Archives

Why Jesus was Baptized

When Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by John, He spoke these profound words: “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). This was not just a generic statement; it was robustly theological rooted in Old Testament prophecy and typology. Fulfilling All Righteousness […]

Jonah: A Great Wind, A Great Fish, A Great City, and A Great God

Jonah stands as one of the most memorable Bible characters, though not for his good standing, character, accomplishments, or charisma. Instead, Jonah is forever known as the man who spent three days and three nights in the belly of a great fish. While today’s fishermen take pictures of their great catches, Jonah is remembered as […]

Deuteronomy: The Book of Remembrance

“And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:12-13). […]

Abide

John 15:1-17 I remember when my dad decided to plant a peach tree in our yard when I was in elementary school. I don’t know the season or the reason for such a desire to plant a peach tree. Keep in mind that this was Indiana and not Georgia. That plant was on the side […]

The Man Told Me I Could Come

Two angels unlocked a door to an enclosed check-in counter ready to begin a new merciful morning. As they walked in together they noticed on their desk stacks of files and folders. These two angels were tasked with admitting people into Heaven. To the left of the two angels’ check in counter stood the Gates […]

The King’s Bread and Wine: Jesus is Better than Melchizedek

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18). “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec […]

Moses: His Adaptability (A Study in Leadership)

Series: Moses: A Study in Leadership Lesson: His Adaptability For more information visit nswhitley.com Subscribe to my website and receive for FREE my new ebook, Five Steps for Effective Prayer. Enroll in the Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines Master Course and get 10% off with coupon code LOSTART10 Go to speakingothertongues.com and get 15% off […]

Five Things Spiritually Mature Believers Don’t Do

  “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there […]

Moses: His Calling (A Study in Leadership)

Series: Moses: A Study in Leadership Lesson: His Calling For more information visit nswhitley.com Subscribe to my website and receive for FREE my new ebook, Five Steps for Effective Prayer. Go to speakingothertongues.com and get 15% off through the month of March with the discount code straight15   http://media.blubrry.com/cut_it_straight/cmk.zgv.temporary.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/episode-37.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: […]

Moses: A Study in Leadership Introduction

Season Two Episode 1 New season and a new series! Moses: A Study in Leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned leader, or recently thrust into a leadership role, studying the life of Moses is guaranteed to help you grow as a leader. Listen to this introductory episode and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss […]

Righting the Wrongs: The Undoing of the Dysfunctional Family

Ruth 3-4 The Bible is a story, and a true one at that. It’s made up of plot lines and characters. It’s stories take place in scenes of gardens, cities, battlefields, temples, and kingdoms. Myriads of Bible chapters of genealogies are overlooked or skimmed over because they look like nothing more than movie credits after […]

Called to Minster

I was recently asked to be a guest lecturer for a ministry course at Wilson University in California. I chose to discuss the various calls to minister. I hope you enjoy this video lecture.

Top Ten Books of 2020

What a year, huh? Hopefully you read several books during the shutdowns and quarantines. I was fortunate to read around 35 books during 2020. Not as many as I wanted to read, but still a pretty good amount. Here are the top ten books I read this year. 1. Tethered to the Cross: The Life […]

Supposing Him to be the Gardener

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away (Jn. 20:15) Some of my fondest memories as a child were going to my […]

Book Review: ESV Unfolding Grace and Study Guide

Crossway Publishers recently released Unfolding Grace: 40 Guided Readings Through the Bible, and its accompanying study guide. Unfolding Grace marries two of my favorite things – Scripture’s story line of redemption (biblical theology) and the English Standard Version Bible. I wouldn’t technically call Unfolding Grace a Bible, though its contents are thoroughly from the Bible. […]

Book Review: Biblical Doctrine by John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue

John MacArthur is a prolific writer and editor. His continuous ability to publish theological works is quite astonishing. In 2018 he released his own systematic theology with Crossway publishers. Let me say at the outset, that I don’t agree wholeheartedly with MacArthur’s theological persuasion, and I’m more than positive he disagrees with my corner of […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Jeremiah 10-13

Imagine the process of creating an idol. A tree from a forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. Portion of the wood is molded and shaped into a design. Next, the newly formed idol is decorated with silver and gold, fastened to the wood so that it […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Jeremiah 7-9

Judah’s sin had left them wounded and broken. The prophets and priests had only superficially healed the people. The Lord said, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 8:11). Jeremiah lamented, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and […]

Logos 9 is Here!

Logos 9 is here! If you are a Logos Bible Software user looking to upgrade, or if you’re new to Logos Bible software, then let me tell you about Logos 9. First, I’ve been a Logos user since 2009. I made the switch to Logos when I made the move to Apple MacBook. It was […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Jeremiah 4-6

Jeremiah was sent to declare God’s message and to offer Judah a chance to repent of their idolatry. One of the factors to God’s judgment upon His people were the false prophets and priests. Judah’s false prophets offered them a religion of peace and prosperity when in fact there wasn’t any. Judah had lost their […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Jeremiah 1-3

The prophet Jeremiah ministered to the people of Judah during the reign of king Josiah until after Babylon’s destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Some have called Jeremiah the “weeping prophet” due to his emotional messages of God’s judgment concerning Judah. Jeremiah didn’t just prophesy of Judah’s demise, he lived through it. Judah’s refusal to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 64-66

The word “righteous” or “righteousness” appears throughout the Bible. God is considered to be a righteous God whose actions are righteous and just (Ps. 35:24;28; 85:10-13). The prophet Jeremiah wrote that God would be called the “The Lord our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:6; 33:16). The word “righteousness” describes a recognized state or standard. God is ultimate […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 59-63

The apostle Paul asks what can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). Death, life, angels, principalities, powers, height, depth, or creature can shall be able to separate us from God’s love. And Paul is correct, none of those things can separate us from the love of God. But there was one thing […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 54-58

Who is the gospel of Jesus Christ for? Is it only for those with large bank accounts? Is it only for the most popular? Is it only for the beautiful? Is it only for those who have it all together? Is it only for the winners? Is it only for the smartest among us? Is […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 49-53

Isaiah 53 is one of the most important chapters in all of the Bible. It gives us a glimpse into the Messiah’s ministry. Though it details the awful suffering that He would endure, the Jews who lived through Jesus’s life failed to realize that He was their Messiah. They couldn’t imagine their Messiah having to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 45-48

Isaiah’s prophetic book is teeming with revelations about God. Perhaps one of the clearest revelations about God is the declaration that He alone is God and Savior. Chapters forty through forty-nine make statements that there is only one God, and He alone is the Savior of humanity. He is the first and the last (Isa. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 42-44

In Isaiah chapter forty-two we are introduced to the Suffering Servant, which is predictive of Jesus Christ. “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, Nor cause his […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 36-41

What would you do if you knew you had fifteen years left to live? That’s the story of Hezekiah in Isaiah 38. King Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The Lord told Isaiah to go and tell Hezekiah to get his house in order, because his death was imminent. Hezekiah prayed […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 31-35

What does ministry look like to you? Is it a preacher standing behind a pulpit preaching a fiery sermon? Is it someone singing on a platform? Whatever image comes to your mind when you think about ministry, it might be a little deficient.  “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 28-30

The drunkards of Ephraim mocked the Lord’s message. It was as if they believed His commands to be too simple, and only for small children. They said, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 23-27

God’s judgment of the whole earth is coming sooner rather than later. Isaiah used the phrase “in that day” four times in reference to God’s imminent condemnation of a sinful world (Isa. 26:1; 27:1-2,12). Likewise, in that day there will also be salvation and peace: “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 18-22

In the twenty second chapter of Isaiah we find an interesting encounter between the prophet Isaiah and a man named Shebna. Shebna was a palace governor of King Hezekiah, involved in the negotiations with Sennacherib when he besieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2; Isa. 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2). Some Bible commentators believe that […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 13-17

Imagine there’s no such thing as a devil. Then imagine you’re dwelling in a heavenly place in the presence of God. Now imagine getting kicked out of heaven. This is what Isaiah saw in this event describing the fall of the king of Babylon. Jesus used Isaiah’s message concerning the king of Babylon to depict […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 9-12

Part of Isaiah’s prophetic message to Judah included the hope of light in a time of darkness (Isa. 9:1-2). Another portion of the hopeful prophecy was the anticipation of a child who would be God manifest in the flesh: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 5-8

Uzziah had a promising beginning as Judah’s king. He would become Judah’s longest tenured king. As the years went on, however, his heart was lifted up with pride and he attempted to do what only the priests were qualified to do. The Lord struck him with leprosy. He eventually died, isolated and alone as a […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Isaiah 1-4

The book of Isaiah is a mountain of a book. It is sixty-six chapters spanning the ministry of the prophet Isaiah during the reign of four Judean kings (Isa. 1:1). Isaiah prophesied during the Northern Kingdom’s fall and desolation and the steady decline of the Southern Kingdom. What happened in Israel was destined to happen […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Song of Solomon 1-8

The Song of Solomon is a beautiful and passionate poem conveying romantic love between a young shepherd (1:7), and a young Shulammite girl (1:8). While the book of Revelation has its many interpretations, due to its complexity and use of metaphors, Song of Solomon may not be too far behind. There are many schools of […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ecclesiastes 9-12

The Preacher sought meaning in wisdom and came up empty handed (Ecc. 1:12-18). He looked for significance in pleasure and found it severely lacking (Ecc. 2:1-11). Next, he looked for importance in work and realized there wasn’t anything to be gained from all of his hard work (Ecc. 2:17-26). Whether it was wisdom, work, wealth, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ecclesiastes 5-8

The Preacher (Solomon) began his search for purpose in wisdom (Ecc. 1:12-18). He thought, perhaps, that he would find meaning in knowledge and understanding. At the beginning of Solomon’s reign, he petitioned the Lord for understanding in leading Israel (1 Kings 3:7-9). The Lord granted his request and gave him much more than he desired […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ecclesiastes 1-4

Ecclesiastes was penned at the hand of Israel’s King Solomon, the son of David (1:1). In the Hebrew, he calls himself “Qoheleth” which means “preacher” or “teacher.” The name Ecclesiastes comes from the Greek (not the Hebrew) and is a form of “ekklesia” which is the Greek word for “church” in the NT. Therefore, on […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 30-31

The book of Proverbs was written primarily for young men. A “son” is referred to no less than forty times in the book. Compare that to “daughter” not being mentioned at all. Of course everyone can learn and apply the wisdom from Proverbs. So when we get to the last chapter, it shouldn’t be any […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 27-29

Never in my life have I been through a year like 2020. Nothing has been the same since the month of March when the shutdown began due to the pandemic. I’m sure the majority of us can relate that entire calendars have been upended. Nearly all of the events that we had scheduled have been […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 24-26

My mother taught me several valuable lessons about relationships. One of those lessons was about not inviting yourself to someone’s house. Mother wouldn’t let me go anywhere if she thought I had invited myself rather than being invited. Her reasoning was that people treat invited guests different than they treat those who have invited themselves. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 22-23

According to the overall consensus of Proverbs you don’t have to be old in order to be wise. As I have written previously, many of the proverbs were written from the vantage point of a father who sought to instruct his young son (Pro. 1:8-19; 3:1-12; 4:1-27). The young man was to take his father’s […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 19-21

Laziness is a plague that ruins lives, and societies. The book of Proverbs uses the word “sluggard” for the man who will not work or give any effort. The antithesis of the diligent man is the sluggard. The Hebrew word for “sluggard” is defined as a “lazy person, a person who is disinclined to work […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 16-18

