Coffee, the Bible, and Paige

What if I am wrong at the end of the day? What if you're wrong? A serius question to ask if you want to interpret Jesus' Revelation to John.

Not everything is revealed in Revelation. Some of it is for later.

Is this army for real?

The fifth Trumpet sounds, and demonic locusts are released.What the whaaaaa?

The 7th seal is opened, introducing us to seven trumpets!

We look at the first six seals.

Who can open the scroll? Who can break the seven seals?

Before John launches into his apocalyptic vision(s), he describes what it is like to be in God's throne room

This Church is a paradox... was this a church of believers? Or "wannabe" believers? Jesus had nothing but a rebuke for them.

Hold on! Endure! No rebuke for Philadelphia, simply the encouragement to hold on.

What would a "DEAD" Church look like? Sardis gives us a good look - a church living today on past glories.

This is a dangerous thing. I have seen the enemy of our souls take down clergy and layman alike using the "Jezebel Deception".

Pergamum allowed the Nicolaitans in.. who were these Nicolaitans? Why was that a bad thing?

No recriminations for Smyrna - but there is trouble coming.

Jesus addresses the first and primary church in the first century i.e. Ephesus.

The beginning of the Vision given to John. Jesus identifies Himself.

I look at the first nine verses of Chapter 1, answering the questions of who wrote the Revelation, what is the message of Revelation, and Where it was sent, initially.

How you interpret John's Revelation will be determined by when you think John wrote this letter.

This is my Preamble to the upcoming study on John's Revelation.

The Magi weren't just 3 smart guys riding camels... there is MUCH more to this part of the story.

As Paul Harvey used to say... this is the "REST of the story..." These particular shepherds were not an afterthought on God's part. They were EXACTLY the right witnesses to the Incarnation.

Looking at the humanity of Mary's story...

There are two parts to a chess match - the "Long Game" and the "End Game". The Long Game is the majority of the match, and its purpose is to set up the player's End Game. God's Long Game is the entirety of the Old Testament. His End Game is found in the Gospels. The incarnation is His opening gambit to His End Game.

Mark ends his Gospel in a rather curious fashion. I discuss the possibilities that arise with it.

From the Sanhedrin and the charge of blasphemy to Pilate and the charge of treason, still Jesus did not retaliate. Convicted of treason with Pilate demanding that the religious leaders accept their participitation in this event, Pilate consented to their demand to crucify Jesus, and sentence was passed.

The trial, sentencing, and execution of Jesus reveals the absolute criminality of what happened to Jesus.

What does the woman's gift tell us about her? What do Jesus' words at the last supper tell us about Him? What does Judas' actions tell us about him?

this prophetic word from Jesus to His disciples applied to them THEN... but also to us NOW.

In His last week in Jerusalem, Jesus begins by facing off with each faction of the religious leadership of Israel... Chief Priests, Teachers of the Law, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. He does not hold back in revealing their hypocrisy. .

Lessons from the fig tree cursed by Jesus and from His words concerning prayer.

The importance of being a servant. Plus some insight into Jesus interaction with Bartimaeus

What is TRULY important to you? Is there anything in your life you would NOT give up in order to be a Christ-Follower?

Jesus rebukes His disciples for turning away the children who were coming to Him.

Oh - they were discussing divorce with Jesus... but it wasn't REALLY about divorce.

Jesus goes deeper on the topics of humility and being "salt"

Why were the disciples unable to cast out a demon? Why were they arguing with the religious leaders? Who was Jesus upset with?

The disciples were wrestling with the fact that all they THOUGHT they knew about Messiah and His ministry was pretty insignificant.

Jesus has to correct the disciples (primarily Peter) idea of what and Who the Messiah is to be like. He delivers a harsh rebuke to Peter. What is YOUR view of Jesus?

Jesus has a confrontation with Pharisees after feeding a large crowd. When attempting to draw a lesson for this confrontation for His disciples, they instead focus on the fact that they don'r have enough bread.

After His discussion the religious leaders concerning things clean and unclean, Jesus departs for the pagan Gentile region of Tyre, dealing with a pagan woman who had a demon possessed daughter before returning to the area of the Decapolis (remember the demon possessed man from the tombs?) and a deaf mute man.

In this confrontation with the Pharisees, Jesus "takes the gloves off" and openly defies their interpretation and application of Scripture.

Jesus walks on the water, His disciples are terrified, revealing their lack of understanding on Who Jesus was - a defining, "crucible moment"

The impetus behind the ministry of Jesus was compassion.

Jesus experiences rejection... from His hometown!

A sick woman is healed by HER faith, and a dead girl of a synagogue leader is raised by Jesus.

Jesus travels to a Gentile community and sets a demonized man free.

I learned a lot about parables today... the reason for parables may or may not surprise you... I know I was surprised!

For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus and the religious leadership from Jerusalem lock horns. Jesus focused His attention on these leaders and does not back down.

What happens when the religious community and the political community join forces? Good, right? Maybe not.

Jesus speaks to man-made traditions, using parables of wineskins and cloth.

Who did Jesus claim to be? He never hid that from anyone. But rather than stand on a street corner in Jerusalem and campaign for His Divinity, He simply did what you would expect God to do - heal lepers, heal the lame, divine the thoughts of His enemies, and plainly call Himself the "Son of Man".