His Worship. We’ve noted that an angel appeared to shepherds and announced the good news of the birth of a Savior and King (Luke 2:8-12). It is clear that this is extremely significant news, and that fact is underscored by the response it evoked. The immediate response was worship! A “multitude of the heavenly host”Continue reading “The Angel’s Good News—3”
Author Archives: Marvin Bryant
The Angel’s Good News—2
His Message. We noticed in the first post in this series that the angel (messenger) brought good news for all people. Today we will explore the content of that news. We want to understand it because it will be beneficial to us, but it is all the more important that we understand it clear sinceContinue reading “The Angel’s Good News—2”
The Angel’s Good News—1
His Appearing. As we approach Christmas this year, I want to write a short series of shorter posts about the good news of Jesus’ birth brought by the angel (Luke 2:8-20). We begin today with the angel’s appearing. The angel appeared with the glory of the Lord. The word “shone” (v. 9) shows that gloryContinue reading “The Angel’s Good News—1”
Gratitude—a Fateful Choice.
It’s wonderful to have a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise” (Lincoln) each November. Unfortunately, though, the traditions that have grown up around the Thanksgiving Holiday in our nation sometimes hinder us from the very thing it is intended to remind us of. Travel and traffic, expectations and preparations, Black Friday sales and spending, andContinue reading “Gratitude—a Fateful Choice.”
Sowing and Reaping–7
The Sum. The phrase “sowing and reaping” refers to the agricultural matter of planting seed and producing a harvest of crop, something very familiar to the people in the Bible. It is also used figuratively in the Bible to describe various spiritual activities, including the matter of people coming to “believe and be saved” orContinue reading “Sowing and Reaping–7”
Sowing and Reaping–6
The Farmers. We have noticed that sowing and reaping is a metaphor in Scripture that is applied to some different activities. Our focus has been on its application to evangelism. We noted that the basic principle of the metaphor is that sowing seed leads to reaping fruit, if the soil is good. So far weContinue reading “Sowing and Reaping–6”
Sowing and Reaping—5
Growth. So far in this series of posts we have considered agriculture in the ancient world, noted the basic truth that sowing leads to reaping, identified the seed as the word of the kingdom, and explored the different types or soils or hearts that receive the word. Our consideration of the soils led us toContinue reading “Sowing and Reaping—5”
Sowing and Reaping—4
The Soils. The best place to consider how the soil affects sowing and reaping is the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Mark 4:1-9, 13-20; Luke 8:4-8, 11-15). Several aspects of ancient farming, which we explored in the first post in this series, are reflected in this important parable. For example, we noted thatContinue reading “Sowing and Reaping—4”
Sowing and Reaping—3
The Seed. In this series (begins here) we have discussed literal farming in the ancient world, the basic principle of sowing and reaping, and a number of related lessons. Our focus in the series is the passages that use sowing and reaping figuratively to describe people coming to Christ. Today we will explore the seed.Continue reading “Sowing and Reaping—3”
Sowing and Reaping—2
The Principle (John 4:35-38). The Bible uses the ancient practice of farmers sowing and reaping to help us understand how people embrace Christ. One rich passage about this is: 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields areContinue reading “Sowing and Reaping—2”