“A friend loveth at all times” (Proverbs 17:17). Friendship is an important topic in Scripture. Abraham was considered the friend of God (Isa. 41:8; Jam. 2:23). The Lord spoke with Moses face to face as friends would (Ex. 33:11). David and Jonathan were very close friends (1 Sam. 18:1-4). Jesus considered the disciples to be […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 13-15

Scripture opens with God doing work. God created and worked to bring about all of creation. Each phase of God’s work was considered “good” (Gen. 1:4,10,12,18,21,25,31). Likewise, The book of Proverbs has much to say about work: “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense” (Pro. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 10-12

The book of Proverbs uses the words fool, fools, and foolish at least sixty-nine times. However, the foolish man theme is found in at least one hundred places in Proverbs. The book of Proverbs is not just about becoming wise, it is also about not becoming a fool. There are a myriad of admonishments for […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 7-9

The book of Proverbs is an invitation to wisdom. Wisdom is not demanding, or bothersome. Instead, Proverbs reveals that the personification of Wisdom is alluring. Wisdom isn’t inconvenient or irritating. Rather, wisdom is as gentle as a dove. Wisdom will not force itself upon you, alternatively, it calls us out and invites all. Wisdom cries […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 4-6

“Just follow your heart.” Have you ever heard someone say that? Perhaps you’ve said it yourself. That is terrible advice. If there’s one thing you shouldn’t listen to, it’s your own heart. The writer said, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The word “keep” […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Proverbs 1-3

The book of Proverbs is not just a divine book filled with quips and maxims for life. The book of Proverbs was written and compiled with the objective that the reader can know wisdom and instruction; to understand words of insight, to gain instruction in righteousness, justice and equity. The proverbs are also are written […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 146-150

The Psalms begin with God blessing man, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly” (Ps. 1:1) The conclusion of Psalms is a command for man to bless God (Ps. 150). Studying the Psalms we see an interesting flow in how it’s compiled. In the early sections of the Psalms […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 140-145

One of Abraham’s characteristics that stood out to the Lord was that he would direct his children and family to keep the way of the Lord (Gen. 18:19). Being a person of faith means imparting the knowledge of God into the next generation. What good was Abraham’s faith if it was only for him? Others […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 133-139

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: That went down to the skirts of his garments” (Psalm 133:1–2). It is nearly impossible to get everyone to agree on something […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 126-132

The Christian life consists of ups and downs, and highs and lows. There are times of joy and weeping. Unfortunately, this reality gets neglected in most evangelistic campaigns. The gospel can change your life, but it isn’t a vaccine for life’s disappointments. Rather, the gospel is the antidote to issues and tribulations. In other words, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 120-125

Psalm 120 marks the beginning of a group of psalms known as the Psalms of Ascent or Psalms of Degree (Ps. 120-134). These songs were sung by Israelite pilgrims as they journeyed up the hill of Jerusalem to celebrate holidays such as the Feast of Booths, Festival of Weeks, and the Passover. Jerusalem, also known […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. This lengthy psalm has one subject: the Word of God. The writer of this amazing psalm was saturated with his subject. If this psalmist was indeed King David, we can understand why he was a man after God’s own heart. For David’s heart […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 115-118

Genesis 1:26-27 indicates that God created humans to be His image bearers. Unfortunately, sin ruined humanity’s ability to fully bear the image of God. Sin caused true worship to become distorted. In other words, man began to worship creation more than the Creator (Rom. 1:21-25). Not only did humanity began to worship creation, they began […]

Psalms 108-114

Charles Darwin had an exceptional ability to observe and study. During his maiden voyage to South America, he took a copious amount of notes concerning the wildlife he observed. His ability to discover, examine, and think led to the ideas that would shape the world of thinking and science for generations to come. When he […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 106-107

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2). The Hebrew word for “redeemed” means to “buy back,” “deliver,” “save,” or “reclaim as one’s own.” This is the same word used when God delivered Israel from Egypt (Ex. 6:6). It’s the very word employed […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalm 103-105

There are times, as a pastor, that it can become a chore getting people to worship the Lord. Which, in all honesty, is tragic. I believe one reason people become apathetic towards worship is that they forget who God is. David wrote, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless […]

Psalms 96-102

Psalms 96 is in the middle of a series of psalms that celebrate the worship God (Ps. 93-99). The psalm includes imperatives like “sing,” “declare,” and “give.” Worship involves using your emotions and opening your mouth. Whether you can hold a tune or not, it’s important to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, for […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 90-95

There’s a difference between being a visitor and being an inhabitant. One only visits a place every once in awhile. The other lives at a particular place for a prolonged period of time. When it comes to the secret place of God, are you an inhabitant or merely a visitor? Because in order for you […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 86-89

There are times we just don’t know how to pray for a situation. The apostle Paul said the Holy Spirit can assist us in praying when we don’t know exactly how to pray for a situation: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 80-85

Psalm 81 begins with a call to worship with musical instruments. The call for worship is in reference to a feast day. It is quite possible the feast day in question was the Feast of Tabernacles. The festival began with the sounding of the trumpet on the first of the month at the new moon […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 78-79

History is one of the greatest teachers. It may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but history is definitely important. George Santayana said of history, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The beginning of Psalm 78 says it is a “maschil of Asaph” The word “maschil” is the Hebrew word […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 74-77

The human memory is one of the great wonders of the world. We stand in amazement when someone shows off their great memory, either by quoting something verbatim, or recalling minute information like some wizard from a fairy tale. Such rare feats of achievement cause bewilderment because the majority of us can’t remember where we […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 70-73

There’s no doubt God is good to His people. He takes care of us, and provides our every need. But it’s easy to overlook and take for granted sometimes. Especially when we see unrighteous people prospering. We think they have it all despite their evil ways. Why do they prosper? How can they get away […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 66-69

The word “Selah” appears only in the book of Psalms and Habakkuk. “Selah” is found multiple times in today’s readings. But what does that word mean? Bible commentators do not all agree on the meaning of the Hebrew word. Some believe that “Selah” was used to inform musicians to change instruments, or to change the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 58-65

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Have you had feelings and emotions that simply overpower you? I’m not sure about you, but I’ve been secretly fighting overwhelming fear over the last few weeks. The incessant negativity that surges from Twitter feeds and news networks feed fear. Like David, where can we turn for relief? David said, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 52-57

There is no doubt that the Christian church is under attack. The Christian worldview is ridiculed daily. Recently, one news anchor said we are to trust in ourselves rather than trust in God. Another television show host claimed that Jesus wasn’t perfect. Christians are commonly called intolerant, and bigoted due to our exclusive belief in […]

Preorder My New Book!

You can preorder my new book, I AM: Studies in the I AM Declarations of Jesus Christ. Description In the Gospel of John, Jesus boldly declares that He is the Great I AM of the Old Testament. In this book we look closely at these seven declarations of Jesus Christ and how they are significant […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 46-51

David’s sin with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband, are quite the stains on an otherwise illustrious life (2 Sam. 11:1-27). From this failure, and the prophetic confrontation that followed, we are given David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm fifty-one. David uses three words to describe his failure (Ps. 51:3-5,9,13): transgression, iniquity, and sin. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 40-45

Stuck. You can get your vehicle stuck in the mud. You could get stuck on a hard question during a test. You could be stuck in a terrible job. There’s many ways we could get stuck. But the worse kind of stuck, is being stuck in the mire of sin. David said, “He brought me […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 36-39

Scripture is quite practical. As you frequent yourself with the Bible, the more you will notice the obvious imperatives that produce blessings. Psalm 37 is just one of those instances. This psalm presents David’s concern with the prosperity of evildoers. We can certainly relate to David’s quandary in our own day. Wickedness, and lawlessness is […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalm 32-35

The blessed person is a forgiven person. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile” (Ps. 32:1–2). This is the second Psalm to begin with “blessed.” The first time was in Psalm 1: […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalm 26-31

In the Old Testament, the Temple was considered the “house” where the Spirit of the Lord dwelt (2 Chr. 7:1-3; Ezek. 43:4-5; 44:4). David said, “Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, And the place where thine honour dwelleth” (Psalm 26:8). David loved the house of God. This desire was contrasted against gathering […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 21-25

Psalm 23 has been labeled the “Pearl of the Psalms.” This wonderful psalm has the aroma of continuous peace, secure tranquility, jubilant trust, and assured calm. Not even the shadow of death troubles the psalmist. Psalm 23 has dried many tears and supplied much hope. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalm 17-20

Psalm 19 records that God has revealed Himself in two distinct ways. First, creation has revealed God. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalms 19:1-3). […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalms 9-16

“The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (Ps. 14:1). We might think the word “fool” means a weakness in intellect. And while that might be true, the word “fool” in the Hebrew means moral perversity. Certainly it’s […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Psalm 1-8

The book of Psalms opens with what has been called the gates of the Psalms. Before you can understand the depth of the Psalms you must meet the requirements. These two requirements are one way or the other. Two paths are laid out before use as we approach the Psalms. We will either adhere to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 40-42

The Lord spoke to Job from the whirlwind. Once He had finished speaking, Job said, “I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not” (Job 42:3). Job repented for the foolish things he had said. But the Lord wasn’t done speaking. For He took Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 38-39

After everyone had their say concerning Job’s predicament, things took a drastic turn. “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1). Elihu, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Job all had their time to say something. But until the Lord spoke, it was all for nought. The Lord asked, “Who is this that darkeneth […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 35-37

Elihu said of God, “He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous” (Job 36:6). What a comfort that may have been to Job. Here was a man who felt as if God had forsaken him. It seemed as if Job was going through his sufferings without the assistance of the Lord. But God had kept […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 32-34

Another friend of Job chimed in on Job’s plight. Elihu took a different approach than Job’s three other friends. Elihu wasn’t concerned with the possibility of Job’s past sins. Rather, he was concerned with Job’s present attitude. Elihu made a striking statement in his assessment of Job’s conversation with his three friends. Elihu said, “But […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 29-31

Job was a man of faith and integrity. He turned away from evil, even the potential evil within himself. Job said, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid” (Job 31:1)? The word “covenant” in the Hebrew means to make an agreement or contract. In the Old Testament […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 24-28

Job’s friends could ask good questions, but they had wrong answers. Furthermore, they could speak insightfully about God, and yet they knew nothing about Him. That should give us great caution. Bildad asked a good question, “How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 21-23

I’m directionally challenged. I don’t know how I ever got around without a GPS. It’s a miracle that I ever got to my intended destinations before we had Global Positioning Systems on our smart phones. Have you ever felt lost? Not the kind of lost that is corrected with a GPS or a map. I […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 17-20

Job had suffered great loss. His children and servants had been killed. His livestock had been wiped out. His body had been infected with terrible sores. Furthermore, his wife had told him to curse God and die, and three of his friends had accused him of being a rank sinner. A lesser man might throw […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 14-16

I recently read a book entitled The Secret Life of Trees. The most astonishing thing about trees is how social they are. Trees in a forest care for each other, sometimes even going so far as to nourish the stump of a felled tree for centuries after it was cut down by feeding it sugars […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 11-13

Job’s friend, Zophar, was more assertive than Eliphaz and Bildad, for they presented their arguments with a little more courtesy. Zophar, on the other hand, seems a little aggravated with Job’s counter arguments thus far. “Shouldn’t someone answer this torrent of words? Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking? Should I […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 8-10

