all martyrs. Since that time, and …
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Overview of the Life of Peter
I pulled this overview of the life of Peter together for a preaching series and thought it might be helpful for others as you study the Gospels, Acts, and the Petrine epistles. Overview of the Life of Peter Peter, whose given name was Simon, was from Bethsaida but lived in Capernaum of Galilee (John 1:44) …
Is Repentance a Gift or a Pain?
The first words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Mark are these: "The time has come...The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). That little word "repent" has quite a big meaning, but it may not mean a lot to us today. It's unlikely we would ever …
Matthew Erickson 