Stand By Me (5)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Compassion – Sympathy comes last. Oiktirmoi is the Greek term for “sympathy.” Translating it “compassion” might be stylistically acceptable, but it obscures the fact…
Stand By Me (4)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Affection – Apparently Paul got it backwards. We would have expected the next word, translated “compassion,” to be this word, splanchnon. Or maybe Paul…
Stand by Me (3)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Fellowship – Ah, the “church” word. No, it’s not ekklesia (which should be translated “assembly,” not “church”). It’s koinonia, the word that means “in…
Stand by Me (2)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Consolation – What’s the Difference? Paul already used the word paraklesis, the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew naham, a word for comfort, so why…
Stand by Me (1)
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Encouragement – Do you need encouragement? According to Paul, only one kind of encouragement will actually make a permanent change. That is encouragement in…
Lambs to the Slaughter
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, Philippians 2:15 ESV Without blemish – Are you ready to be sacrificed? Are you ready to climb onto the altar like Isaac? Are you ready…
It’s Not My Fault
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB Without blame – Are we making excuses or striving for a result? We all know the phrase, “It’s not my…
Why?
“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4 NASB Prayer – Okay, we get the idea that someone in leadership has to serve. We understand that diakonia must be evident in the lives of those who lead. The assembly of believers is a hierarchy of service. Its…
Gestation Period
But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:60 NASB Dead – When do you think you will be born? When will God start what He has finished with you? It’s nice that the NLT adds “spiritually…