Job chapter nine is Job’s response to Bildad. Bildad is one of Job’s three friends who nothing more than miserable comforters (Job 16:2). Bildad believes that Job should repent, and that his suffering is due to Job’s sins. He even believes that Job’s children’s sins brought them God’s judgment (Job 8:4). But if you read […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 5-7

Job chapter two introduces us to Job’s friends, who play an integral part of the book. “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Job 1-4

The Book of Job is one of the most interesting books in the Bible. Job’s life and experiences have provided hope and healing for many of God’s people. Some on the other hand view Job’s life and story as only a fanciful story not to be taken as reality. However, Scripture views Job and his […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Esther 6-10

Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Esther 1-5

Though the book of Esther is only ten chapters in length, it’s teeming with significance and importance. The events of the book took place during the reign of Xerxes (also called Ahasuerus), king of Persia. The timeline of these events place it between Zerubbabel rebuilding the Temple, and the arrival of Ezra. While there was […]

The Christian Social Media Post

Before you post ask yourselves these questions 1. Will this post honor and glorify Jesus? (1 Cor. 10:31). 2. Will this post bring shame to Christ’s name? (Lev. 19:12 NLT). 3. Will this post offend a brother or sister in Christ? (Pro. 18:19). 4. Will this post, whether true or false, wound someone’s conscience? (1 […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Nehemiah 12-13

After the walls had been built and there had been some improvement with Israel’s spirituality, Nehemiah noticed something very strange: “And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people” (Neh. 13:24). The people of Israel had married themselves […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Nehemiah 10-11

Once the people heard Ezra and the Levites expound the Word of God, they repented of their sins, and prepared themselves to enter into covenant with God (Neh. 9:38). This was a serious matter. The people had just heard the history of their ancestors how they were constantly rebellious and disobedient (Neh. 9:26-28). Would they […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Nehemiah 8-9

Zerubbabel successfully rebuilt the Temple. Ezra reestablished worship. Nehemiah accomplished the extensive task of reconstructing Jerusalem’s walls. The next undertaking for Ezra and Nehemiah was to rebuild the people. The Temple, the worship, and the walls were meaningless if Jerusalem’s inhabitants remained broken. The Judeans were taken into Babylonian captivity due to their perpetual backsliding. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Nehemiah 7

The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls only took fifty-two days to complete (Neh. 6:15). Nehemiah could have sat back and relaxed after accomplishing such an amazing task. However, that’s not what happened. “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Nehemiah 4-6

Nehemiah’s task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was intimidating. Some estimate the city’s circumference at that time was between one and half to two and miles. Not only were the walls in ruins, but the myriad of city gates were desolate too. Thankfully, Nehemiah didn’t have to work alone. The people of Jerusalem, leaders […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Nehemiah 1-3

Thirteen years had passed since Ezra’s return to Jerusalem. Though Zerubbabel had rebuilt the Temple and there had been some reform under Ezra’s spiritual leadership, the city remained destitute. A remnant of Jews remained in Persia (formerly Babylon). Of those that remained was Nehemiah, a cupbearer for king Artaxerxes. One of Nehemiah’s brothers returned to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ezra 7-10

Eighty years after Zerubbabel had led the first remnant of Jews to Jerusalem, Ezra led an additional 1,500 Jewish men and their families to Jerusalem. Ezra was the son of a priest born in Babylon. Not only was Ezra a priest, but he was also a scribe. A scribe, such as Ezra, studied and taught […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ezra 4-6

Zerubbabel led the initial Jewish remnant from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was a descendent of David, being that he was the great-grandson of Jehoiakin (Jeconiah). In Ezra, Zerubbabel is also called by his Chaldean name “Sheshbazzar” (Ezra 1:8,11; 5:14-16), and the Persian title for governor “Tirshatha” (Ezra 2:63). His Hebrew name, Zerubbabel, means “descended from […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ezra 1-3

After seventy years of captivity in Babylon, a remnant of Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Covering one hunderd years of history, the book is divided into two parts. The first part of the book chronicles twenty years of a remnant of Jews returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple under the leadership of […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 35-36

Our reading through First Kings to Second Chronicles has been a roller coaster of emotions. We’ve read of the beauty of Solomon’s Temple being built. Followed by Solomon’s fall, and the division of the kingdom. There have been godly kings, and evil kings. Battles have been won and lost. Israel was taken captive by the […]

The Covenant of Salt

Salt is produced from the combination of two of the most deadly chemicals known to man – sodium, an unstable metal, and chlorine, one of the deadliest gases. When these two deadly chemicals are combined they produce sodium chloride, also known as common table salt. Salt is the only known rock that humans consume. Additionally […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 32-34

Manasseh became king of Judah at the age of twelve, and reigned for fifty-five years. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. He built the high places, which Hezekiah his father had broken down. He erected altars for the purpose of worshiping Baalim, and made groves to worship the host […]

2 Chronicles 28-31

Ahaz was one of Judah’s worst kings. Ahaz offered sacrifices to heathen gods, made one of his sons pass through fire as a sacrifice (2 Kings 16:3), and did much damage to the Temple (2 Chr. 29). Hezekiah reversed the atrocities his father caused. He purged Judah of his father’s idolatry. He restored the Temple […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 25-27

Uzziah, king of Judah, reigned for 52 years. That’s a rather long tenure. One who would reign that long might come to believe they could do anything. That’s the trap Uzziah fell into. The Chronicler wrote, “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 21-24

The apostle Paul asked the Galatian church, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth” (Gal. 5:7)? That same question could be asked of Joash, king of Judah. Joash became king of Judah at the tender age of seven. As long as he listened to the godly counsel […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 18-20

Sometimes good people associate with bad people. That’s the short story of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Under Jehoshaphat’s leadership Judah experienced growth and blessing. He was devoted to the God of Israel, and even removed the high places out of reverence to Him. The king of Judah had the priests teach the people from the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 13-17

Salt is produced from the combination of two of the most deadly chemicals known to man — sodium, an unstable metal that can burst into flame if exposed to air or water, and chlorine, one of the deadliest gases. When these two deadly chemicals are combined they produce sodium chloride, also known as common table […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 9-12

Some Bible commentators calculate that the Queen of Sheba traveled close to 1,500 miles just to visit Solomon. Upon her arrival she observed Solomon’s splendid kingdom, and servants. She then had her questions answered and the secrets of her heart revealed by Solomon (2 Chr. 9:1-6). Notice, if you will, the verbs used to describe […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 6-8

Solomon prayed at the dedication of the Temple. At the conclusion of his prayer, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests couldn’t enter into the Temple, due to the glory of the Lord. The children of Israel […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Chronicles 1-5

“And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods” (2 Chr. 2:5). That was Solomon’s pronouncement as the building of the Temple commenced. David left Solomon the plans and the material to erect this great house. This wasn’t going to be a monument built as a memorial for […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 28-29

At the conclusion of David’s life he gave a final charge to Solomon, his heir apparent. David had amassed a wealth of material for the future Temple. David said, “Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 25-27

Chapter 24 enumerates the twenty-four classes of priests that would serve in the future Temple. Each priest and man had a place and purpose to serve within the Temple. Chapter 25 lists the members of the musical staff. These people sang, and played before the Lord. One man, however, stands out from our reading today. […]

From the Pasture to the Palace

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 22-24

Though David wasn’t able to build a house for the Lord, he did everything in his power to get the materials and make preparations for the future structure. David insured Solomon’s success, though David would never see it. Dave said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded […]

Why Did God Create?

The question has been asked, “Why did God create?” This question is connected to other questions such as: “If God has foreknowledge, then why would He create if He knew humanity would sin?” These are not easy questions to answer. Furthermore, these are not easy questions to ask if you consider yourself a Christian. If […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 18-21

David was tempted to number the people of Israel (1 Chr. 21:1). Numbering the people was an act of pride and selfish ambition. To number the people indicated self reliance on a large army, instead of depending on the Lord to bring about victory in battle. Power and authority have corrupting capabilities, and pride was […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 15-17

David had successfully brought the Ark of the Covenant safely to Jerusalem, and had organized the priests to offer sacrifices and praises unto the Lord. David truly desired to build a house for the Lord, because the Ark was dwelling in an edifice made of curtains (1 Chr. 17:1). The Lord refused David the opportunity […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 12-14

The Philistines once again made an appearance, this time as David was crowned king over Israel. David prayed before he made a decision concerning a counter attack (1 Chr. 14:10). Here we see a king who is submitted to the Lord as King. Unlike Saul, David didn’t make a move until he had heard from […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 10-11

David and his men were in a cave in Adullum, surrounded by Philistine soldiers (2 Sam. 23:13-17; 1 Chr. 11:15-19). David became thirsty, and homesick for Bethlehem. He said aloud, “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate” (1 Chr. 11:17). Three of […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 7-9

After the Chronicler listed the genealogies, he switched gears and began to make note of those who returned to Israel after their exile (1 Chr. 9:1-2). Judah was carried away into Babylon for their transgression of the Law. The landscape of Israel certainly changed since their exile. Both Israel and Judah had been raided and […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 4-6

The Chronicler, amidst a litany of genealogical information, stops to tell a short story about an intriguing man. “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Chronicles 1-3

Our daily Bible reading now takes us to the Chronicles. Readers might be led to believe that Chronicles is just a retelling of Samuel and Kings. Though there are some similarities, there remains quite a bit of difference. Especially when it comes to the chronicler’s intent for writing the books. Even the inclusion of detailed […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 22-25

Josiah was eight years old when he became Judah’s king (2 Kings 22:1). His reign as Judah’s king was prophesied some 350 years prior. The man of God who prophesied against Jeroboam’s altar, precisely named the king who would burn the bones of evil men upon that wretched altar (1 Kings 13:2). That’s exactly what […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 20-21

Hezekiah was a man of prayer. His obedience to God’s Law and his trust in God’s ways fueled his prayers. When the Assyrians threatened Judah, and defied the Lord God, Hezekiah went to the house of the Lord and prayed (2 Kings 19:1). After the Assyrians sent a written threat to the king, he went […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 18-19

After the death of Ahaz, Hezekiah began to reign in Judah, and it was like sunlight breaking through the clouds after a storm. Hezekiah was only twenty five years old when he came to power. Despite his youth, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 18:3). Revival broke […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 15-17

Some have said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. When it comes to the church and the world, however, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. That’s what Ahaz attempted to do while king of Judah, and it didn’t end well. Ahaz’s father, Jotham, was a good king. Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah, was an […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 12-14

After king Ahaziah’s death, his mother, Athaliah, began killing all of the royal seed (2 Kings 11:1). Athaliah crowned herself queen, and seized the throne in Judah and reigned for six years. Ahaziah’s sister, Jehosheba, took his last remaining son, Joash, and hid him in the house of the Lord for six years (2 Kings […]

The Young Christian’s Progress

On Monday mornings this year at Apostolic Christian School I’ve taught through John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Bunyan’s allegory for the Christian life has served as a guide for many generations. I highly recommend everyone to read Bunyan’s most popular book. I thought it appropriate to use his allegory as a lesson for young people, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 9-11

Jehu is an interesting figure in the Bible. He ruled as Israel’s king for 28 years. He is most known for how he became king. When Elijah was in the cave fretting over Jezebel’s letter, the Lord told him that Jehu son of Nimshi would be anointed king of Israel and that he would be […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 6-8

The sons of the prophets were staying with Elisha, learning and desiring the instruction of the man of God. The school of the prophets was growing. One of the young prophets went to Elisha and said, “See the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 4-5

Elisha had come back to Gilgal and it was here that he was teaching the sons of the prophets. Gilgal was east of Jericho close to the Jordan River. Gilgal was a memorable place in the history of Israel. It was here Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground and set up the 12 […]

What Remains

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Kings 1-3

The Lord chose Elisha to be Elijah’s predecessor (1 Kings 20:16, 20-21). Elisha, as an act of servitude, poured water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11). Elisha wanted to be just like Elijah. In fact, as the day of Elijah’s departure grew closer, Elisha was right next to him. Also following Elijah on […]

Lonely Prophets, Dirty Birds, and Hopeless Widows

First Kings chapters 11-16 are some of the bleakest chapters in all of Scripture. Solomon, the world’s wisest man, becomes the world’s greatest fool. Rehoboam splits the kingdom of Israel through sheer youthful stubbornness. Jeroboam becomes king over ten tribes of Israel and yokes the people of Israel to bull worship. Israel’s next kings weren’t […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 21-22

Ahab, apparently, had built for himself a second home in Jezreel (1 Kings 18:45-46). Jezreel is located north of Israel’s capital in Samaria. This geographical location is very fertile and plush. It’s made up with vineyards, which produce grapes for wine production, and the rocky areas serve as winepresses. Vineyards were very precious to Israel […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 17-20

First Kings chapters 11-16 are some of the darkest times in Israel’s history. Then suddenly from the darkness there comes a blazing light. Elijah appears on the stage of Israel’s history like a crash of thunder, and disappears in a whirlwind. The writer of Kings doesn’t give Elijah much of an introduction. Readers are left […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 14-16

Israel split into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom, known as Israel, consisted of ten of the twelve tribes. The southern kingdom, known as Judah, consisted of Judah and what was left of Benjamin. Israel’s capital became Samaria, and Judah’s capital became Jerusalem. This will be important information moving forward in our reading of the Old […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 12-13

Solomon turned his heart away from the Lord and towards a myriad of strange women and their gods (1 Kings 11:1-6). The Lord promised, due to Solomon’s backsliding, that He would rend the kingdom of Israel from Solomon’s successor. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, made some unwise decisions concerning the treatment of […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 10-11

Solomon’s wisdom and kingdom attracted many visitors. Scripture records the queen of Sheba being one of those visitors. “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions” (1 Kings 10:1). It wasn’t just Solomon that intrigued her, but […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 8-9

The priests positioned the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies, and upon their exit, the glory of the Lord filled the Temple (1 Kings 8:6-11). This is the moment that the Temple became the House of the Lord. It was no longer just a beautiful edifice built by the hands of men, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 6-7

The building of the Temple was Solomon’s first major task as Israel’s king. Nothing compared with the splendor and beauty of the Temple. Towards the completion of the Temple, Solomon had two pillars for the porch of the Temple made. These two pillars made of brass were 27 feet high, and 18 to 20 feet […]

Don’t Waste Your Quarantine!

Cut it Straight Podcast Episode 35: Don’t Waste Your Quarantine! Check out Logos Bible Software! Click the link below and use coupon code NATE8 at checkout for a discount on a base package!   https://www.logos.com/partner/natewhitley?utm_source=nate&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner   For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Check out my other podcast The Bible Exposition Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bible-exposition-podcast/id1479241419?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Follow […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 3-5

Solomon prayed and asked God for an “understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad” (1 Kings 3:8). The Lord answered Solomon’s request because he did not ask for long life, nor for riches, nor for the life of his enemies. So in 1 Kings 3:16-27 we read the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Kings 1-2

Before David’s death, he proclaimed that Solomon would be Israel’s next king. Of course, that didn’t come about without some family turmoil (1 Kings 1). David wanted to insure Israel’s future with Solomon at the helm. The security of the kingdom was bound up in Solomon’s obedience to the Law of Moses (1 Kings 2:1-4). […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Samuel 22-24

There may not be another character in the Bible quite as intriguing as David. I would dare say that in all of Scripture there wasn’t anyone as gifted as David. Many who know anything about David would automatically mention his victory over Goliath or his sin with Bathsheba. However, there is much more to the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Samuel 19-21

Excuses are like armpits, everybody’s got them and they usually stink. Bishop Billy McCool has said, “Those who want to work for the Lord will find a way. Those who don’t will find an excuse.” Excuses are what we find in 2 Samuel 19:31-40. We read of a man by the name of Barzillai. We […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Samuel 16-18

Absalom was the third son born to King David. He was of royal descent on both sides of his family. His mother, Maacah, was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. Not only was he privileged royalty, he was also blessed with good looks: “But in all Israel there was none to be so much […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Samuel 13-15

Friends are found throughout the Bible. Job had friends, but they were miserable companions. Abraham was called God’s friend. Jonathan and David were the best of friends (1 Sam 18:1). The Bible makes many references to friends. How to make them, how to keep them and even how to offend them (Pro. 17:17; 18:24; 27:9,14,19). […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Samuel 8-12

David had been installed and anointed king of Israel, and insisted on showing kindness to someone in Saul’s family. Saul had rebelled against God and eventually was killed in battle along with some of his sons, which included David’s closest friend, Jonathan. David made a covenant with Jonathan to take care of his family once […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Samuel 4-7

One of the first things David wanted to do when he became Israel’s king was to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. For twenty years the Ark was in the house of Abinadab under the care of his son Eleazar. The Ark had been hijacked by the Philistines during a battle with Israel […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 2 Samuel 1-3

The Amalakites were a wicked and idolatrous people. They were a fierce race of nomads who inhabited the desert south of the Judean area towards Egypt. They were a cruel people who lived off raiding, robbing and murdering other tribes. They made life miserable for people who lived near them. When Israel had left the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 28-31

Saul’s reign as Israel’s king began with so much potential. He was head and shoulders above all the people, yet displayed humility. It wasn’t long before his reign began to go off the rails. He could have been the measuring stick by which all kings would have been measured. Instead he became a skeleton in […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 25-27

David had javelins thrown at him. The king of Israel was hunting him like wild game. His refuge was in caves with the outcasts of society. Like David, you can get to the point where you begin to question everything. I bet David was wishing he could sling a stone at frustration, and cut the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 21-24

David became a fugitive. Dreams of being Israel’s next king paled in comparison to the nightmare of being chased down by king Saul. No matter where David went within Israel there were spies updating Saul on David’s every move. David found refuge in a cave in Adullam (1 Sam. 22:1). A cave. Not a castle. […]

The Beauty and the Beast

I have a four year old daughter. She’s been watching Disney Princess movies since we brought her home from the hospital. At least that’s what it seems like. Of course, in my opinion, Easton is the greatest princess ever. But I digress. One Disney Princess movie stands out from the rest, besides Frozen, and that’s […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 18-20

Saul became jealous of David after his defeat of Goliath. Why would Saul be jealous of David after he just brought about one of the greatest victories ever seen in Israel? The women came out of all cities of Israel, singing a new song: “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 15-17

The most familiar story in the life of David is his battle with Goliath. References abound to David and Goliath in popular culture. You wouldn’t have to darken the door of a Sunday school class to be familiar with the story of David and Goliath. Goliath stood at least 9’6” tall. The armor that he […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 13-14

Saul’s reign as Israel’s king was rocky to say the least. During a battle with the Philistines, Saul acted out of fear and offered a burnt offering, instead of waiting on Samuel to arrive (1 Sam. 13:5-9). Samuel said, “Thou hast don’t foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 9-12

Israel desired a king like all the other nations. The Lord chose Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel had anointed Saul privately but the prophet wanted to publicly reveal to Israel their first king. As the tribes gathered together and Samuel made his pronouncement, the tall handsome young man could not be found. It […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 4-8

“Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7). That was the Lord’s response to Samuel when Israel demanded a king. They hadn’t rejected Samuel’s leadership, they had rejected […]

Daily Readings in the Bible 1 Samuel 1-3

Hannah wanted a son, and Israel needed a prophet. That’s how First Samuel opens. Hannah was barren, unable to have children. Israel, on the other hand, was spiritually barren. The answer for both Hannah and Israel was Samuel. Samuel would be the son that Hannah desperately desired; and he would be the prophet that would […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ruth 3-4

Naomi received word that the drought was over in Bethlehem-Judah. The now childless widow had nothing keeping her in Moab. All that was left were her two widowed Moabite daughter in-laws, Orpah and Ruth. The two young ladies decided it was best to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, the House of Bread. The three of them […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Ruth 1-2

The period of the Judges lasted 450 years (Acts 13:20). Thirteen judges ruled in all. The theme of the book of Judges was that men did what was right in their own eyes (Jud. 21:25). During the period of the Judges a famine befell Canaan, and was felt in the fertile areas of Judah.   […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 19-21

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Jud. 21:25). That’s how the writer of Judges concludes his book. Life without a king. Israel failed to remove their enemies from their land and disobeyed God (Jud. 1-3). That’s life without a king. Israel […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 16-18

Every superhero has their villain. If you ever read comics, or watched a superhero movie then you know the villain is always looking for ways to defeat his arch nemesis. The villain’s evil plots are never going to come to pass if the hero is there to thwart the evil plan. Therefore, the villain looks […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 13-15

The spiritual climate in Israel grew colder. Israel was now indifferent to Jehovah and to the idea of being bondage. They hadn’t learned the lesson of keeping themselves from idols which inevitably led to them doing evil again in the sight of the LORD. This time God allowed them to be oppressed by the hands […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 10-12

After the awful war between Abimelech and Jotham, Israel had peace under the leadership of Tola and Jair. But once again, Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and worshiped idols. The Lord sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and the Ammonites, and they were oppressed for eighteen years (Jud. 10:1-9). […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 8-9

After the death of Gideon, the people of Israel went after strange gods again (Jud. 8:33). Israel had quickly forgotten what the Lord had done for them, and the victory that Gideon wrought. Israel’s lack of spiritual leadership was proving to be futile. Gideon had served Israel as a judge, not as a king. After […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 6-7

Everyone loves an underdog. We have a hard time cheering for the giants and the super elite. There’s something special about seeing the little guy have his day. The story of Gideon is that of an underdog. Israel, again, did evil in the sight of the Lord. For punishment, He gave Israel over to the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 3-5

Mesopotamia was the place that God had called Abraham to leave (Gen. 12:1-4). Now after several centuries, the people of Israel were under the oppression of the Mesopotamians, on account that Israel had gone back into idolatry. They began worshiping false gods, and started to intermarry with the Canaanites (Jud. 3:6-7). Mesopotamia, like Egypt, represents […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Judges 1-2

The books of Judges is exhausting and exhilarating. It’s exhausting because the same thing happens repeatedly. It’s exciting because the Lord does extraordinary things through very ordinary people. The book’s theme can be found in its final verse: “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Joshua 23-24

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem for one final address. He began by recounting God’s redemptive acts in Israel’s short history. Joshua wanted to make sure the people understood their history, their present, and their future. Had God not revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; worked mightily through Moses to bring […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Joshua 19-22

You might remember from our reading in Numbers how the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and a portion of Manasseh requested to settle in the land east of the Jordan River (Num. 32:1-42). Moses granted their request as long as they fought with the others tribes during the Canaan conquest. After the death of Moses, they […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Joshua 16-18

In today’s reading we have an account of the inheritance of Joseph divided between his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim’s allotment was a beautiful and fertile area. Howbeit, the difficulty of possessing the land included clearing out additional hill country and removing the Canaanites from the land. There was just one issue: “And they drave […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Joshua 12-15

Only two men believed Israel could take possession of Canaan the first time Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land. Joshua and Caleb were those two men. And they were the only two men from that generation that were able to enter the Promised Land (Num. 14:24,30,38). Understand that Caleb was born as […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Joshua 7-11

Israel had finally crossed over from their wilderness wanderings and were laying claim to God’s promises. Joshua led the armies of Israel on their first mission and conquered Jericho. The Lord gave the command that the entire city was to be devoted to the Lord (Josh. 6:17-18). The gold, silver, vessels of bronze and iron […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Joshua 2-6

Moses was laid to rest on Nebo’s lonely mountain. Israel’s new leader, Joshua, stood on top of the mountain and looked toward Canaan. Israel’s time to take possession of the Promised Land had come. Moses had previously sent twelve men to spy out Canaan (Num. 13:1-3). Out of the twelve men, only Joshua and Caleb […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Joshua 1

Joshua is one of the great characters of the Old Testament. His original name was Hoshea, which means “salvation,” but Moses changed it to Joshua, which means “Jehovah is salvation” (Num. 13:8,16). We might add that the Greek form of Joshua is Jesus (Matt. 1:21). This is significant in the drama of redemption. Moses, representative […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 33-34

We have come to the conclusion of the Pentateuch and Moses’ life. From being drawn from the reeds of the Nile River to the plagues in Egypt to leading Israel through the wilderness, Moses’ life has been a thrilling adventure. The renowned preacher, DL Moody, said, “Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; forty […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 30-32

For forty years the people of Israel wandered the wilderness. The Lord, during that span of time, graciously provided for their every need. He provided water when they were thirsty, and manna when they were hungry. Furthermore, their shoes and clothes didn’t wear out despite the conditions of the environment, and length of time (Deut. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 27-29

The day when Israel took possession of the Promised Land quickly approached. Moses commanded that Israel be gathered at Shechem’s valley between Mount Ebal and Gerizim when that day finally came. At Mount Ebal the people were to set up large stones, coat them with plaster, and inscribe the entire Law upon them (Deut. 27:2-4). […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 23-26

The children of Israel were a privileged people. They were the only nation that could claim to be the people of God. God made provision for Gentiles to become Hebrews, if they were willing to submit to circumcision (Ex. 12:48). There was, however, a distinction between living as a Hebrew and worshiping as a Hebrew. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 20-22

The Lord included punishments for those who broke His laws. The Old Testament Law provided three types of punishment: the death penalty for serious public sins against life, religion and the family; ‘cutting-off’ for grave private sins; and restoration for property offenses. Stoning seems to be the most common form of the death penalty in […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 17-19

The Lord knew there would be a day when Israel would desire to have a king rule over them (1 Sam. 8:4-22). With that in mind, the Lord gave Israel certain requirements for their future king (Deut. 17:14-20). The requirements of the king have great spiritual significance. Let’s take a closer look at a few […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 14-16

A Hebrew man could sell himself as a slave to pay any debt (Ex. 21:1-6; Lev. 25:39-45; Deut. 15:12-18). This type of voluntary slavery shouldn’t be confused with forced slavery, or the slavery of the Antebellum period. Moses said that such slaves were to be released after six years of service. In order for the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 11-13

The Lord had given specific instructions concerning Israel’s worship. For instance, the Tabernacle was the ordained place of worship (Deut. 12:5;18). Upon entering the Promised Land, Israel wasn’t to forsake God’s instructions and adopt the Canaanite’s way of worship. Therefore, the Lord told them to tear down the Canaanite’s altars, pillars, and idols (Deut. 12:3). […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 7-10

Why did the Lord choose Israel? You might have asked that question a few times since we read of their departure from Egypt. Today’s reading gives us the answer to this question. God didn’t choose Israel because they had the biggest population (Deut. 7:7). They were larger nations that had been around a lot longer […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 4-6

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4). This command is the orthodox Jew’s confession of faith. Israel was to confess there was only one God, and they were to pledge their lives only to Him (Deut. 6:5). Israel wasn’t to make any graven images to worship (Deut. 4:15-20). Israel’s singular […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Deuteronomy 1-3

The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Pentateuch. The original name given to this book was “These are the words” which was taken from the first verse (Deut. 1:1). The name Deuteronomy is made up of two Greek words “deuteros” and “nomos” mean “Second Law” when put together. The reasoning […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 35-36

The Levites weren’t allowed to own any land in Canaan, because the Lord was their portion (Deut. 10:9). For this reason Israel was to designate specific cities for the Levites to live in (Num. 35:1-5). Those six cities were assigned to be “cities of refuge.” If an Israelite or stranger unintentionally killed a person, then […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 33-34

Taking possession of the Promised Land wasn’t going to be easy for Israel. They were going to have to drive out all the inhabitants of the land (Ex. 23:20-33). Not only were they to drive the inhabitants out, they would also need to destroy any semblance of the people’s religions and lifestyles. The Lord said, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 31-32

Between the conquest of Sihon and Og (Num. 21:21-35) and crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and a portion of Manasseh requested to stay in the land east of the Jordan. The land was suitable for pasturing large herds and and flocks (Num. 32:1). Moses wasn’t pleased with […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 28-30

Now that the previous generation had died, it was time to start instructing the new generation. The Lord, through Moses, began to teach the new generation concerning the daily, monthly, and yearly offerings (Num. 28-29). The Hebrew calendar centered around the worship of Jehovah. A new generation needed a new commitment, and it was going […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 26-27

The generation of Hebrews that escaped Egypt died in the wilderness, never to possess what they left for. They left behind a legacy of murmuring, complaining, and unbelief. If their children were to visit their graves, they’d have to go back to the wilderness to pay their respects. On their graves it would be written, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 23-25

The king of Moab, Balak, grew in fear as he beheld the large Hebrew population. Moab, apparently, didn’t have a large enough army to engage Israel in battle. Balak resorted to hiring a soothsayer to curse them. Balak sent dignitaries from Moab and Midian to a man named Balaam. Balaam operated in familiar spirits, and […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 21-22

Scripture records the children of Israel complaining at least fourteen times during their wilderness wandering (Ex. 5:1-22; 14:11-12; 15:22; 16:1-4; 17:1-4; 32:28; Num. 12:1-12; 14:1-10; 14:10; 16:1-40; 41-50; 20:1-5; 21:4-5). Chapter twenty-one has the last recorded complaint in the wilderness. Israel, again, bemoans the wilderness and their food (Num. 21:4-5). The Lord, without warning, sent […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 18-20

Numbers chapter 20 is a sobering chapter. It includes the death of Miriam and Aaron, and the failure of Moses. Rest is a significant theme in the Old Testament. The Lord rested after His creative activity (Gen. 2:2). The Sabbath was to be a day of rest (Ex. 31:15). The Promised Land was to have […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Number 16-17

Korah was from the tribe of Kohath. The Kohathites were responsible for carrying the sacred furniture from the Tabernacle. Such a solemn task came with great responsibility. Though the Kohathites were Levites, they were different from the Aaronic priesthood, which included offering sacrifices. Korah, unfortunately, thought he and some of the other Levites should have […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 14-15

Scripture describes the Promised Land as a land “flowing with milk and honey” at least nineteen time (Lev. 26:3–12; Num. 13:23, 28; 14:7; 24:3; Deut. 6:3; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 27:3; 28:2–7, 11–12; 31:20). Canaan didn’t have rivers of milk and ravines filled with honey. Rather, this was a hyperbolic way of describing the rich abundance […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 11-13

Let’s recount all that has happened to Israel thus far. God had freed them from Egypt’s bondage with the shed blood of a lamb. They crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground when the Egyptians pursued them. When they were thirsty, God provided water in the desert. Their hunger was abated when the Lord […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 8-10

The wilderness wasn’t Israel’s destination. Their stay in the wilderness served as an interval between their redemption from Egypt and the possession of the Promised Land. Israel was a pilgrim nation in the wilderness, on their way to their promised destination. For this purpose the Tabernacle and their encampment were not stationary. In Numbers 9-10 […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 7

Israel had generously brought offerings for the building of the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:1-8; 35:4-36:7). Now that the Tabernacle had been erected, Israel was bringing offerings in support of the ministry and the maintenance of the Tabernacle (Num. 7:1-2). Numbers chapter 7 is the longest chapter in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible).The […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 5-6

The first four chapters of Numbers outline the layout of the camps, and the duties of the Levites. Instructions for life in the camp begins with chapter five. If the Lord was going to dwell with His people then it was important that Israel kept themselves from any defilement (Num. 5:3). Instructions included lepers being […]

Practical Advice for Young Ministers

Cut it Straight Podcast Episode 34 In this episode we give some practical advice for young ministers. Be a Soul Winner Be a Servant Be Ethical Be Faithful with Finances Be Positive Be Biblical Check out Logos Bible Software! Click the link below and use coupon code NATE8 at checkout for a discount on a […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Numbers 3-4

The first two chapters of Numbers give a census of all the capable men of war in each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The census did not include women, children, or the elderly. Some scholars estimate there were at least two million Hebrews in the wilderness. With so many people, you’d think it would […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Number 1-2

Numbers, if you’re like me, sounds like a book about, well, numbers. That doesn’t seem to be very inviting, does it? The Hebrew name for the fourth book of the Bible is in fact “Be-mider” meaning “in the wilderness” which comes from the first sentence of the book (Num. 1:1). The Alexandrian Jews in the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 26-27

Leviticus concludes with God presenting Israel with a choice. The choice was either delight or despise God’s Law. If Israel would obey God’s Law then He would bless them. If, on the other hand, Israel disobeyed God’s Law then He would curse them. There were big implications with that little word “if.” If Israel obeyed […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 24-25

Leviticus chapter 23 focused on the seasonal festivities of the Israelites. Chapter 24 is a reminder of the daily requirements. The children of Israel were to regularly provide olive oil for the Golden Lampstand in the Holy Place. For the twelve loaves of bread set on the table in the Holy Place, the people were […]

The Plague, the Priest, and the Prescription

When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests (Leviticus 13:2). The book of Leviticus […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 22-23

The Feasts of Israel commemorated what the Lord had done for them in their history, and anticipated what He was going to do for them in the future. New Testament believers may feel these feasts are irrelevant to Christian life. However, these feasts are teeming with spiritual truths that are relevant for the modern Christian. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 19-21

Holiness isn’t limited to our relationship with God. Holiness includes our relationship with others. Believing that holiness is only about loving God, and not about loving our neighbors is faulty thinking. Too little is said about God’s people loving each other. Often the love of God gets all of the attention and little emphasis is […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 16-18

I witnessed to a man several years ago, and after several meetings he said, “I’d like to come to church, but there’s just so much talk about blood.” My attempts to explain Scripture’s emphasis on blood seemed to fall on deaf ears. Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 13-15

Leviticus 13 and 14 describe the awful disease of leprosy and the remedy if one were to contract this affliction. Leprosy wasn’t just an issue in the Old Testament, it was also the scourge of Israel in the days of Jesus. Leprosy was and is still the foulest of diseases. Today leprosy is known as […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 11-12

We’ve come to another example of separation in the Bible. Think back to what we’ve already covered in our daily readings. In creation, God separated the light from the darkness; the day from the night; the waters from the heavens; the land from the sea; and humans from animals. Next, God called Abraham and had […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 8-10

Leviticus chapter 10 is shocking to say the least. At first glance it seems as if God is unjust by killing Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. If we are not careful, our emotions will get the best of us and we will miss an important lesson on intent. Nadab and Abihu each took […]

Interpreter’s House: The Dusty Room and the Man in the Iron Cage

Interpreter’s house turned out to be an interesting place. Christian toured seven rooms of the house, each depicting spiritual truth. I want to take a closer look at the dusty room, and the room which contained the man in the iron cage. The Dusty Room The second room of Interpreter’s house was full of dust. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 5-7

The first seven chapters of Leviticus outline the five major offerings required under the Law. The five offerings can be divided into two main types: Sweet Savor offerings and Non-Sweet Savor offerings. The Sweet Savor offerings were voluntary, and the Non-Sweet Savor offerings were mandatory. Sweet Savor Offerings The Burnt Offering (Lev. 1;6:8-13). This was […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Leviticus 1-4

You’ve made it to Leviticus. You may feel like giving up in the coming days. That’s due to the fact that Leviticus is made up of 27 head-scratching chapters that may not seem important to the rest of the Bible, or to your present day life. I want to encourage you to read through Leviticus […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 39-40

The Tabernacle included seven items: the Brazen Altar; the Brazen Laver; the Table of Shewbread; the Candle-Stand; the Altar of Incense; The Ark of the Covenant; and the Mercy Seat. The High Priest wore seven articles to minister within the Tabernacle: undergarments (Ex. 28:42-43); a white tunic (Ex. 28:39; 39:27); a blue robe over that, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 36-38

Moses was an exceptional leader. Moses, like most leaders, believed he could do everything. He could stand before the Lord on behalf of Israel. He could stand before Israel on behalf of the Lord. He could lead Israel throughout the wilderness. If need be, he could lead them into battle. And if that wasn’t enough, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 33-35

Parents sacrifice convenience in order to please our children. Face it, no parent enjoys going to Chuck E. Cheese. For the sake of our children, however, we take them. We have thoughts like, “I’ll take you to Chuck E. Cheese, but I don’t have to like it.” Our kids enjoy it, while we half-heartedly smile […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 30-32

At the top of Mount Sinai, Moses received God’s provisions for worship. God revealed His holiness through the Law, Tabernacle, sacrifices, and priesthood. His expectation was for Israel to worship and serve with holiness. At the top of the mountain God’s holiness was revealed, and at the foot of the mountain man’s sinfulness was revealed. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 28-29

Today’s reading in Exodus 28 and 29 shouldn’t be overlooked or skimmed. These two chapters reveal God’s attention to detail. Everything in the Tabernacle was teeming with significance. This is also true concerning the Priesthood and their consecration. The service of the Tabernacle was no ordinary work. Therefore, the men who served in the Tabernacle […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 25-27

God delivered to Moses a blueprint concerning His dwelling among His people. Every detail of the Tabernacle was given attention and was baptized with significance. This transportable structure would be stationary at particular points in the wilderness. The Tabernacle would dwell at the centermost part of the camp with each tribe of Israel strategically situated […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 22-24

Have you ever been invited somewhere of importance, or to meet someone of great stature? Meeting a celebrity or a person of power can be intimidating. If you are anything like me, you get nervous or anxious. I usually can’t speak clearly. I don’t know what it is, but being near someone of great distinction […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 19-21

In Israel’s exodus we see the power of God displayed. In the giving of the Law we see the holiness of God revealed. Please note that the exodus preceded the giving of the Law. The Law wasn’t given first, because the Law couldn’t provide liberty. The Law, rather, provided safety. If God was going to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 16-18

The children of Israel proved to have short memories. They forgot about the ten plagues and the exodus from Egypt. The Red Sea parting was a distant memory. Their memory overlooked Marah’s bitter waters turned sweet. When Israel arrived at the wilderness of Sin, all of these events had transpired in the last two months […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 13-15

The exodus from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea proved to be exciting moments for Israel. The wilderness seemed promising to the newly freed people. A song of victory and praise to God burst from the hearts of Moses and Israel. Sadly the celebrating didn’t last long. Israel went from singing to murmuring […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 11-12

Moses’ confrontation with Pharaoh came to its climatic finale. The death of the firstborn would be the final plague in Egypt. This final plague involved instructions for Israel. Every Israelite household was to take an unblemished lamb and kill it. Next, they were to take the blood and strike it on the two side posts […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 7-10

The showdown between Moses and Pharaoh was nothing short of amazing. Pharaoh’s refusal to let Israel go had led to four plagues. By this point it seemed like Pharaoh had enough. Pharaoh told Moses, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land” (Ex. 8:25) Pharaoh wanted a compromise, but sacrificing in Egypt wasn’t in […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 4-6

The children of Israel groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help went up to God. God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God looked upon Israel and was concerned about them (Ex. 2:23-25). God’s plan to rescue Israel from their plight […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Exodus 1-3

The word “Exodus” means “departure” or “exit.” The book of Exodus is the story of Israel being set free from their enslavement in Egypt. Not only is the book of Exodus the recounting of Israel’s departure, but it is also the story of Israel becoming God’s people. Originally, Egypt was a haven for Jacob and […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 48-50

Joseph is mentioned alongside several heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. The writer says, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones” (Heb. 11:22; cf. Gen. 50:25-26).   Joseph led an amazing and faithful life. If anyone needed to be […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 46-47

Joseph might be the most vivid type of Christ in the Old Testament. Joseph was beloved by his father (Gen. 37:3-4). He was hated and rejected by his brothers (Gen. 37:8). He was believed to be dead, but actually alive (Gen. 45:28). While his own people believed him to be dead, Joseph saved a Gentile […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 43-45

The seven years of plenty had come and gone just as Joseph had said. Consequently, the seven years of famine were in full-swing (Gen 41:53-54). Jacob and his family began to experience hunger as a result of the famine. Word travelled that there was food available in Egypt, they just needed to go see the […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 41-42

Our memory can be our worst enemy. Old wounds and hurts are not easily forgotten. Failures and regrets haunt us like ghosts. Perhaps you can relate to Joseph in some way. He had suffered rejection, been lied about, and forgotten in prison. Those events can’t be erased from your memory like old data on a […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 37-40

Jacob had twelve sons altogether with Leah, Rachel, and their respective handmaids. But it was Rachel’s sons that had a special place in Jacob’s heart. Joseph was definitely Jacob’s favorite son. He even had a special coat of many colors made for Joseph (Gen. 37:3). Joseph’s brothers weren’t as fond of Joseph as Jacob was. […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 34-36

Initially when Jacob came to Bethel he had just fled from Esau (Gen. 28). It was late in the evening when he arrived at that sacred place. He laid his head on a pile of stones and dreamed of a ladder set on the earth reaching to heaven. Angels were ascending and descending on that […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 32-33

Have you ever had to apologize? Have you ever had to forgive someone? Apologizing and forgiving are two of the hardest burdens you and I will ever have to bear. Pride is what keeps one from apologizing and another from forgiving. They say, “I’m not going to apologize. I didn’t even do anything wrong!” The […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 30-31

What are we to make of Jacob and Laban’s feud? This whole story sounds like something out of an Andy Griffith Show episode. I’m not sure if Mayberry’s wise sheriff could solve what ensues in this affair. Here are two cheaters trying to hustle one another. It’s a rather humorous event! Jacob fled to his […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 27-29

Have you ever wondered why Scripture says to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)? The answer is that our senses can be deceived. In Genesis 27 we witness the deception of the senses. Isaac is 137 years old, and he feels as if he is about to die (Gen. 27:1). Ishmael, […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 25-26

Isaac the son of Abraham is overshadowed in Scripture. Even though he is considered a Patriarch, he is often overlooked due to the large shadow cast by Abraham and Jacob. Of the three Patriarchs Isaac lived the longest, for he died at the age of 180 years. Abraham died at 175, and Jacob died at […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 22-24

Abraham never allowed his calloused feet, or dusty sandals to be rooted in any certain place. Abraham’s longest stay would be in a tomb in the desert. Abraham moved constantly to the place God wanted him to go. From Ur of Chaldees to Haran to Canaan to Egypt to Gerar to Mamre to Beer-Sheba. He […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 19-21

Abraham’s nephew, Lot, is an interesting character study. When Lot and Abraham separated he chose to pitch his tent toward Sodom (Gen. 13:12). Sodom was a wicked city filled with sin (Gen. 13:13). The sin was so grievous in Sodom that the Lord decided to destroy it (Gen. 18:20-21). Abraham pleaded with God not to […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 16-18

Sandra Richter in her book The Epic of Eden wrote “In its native context a covenant was an agreement enacted between two parties in which one or both make promises under an oath to perform or refrain from certain actions stipulated in advance. In other words, a covenant was much like a contract.” God initiated […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 11-15

Noah’s sons and their families began to repopulate the earth after the flood. In Genesis chapter eleven records that the the whole earth was one language, and one speech. After the flood the Lord had told Noah to be fruitful and multiply (8:16), which was also a mandate for Adam and Eve (1:28). As God […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 7-10

Sin increased to the point that it grieved God’s heart. Scripture says that God regretted that He made man in the first place. It got so bad that God decided to rain down judgment. God was going to clear the earth of every living thing. It is a fearful thing to think of God’s long-suffering […]

Daily Readings in the Bible Genesis 4-6

Once Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, life unexpectedly continued for them. The two of them survived despite the fact that God had told them they would die if they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Again, God’s grace is on display. Sinful man didn’t get […]

Daily Readings in the Bible: Genesis 1-3

The first three chapters of Genesis are difficult to write about in a brief manner. So much unfolds in just three short chapters. The reader is introduced to God and His creative power through His spoken word. God’s authority is displayed because whatever He says happens. Light is created. The waters and the sky are […]

Recommended Reading for Young Ministers

I often get asked about what books I recommend. Most of the time it’s young ministers looking to begin reading. I’ve shared the same list for several years, adding and subtracting over time. I want to share that reading list with you, dear readers. I have said it before, but it bears repeating: A book […]

Top Five Books of 2019

As the year dwindles down its time I reflect on the top five books that I read for 2019. I read just over thirty books this year. Well short of my intended goal. While working on a teaching series I spent a lot of time in large books of systematic theology. I read a lot […]

No Room at the Inn

A young couple makes the eighty-mile, three-day trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The young lady is about to give birth to a child. This is not any child, but this child had been conceived of the Holy Ghost. She had never known a man, and yet her husband believed God that this would be no […]

Interpreter’s House

Once Christian arrived at the Wicket-Gate Goodwill instructed Christian to go to Interpreter’s house. At Interpreter’s house Christian would be taught about the Christian life, and the realities of discipleship. Interpreter is a two-fold representation of the Holy Spirit as a teacher, and as those who teach and instruct believers. Interpreter’s house has seven rooms […]

The Wicket Gate

Once Christian left Mt. Sinai with fresh directions from Evangelist, he finally arrived at the Wicket Gate. Above the gate was written: “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Christian began to knock and said a prayer: “May I now enter here? Will He within open to sorry me, though I have been an […]

Jesus is King

In the last week Kanye West released a new album entitled Jesus is King. Kanye’s conversion to Christianity, and subsequent release of a gospel album, have caused no little controversy. Jesus is King has been the number one album on iTunes. The phrase “Jesus is King” was the number one trending topic on Twitter for […]

The God of the Outcasts

In Walt Disney’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Esmeralda and Quasimodo were considered outcasts. Quasimodo a hunchback, and Esmeralda, a marginalized gypsy. Each of them had their own issues, however, found solace in Notre Dame. Esmeralda sings in the church a song called “God Help the Outcasts.” Part of the song […]

A Journey with the Pilgrim’s Progress: Mr. Worldly Wiseman

Once Christian made it out of the Slough of Despond, he continued his journey towards the Wicket Gate. The news of Christian’s odyssey spread throughout the surrounding towns and cities. Mr. Worldly Wiseman, from the town of Morality, was one such man who had heard the rumors about Christian. He met Christian not far from […]

The Slough of Despond

In our last post we considered Christian’s encounter with Pliable. Pliable was willing to go with Christian towards the Wicket Gate until they both fell into the swampy area known as the Slough of Despond. Pliable freed himself from the muddy pit and returned to the City of Destruction leaving Christian behind to fend for […]

Commentary Review: The Bible Exposition New Testament Commentary by Warren Wiersbe

Warren Wiersbe is one of the most popular Christian writers and Bible commentators. His “BE” series of short Bible commentaries on each book of the Bible has been very successful. Preachers and laymen have found this series to be of great value. David C. Cook Publishers (which purchased Victor Books who originally published the BE […]

A Journey with the Pilgrim’s Progress: Pliable

Obstinate and Pliable followed Christian as he fled the City of Destruction. Obstinate considered Christian a fool for believing in what his Book said. Rather than keep going towards the Wicket-Gate, Obstinate turned around and went home. Pliable, on the other hand, decided to stick with Christian and hear more about his pilgrimage. Pliable was […]

A Journey with the Pilgrim’s Progress: Obstinate

We left off our story with Evangelist telling Christian to run towards the light and the Wicket-Gate. Christian began to run towards the Wicket-Gate once he heard the instructions. As Christian began to run from the City of Destruction his family cried for him to return. Christian put his fingers in his ears and ran […]

Seven Deadly Sins of Ministry: Sloth

Episode 33: Seven: The Seven Deadly Sins of Ministry- Sloth 1. The Sluggard Loves Sleep: “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:10–11). 2. The Sluggard Makes Excuses: “The sluggard says, ‘There […]

A Journey With the Pilgrim’s Progress: Evangelist

Christian was in a certain field reading his Book. As he read from the Book, he felt distressed and cried out, “What shall I do to be saved?” Christian felt like running, but he couldn’t decide which way to run. It was at this moment that a man named Evangelist walked towards him, asked, “Wherefore […]

Christian: A Man with a Burden and a Book

Mr. Bunyan begins his story by introducing the main character, a man named Christian. Christian is described as being clothed with rags, a burden on his back, and a book in his hand. The story starts with Christian opening the book and reading. He wept and cried as he read from the book. Not able […]

A Journey With the Pilgrim’s Progress

The Pilgrim’s Progress was written by John Bunyan in 1678. Bunyan was born in Bedforshire, England in 1628. Seventeenth century England was in the midst of a civil war during the early part of his life. The war broke out over the limits of power between King Charles and Parliament. Bunyan served as a parliamentarian […]

The Gospel According to the Thief on the Cross

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Lk. 23:43-44). The thief on the cross is a polarizing figure. Some want to overlook his supposed last-minute faith. Others want to […]

The Gospel According to Philemon

The letter to Philemon is one the shortest books in the New Testament. Though it is only twenty-five verses in length it is teeming with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some have wondered why this short letter was included in the New Testament. There are no theological or doctrinal issues dealt with. No warnings are […]

Made for a Purpose

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). There are twin questions a pastor is asked: “What is the will of God for my life?” The other is “What is my calling?” Many feel these […]

Things Most Surely Believed

In his online article for Huffpost, Brandan Robertson wrote, “Run to God, Not to the Bible.” Throughout his article he insists that Christians do not need the Bible to hear God’s voice. He quotes liberal theologian Peter Enns who claims, “We need to be training our children to cultivate a relationship with God, not a […]

The Practice of Study

I want to give you a few options for studying the Bible. You don’t just have to read through the Bible from cover to cover to get something out of it. I’ve given you the tools to help you properly interpret Scripture, but I want to see there are several different ways we can glean […]

The Principles of Study

Eighteenth Century preacher, J.C. Ryle, said, “We must read our Bibles like men digging for hidden treasure.” The late pastor of Westminster Chapel, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, said, “Every time we consider or study the Bible we are, of necessity, worshipping.” Someone once said, “God feeds the birds, but He doesn’t throw the food into their nests.” […]

The Purpose of Study

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) Biblical Illiteracy “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Call to Write

Episode 32 The Call to Write In this special episode I share an interview I did for the Kingdom Minded Exchange. Be sure to subscribe to their podcast on iTunes. For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost […]

Nameless, but Faithful

Mother’s Day is a time where we honor our mothers, and celebrate who they are, and what they have done for us. Like other holidays, perhaps we should honor and celebrate our mothers more than once a year, for mothers play a very important role in our lives. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & […]

Finishing Well

Businessman Oskar Schindler arrived in Krakow in 1939, ready to make his fortune from World War II, which had just started. After joining the Nazi party primarily for political purposes, he staffed his factory with Jewish workers for similarly pragmatic reasons. When the SS began exterminating Jews, Schindler arranged to have his workers protected to […]

Knowing The Will of God

One of the most common questions pastors and ministers get asked is, “What is the will of God for my life?” Those who want to please God want to take into consideration God’s will. A lot of bad decisions could be avoided if the will of God was taken into consideration. Most trouble, much heart […]

Bells on Horses and Vessels in God’s House

In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; And the pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS: And all they that sacrifice shall come and […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Seven Deadly Sins of Ministry: Anger

Episode 31 Seven: The Seven Deadly Sins of Ministry- Anger Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on Amazon N.S. Whitley-  The Lost Art of Spiritual […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Seven Deadly Sins: Envy

Episode 30 1 Peter 2:1–3 Envy: The feeling of unhappiness at the blessing and fortune of others. Geared towards what other have, and what we may think we don’t have. Jealousy: Sometimes geared towards what we have, and the fear or losing it. Jerry Bridges in his book “Respectable Sins” says, “Sinful jealousy occurs when […]

There They Crucified Him

There They Crucified Him (Luke 23:33) With perfect understanding Luke takes only four words to describe the most meaningful event in all of history. The extraordinary economy of words available to Luke the physician and he sums everything up with just four words “There they crucified Him.” The other three Gospel writers leave out the […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Deadly Sin of Pride

Episode 029 The Seven Deadly Sins: Pride In this episode we take a look at the deadly sin of pride. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual […]

Cut it Straight Podcast Interview with Pastor Tim Gill

Episode 028 In this episode we interview Pastor Tim Gill from Medora Pentecostal Church in Medora Indiana. Pastor Gill is my father in the faith. Along with being a pastor, he has preached countless conferences, camp meetings, and has ministered around the world. I know you will enjoy this interview with this wonderful man of […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Seven: The Seven Deadly Sins of Ministry

Episode 027 The Seven Deadly Sins: Pride Envy Anger Sloth Greed Gluttony Lust Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on Amazon N.S. Whitley-  The Lost […]

Theology of Scripture

I believe the Bible, which consists of both the Old Testament and New Testament, is the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God. Holy men of God were moved upon by the Holy Spirit to communicate to us God’s direct commands (2 Peter 1:19-21). Being that Scripture is the Word of God it is profitable […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Interview with Pastor Paul McGee

Listen to Pastor McGee’s preaching here Follow Pastor McGee on Twitter Pastor McGee recommended a couple of websites for Bible study: Precept Austin BibleHub Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The […]

Top Ten Books of 2018

I’m not exactly sure where 2018 has gone. The year ended faster than a Kardashian relationship. I set out to read fifty books in 2018 and reached my goal. Many of the books that I read weren’t written in 2018, it’s just that I read them this year. There were several standouts and a few […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Spiritual Disciplines of the Man of God – Prayer

The Discipline of Prayer Five Steps for Focused Prayer Praise and Thanksgiving– “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name” (Psalm 100:4)! Worship – “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth” (Psalm 96:9)! Repentance: Psalm 51 Supplication/Intercession: “First of […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Spiritual Disciplines of the Man of God – Bible Reading

The Spiritual Disciplines of the Man of God Part One The Discipline of Bible Reading “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:13 Dust Off Your Bibles The Sword of the Lord Bible Reading and Holiness Bible Study Meditation Practical Advice for Bible Reading Be sure to subscribe to […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Qualifications for Ministry: Church Confirmation

Qualifications for Ministry Part Five: The Corporate Confirmation As we have studied the biblical qualifications for the ministry we have seen many internal and external requirements. The Man of God must: be above reproach (1 Tim. 3:2) be sober-minded (1 Tim. 3:2) have marriage fidelity (1 Tim. 3:2) self-controlled (1 Tim. 3:2) respectable (1 Tim. […]

The Gospel According to David

Much has been written about the life of King David. He was an extraordinary man. His rise from shepherding his father’s flock in the pasturelands to defeating a giant foe to give Israel victory. From running for his life from an jealous king to ruling over the nation of Israel. King David’s life is worthy […]

The Gospel According to Abraham

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man […]

The Reign of the Empires

An empire is a group of nations or peoples ruled by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government. What if I were to tell you that you were being ruled and governed by a power that you did not elect or choose? Forget for a moment the current government in power wherever you […]

Cut it Straight: Interview with JH Osborne

Special Edition Episode: Interview with Pastor JH Osborne. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on Amazon N.S. Whitley-  The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines Podcast: […]

Cut it Straight: Bring Me the Books!

Links mentioned in the episode: bestcommentaries.com WTSBooks.org CBD.com Books mentioned in episode: Living by the Book – Howard Hendricks How to Study the Bible- Kay Arthur Commenting and Commentaries – Charles Spurgeon Ashamed of the Gospel – John MacArthur Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow […]

Strange Things

I have written to him the great things of my law, But they were counted as a strange thing (Hosea 8:12) Introduction The theme of Hosea’s prophetic book is spiritual adultery (Hos. 2:1-23). The context of this portion in Hosea is in the midst of God’s accusation against Israel. God’s people had broken their covenant […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Qualifications for Ministry Part Four

Qualifications for Ministry Part Four 1 Timothy 3:1-2 Able to Preach Preach the Word (2 Tim. 3:14-17) Scripture is profitable for teaching. Scripture is profitable for reproof. Scripture is profitable for correction. Scripture is profitable for training in righteousness. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow […]

Endangered Languages

In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. – Nehemiah 13:23-24 Introduction A few months ago a book was recommended […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Qualifications for Ministry Part Three

Qualifications for Ministry Part Three 1 Timothy 3:4-7 Manage His Household Well Parent Well Not Recently Converted Well Thought of by Outsiders Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art […]

Fathers of Faith

Romans 4:11–17 Since YouTube’s inception on the World Wide Web , it has evolved from a website for funny videos clips, to television series. Perhaps one of the most interesting, and helpful things about YouTube is its ability to help people learn how to do just about anything.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Qualifications for Ministry Part Two

The Qualifications for Ministry Part Two 1 Timothy 3:2-4 Not a drunkard Not violent Gentle Not quarrelsome Not a lover of money The Peacemaker by Ken Sande The Peacemaking Pastor by Alfred Poirier Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and […]

The Tabernacle of God

It had been an interesting few days for the Israelites. Jehovah had just liberated them from Egypt’s fetters as His might and power were on display in the plagues and parting of the Red Sea. They traveled to Mount Sinai where Moses, who had led them out of Egypt, would meet with God face to […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Qualifications for Ministry Part One

The Qualifications for Ministry Part One 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Above Reproach Husband of One Wife Sober-Minded Self-Controlled Respectable Hospitable Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Check out the Bible Exposition Podcast and listen to our series God’s Plan for Redemption! Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like […]

He Came to Where I Was

The Lawyer A certain Jewish lawyer stood up to ask Jesus a question. Perhaps he wanted to know if Jesus really knew the path to eternal life. But putting Jesus to the test, he cleared his throat and asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25)?” Being that he was offspring […]

Theology of Language

Language is wonderful and mysterious. Language is a gift of God. To use your mouth and voice to express feelings, emotions, and to communicate with each other is a profound mystery. Some take for granted the power of language. The Bible is a foundational resource to study language. What is the origin of language? What […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Discerning the Call of God Lesson Two

In this episode we look at the differences in the various calls of ministry, and specifically the call to the ministry. Called to Minister Called to Ministry Called to the Ministry Called to Minister Every Christian is called to minister. This is our service to the body of Jesus Christ. Each member of the body […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Discerning the Call of God Lesson One

Discerning the Call of God Lesson One: The Callings of God The Call of Salvation The Call to Discipleship The Call to the Ministry In this episode we take a look at the call of salvation and the call to discipleship. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website […]

The Gospel According to Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes was penned at the hand of Israel’s King Solomon, the son of David (1:1). In the Hebrew, he calls himself “Qoheleth” which means “preacher” or “teacher.” The name Ecclesiastes comes from the Greek (not the Hebrew) and is a form of ekklesia which is the Greek word for “church” in the NT. Therefore, on […]

Patchwork Religion

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they […]

Five Tips to Engage with Scripture

Venturing to read and study Scripture can be intimidating for some Christians. Each may have their own stumbling blocks as to why they aren’t able to consistently engage with the Bible. However, God desires for each Christian to spend time with His Word. It is through the truth of God’s Word that we are sanctified […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Discipline of Resolve

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Check out the Bible Exposition Podcast and listen to our series God’s Plan for Redemption! Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on Amazon Jonathan Edwards’ […]

The Journey Toward Forgiveness

It is the twelfth year of Solomon’s reign and the newly minted Temple had been active for close to a year now. King David provided the material and blueprints for the beautiful edifice that will be inhabited by God’s Spirit. However it was David’s son Solomon who labored to have the most amazing house built […]

Apostolics Need to Apologize

The following post was contributed from the able pen of Reverend John Carroll. “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15) […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Case Studies in Humility

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Check out the Bible Exposition Podcast and listen to our series God’s Plan for Redemption! Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on Amazon Podcast: Play […]

Top Ten Books of 2017

As 2017 draws to a climax it is time for a review of my top books from the year. Its difficult for me to cull down my list to just ten books, because I’ve read several outstanding works this year. Not all of the books were published in 2017, its just that I’ve read them […]

The Friend

A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17) Friendship is an important topic in Scripture. Abraham was considered the friend of God (Isa. 41:8; Jam. 2:23). The Lord spoke with Moses face to face as friends would (Ex. 33:11). David and Jonathan were very close friends (1 Sam. 18:1-4). Jesus considered the disciples to be […]

Two Gates and Two Paths

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13–14). Towards the end of His […]

Dependent Sheep, Wise Serpents and Harmless Doves

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). Jesus never shied away from telling His disciples of the dangers they were going to face as His ambassadors. Such realities would happen after Christ’s resurrection and ascension. They faced devils […]

The Fool

Proverbs was written to give wisdom and instruction (Pro. 1:1-7). The proverbs that were compiled into this amazing book were written so that its readers would become wise, and skillful in living. To reject the teaching of wisdom and instruction in this book is to be a fool: “fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Pro. 1:7). […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Excellence in Ministry

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com  Check out the Bible Exposition Podcast and listen to the first episode of our series God’s Plan for Redemption! Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Guarding Yourself and the Doctrine

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on Amazon Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

The Sluggard

The man who will not work is not wise. Laziness is a plague that ruins lives, and societies. The book of Proverbs uses the word “sluggard” for the man who will not work or give any effort. The antithesis of the diligent man is the sluggard. The Hebrew word for “sluggard” is defined as a […]

The Diligent Man

The wise man is a working man. Young men need to be taught the value of hard work while they are young, so they can be successful when they are older. At a young age I was taught the value of a work ethic. By the time I was fourteen or fifteen I was working […]

Wisdom For Young Men

The book of Proverbs is not just a divine book filled with quips and maxims for life. The book of Proverbs was written and compiled with the objective that the reader can know wisdom and instruction; to understand words of insight, to gain instruction in righteousness, justice and equity. The proverbs are also are written […]

Merchants of Death

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:54–55) The Merchants of Death Christianity is […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Preaching Lab (Session Four)

In this final session of the Preaching Lab we look at the delivery of the sermon and post-sermon. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Preaching Lab (Session Three)

In this episode we look at the use of illustrations, finalizing our notes, and application of the sermon. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information go to my website nswhitley.com Follow me on Twitter: @nswhitley Like and share my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nswhitley/ Download my eBook The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines on […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Preaching Lab (Session Two)

In this episode we continue the Preaching Lab series. Step One: Pray. Seek the Lord for guidance for the best topic on which to preach about. Saturate your study and preparation with prayer. Without the anointing we might as well not even attempt to preach. Step Two: Select a Text. Our assignment was to preach […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: The Lost Art of Personal Communications

In this episode we look at the lost art of personal communications. Our influence in ministry extends beyond the pulpit and touches our personal relationships. We look at these relationships: The Preacher and His Pulpit The Preacher and His Peers The Preacher and His Family The Preacher and His People Be sure to subscribe to […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Preaching Lab (Session One)

In this episode we begin a new series: Preaching Lab. We look at the first two steps of beginning to prepare a sermon. Step One: Pray Step Two: Selecting a Text I mentioned John Piper’s A.P.T.A.T acronym in the podcast: Admit you can do nothing without God (John 15:5). Pray for help (Psalm 50:15). Trust […]

The Attributes of God: Divine Foreknowledge and Predestination

The Bible tells us much about God and His characteristics. One can study the Bible and see many of the attributes of God explained and defined. Scripture reveals that God is a Spirit (John 4:24); that He is sovereign (Psalm 103:19); He is unchanging (Malachi 3:6); He is self-existent (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 93:2); and He […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Twelve Marks of the Man of God Part Three

In today’s session, we will conclude our series by looking at the final four marks of the man of God which are: 9. A biblical ministry (4:13) 10. Doesn’t neglect his calling (4:14) 11. Consumed with his calling (4:15a) 12. Progressing in spiritual growth (4:15b) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast! For more information […]

Cut it Straight: Twelve Marks of the Man of God Part Two

In this episode we continue our series 12 Marks of the Man of God from 1 Timothy 4:6-15. In episode two we looked at the first four marks and in episode four we look at the next four. The Man of God: 5. Disciplines Himself for Godliness (4:7-9) 6. Is a Hard Worker (4:10) 7. […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Eight Principles for Cutting it Straight

In this episode we look at what it takes to rightly interpret Scripture. Whether you are a seasoned preacher, a beginner, or simply a student of Scripture who wants to go deeper, then this episode will help you pursue excellence in rightly interpreting Scripture.   Recommended Reading Grasping God’s Word – Duvall and Hayes* Halley’s […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: Twelve Marks of the Man of God Part One

In this episode we begin a series on the 12 Marks of the Man of God. In 1 Timothy 4:6-16 Paul gives 12 marks of a man of God. We cover the first four marks in this first part of this series. A watchman (4:6a) A good servant (4:6b) A student of Scripture (4:6c) Avoids […]

Cut it Straight Podcast: What’s Cut it Straight About?

Cut it Straight Podcast: Episode 001 In this episode I briefly introduce and give some ministry background and information about myself. Next, I break down what the Cut it Straight Podcast is all about. Links: nswhitley.com facknoxville.com Twitter: @nswhitley The Lost Art of Spiritual Disciplines   Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

What’s Wrong with Holiness?

The following was written by Bishop Billy McCool in 2010. What’s Wrong with Holiness? Holiness is not a privation it is a privilege, it is not a burden it is a blessing, it is not an obligation but an opportunity, it is not a loss but a liberty. Holiness is not hard, but a harbor. […]

The Attributes of God

AW Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” It has been said that a high view of God leads to a high and holy lifestyle. On the other hand a low view of God leads to low living. Right thinking about God leads […]

The Authority of Scripture in the Life of the Christian

I. Introduction Oxford Dictionaries has decided that the word of the year in 2016 was post-truth. According to journalist Amy Wang (2016) Oxford Dictionary defines post-truth as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Truth is now subjective. Fact […]

The Discipline of Resolve

The New Year presents a clean slate in which we can write the narrative of an improved spiritual life. Resolutions and goals are the stuff Januarys are made of. At the beginning of each year we set lofty goals to improve our spiritual well being. Like our physical health, we intend to shed a few […]

Top Ten Books of 2016

Who doesn’t like a good top ten list? Lists are usually what drive people to websites. I figured I’d join the party. Although many of these books are not exclusively 2016 releases, they are the top ten books that I read in 2016. A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness by […]

A Steadfast Church

Epic. Revolutionary. World Changing. Extreme. Radical. Incredible. Emergent. Amazing. Cutting Edge. Supernatural. Next Level. Otherworldly. Such words are common in sermons, speeches and motivational seminars and are used to inspire and excite listeners in hopes of seeing people lead extraordinary lives. Ordinary has to be one of the loneliest and boring words in our English […]

Justification in Romans and Galatians Pt. 2

In our previous study we looked at God’s righteousness, humanity’s sinfulness and our need for salvation. In this lesson we will look briefly at Paul’s cure for the curse of sin. I. The Savior: Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:12-6:14) Humanity is in need of salvation from sin, death and God’s wrath. Nothing within humanity has the […]

Justification in Romans and Galatians Pt. 1

There is nothing quite like getting a gift, especially a gift that you do not deserve. This is how the Apostle Paul describes being saved from sin and death by Jesus Christ. Sinful humanity has been given a gift, the gift of salvation and they only have to believe to receive it (Rom. 5:13-21). In […]

Salvation in John, Acts, and Paul’s Epistles

I want to look at the perspectives of salvation from the Gospel of John, the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul’s writings. John’s gospel was written that we might believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and by believing on Him we might attain eternal life (John 20:31). John’s gospel repeatedly teaches that one must believe […]

True to the Text

Biblical interpretation should strike fear into our heart with the realization that we are handling the very Words of the Eternal God. A God whose thoughts are not like our thoughts and whose ways are not like our ways (Isa. 55:8); a God who speaks (Matt. 4:4); The God who created the Heavens and the […]

Choosing a Bible Translation

If one is looking to buy a Bible walking into a bookstore can be overwhelming. This is especially true in Christian bookstores. Shelves and aisles are full of different Bible translations, not to mention the specialty Bibles that range from students to hunters. Picking a Bible translation is comparable to finding a needle in the […]